Of all the offenses that spread the field wide and stretch the defense deep, the mad geniuses in the lab at Leilehua probably tinker the most.

Though Punahou has moxie and variety, ‘Iolani uses every receiver and Pearl City loves a good reverse on back-to-back plays, it’s the mighty Mules who will try anything when the defense is least prepared.

That’s what Kahuku has to look forward to when the teams meet Friday in the Division I semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships.

For Leilehua, it’s not so much the complexity of its gadget plays, but the timing.

Here, it’s the fourth play from scrimmage for Leilehua on its opening series against Kealakehe.

Quarterback Kenan Sadanaga has already hit running back Allen Racette on a wheel route for a first down against a Kealakehe cover 3 defensive look. After an incomplete pass on a post route, Sadanaga then hit wide receiver Mikal Peyton for a first down on a simple out pattern.

Now Kealakehe was guessing. Another deep post pass? Another out route to the right side? Where’s the running back going?

On first down from the Waveriders’ 26-yard line, Sadanaga (7) begins the big sell. He gives his running back Keanu Kamakaiwi (44), a quick message, and the junior goes in motion to the wide side, the left. A bluff?

Sure enough, he swings a pass over to slotback Jeremiah Andrade (3) on what appears, from the Kealakehe side of the ball, to look like a typical bubble screen. Kamakaiwi sells the play by delivering a standard block on defensive back Cyrus Cho.

The Waveriders, who failed to adjust earlier on the pass to Racette, had their eyes glued on that left side. In addition, they’d seen this screen dozens of times on tape and via statewide televised broadcasts.

But this time, it’s different. Andrade is well behind Sadanaga, and the pass is actually a lateral. At far left, Peyton blocks cornerback Avery Jordan (22) for a second, then sprints straight down the sideline as Jordan stays at the line of scrimmage. Safety Keoni Yates (46), a recent call-up from the JV, bites on the notion of a screen as Peyton strides toward the goal line.

The right-handed Andrade looks downfield and makes a difficult throw on the move, with Kealakehe lineman Manase Hungalu (40) stampeding in, to a wide-open Peyton, who hauls the ball in for a 26-yard touchdown. Just like that, the hometown Waveriders are reeling early. The trickery sets the tone for a 22-0 first quarter by Leilehua, which holds on for a 35-24 win.