Ex-Kahuku player does well for Cougars
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Aaron Francisco's last high school game at Aloha Stadium had a happy ending. His Kahuku Red Raiders won their first state title, beating St. Louis, 26-20, in 2000.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
But homecoming wasn't as great.
Former Kahuku athlete Aaron Francisco, 33, assists on a tackle of UH’s Craig Stutzmann. Francisco had five tackles, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.
The Brigham Young starting free safety was on the opposite end of a 72-45 demolition by the University of Hawai'i. He witnessed first hand quarterback Nick Rolovich breaking UH single-game school records of 543 yards and eight touchdowns.
"The offense was totally different from what we faced before," said Francisco, one of five BYU players with ties to Hawai'i. "Ninety percent of the time they pass. They hardly ever run, so it was a challenge for the secondary. We haven't played a team like that."
Francisco, a Honolulu Advertiser all-state selection at defensive back last year, provided some highlights for the Cougars. His first quarter interception off Rolovich set up Matt Payne's 44-yard field goal for BYU's first score of the game, pulling it to 14-3. He also had a fumble recovery at BYU's 1-yard line that prevented the Rainbows from scoring with BYU trailing, 21-10, in the second quarter. He also was second on his team with five total tackles — four of them initial hits — and deflected one pass. But it wasn't enough.
"It was fun to be back, first of all," he said. "We came and tried our best, but I guess our minds got off the game with the vacation we had. I don't know."
What he does know is that despite yesterday's lopsided loss, he still made the right decision to choose BYU over Hawai'i, which also actively recruited him.
"I just felt BYU was the best place for me," he said. "That was my choice. (I have) no regrets. I like where I am."
Francisco said his Kahuku classmates living in Hawai'i keep him posted on news at home. Even while preparing for last weekend's game against Mississippi State, he knew of his alma mater's victory over St. Louis for the state championship.
"My friends actually called me up during the game (state championship) when I was in Mississippi," he said.
