'Aiea, Kahuku enter OIA football playoffs unbeaten
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
When 'Aiea High beat Roosevelt Thursday, it marked the first time a Na Ali'i football team has finished the regular season unbeaten.
The White Conference champions can make school history again when they play perennial powerhouse Wai'anae (6-3) in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association co-semifinal 7:35 p.m. Thursday at Aloha Stadium.
At 9-0 overall, Na Ali'i can post the most wins for an 'Aiea squad in the school's history. 'Aiea had 9-3 seasons in 1963, 1964 and 1966 under Ed Kiyuna.
Defending OIA and state champions Kahuku (9-0) will play Roosevelt (6-3) in the first game at 5:05 p.m. The winner plays the winner of 'Aiea-Wai'anae at 5:05 p.m. Nov. 9 in one co-championship at Aloha.
In other co-semifinals at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Castle (7-2) will play Waipahu (8-1) at Mililani and Kailua (7-2) will meet Mililani (5-4) at Moanalua. The winners play at 7:35 p.m. on Nov. 9 for the other co-championship at Aloha.
Victories not only get the teams closer to a share of the OIA championship, but secure them state tournament berths.
This week's games are co-semifinals because the winner advances to the co-championships Nov. 9. A tier of the playoffs — the championship game — was cut off when the league had to use this past weekend to make up games postponed the weekend following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
'Aiea's quest won't be easy. Na Ali'i haven't beaten the Seariders since a 33-16 win in 1971. Wai'anae has won 19 of 23 meetings over the years.
Roosevelt, the White's third-place team, has a big task against the top-ranked team in The Advertiser's Top 10. The Red Raiders, the Red champions, are 14-8-2 against the Rough Riders. Twice the schools have met in playoff games: 1992 semifinals and 1984 Eastern Division championship, both won by Kahuku. The last time Roosevelt beat Kahuku was 16-6 in 1996.
Castle and Waipahu have the most history because they are original members of the league. The Marauders are 28-6-1 against the Knights since 1951. Waipahu beat Castle, 21-17 in the 1990 OIA quarterfinals.
Kailua and Waipahu represent the only matchup of teams from the same conference. The OIA Red third-place Surfriders have won 7 of 9 from the Trojans since 1978. During the regular season, Kailua edged Mililani, 34-38.
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu could determine its champion and state representative when St. Louis plays Kamehameha 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Aloha Stadium. Both teams share the Division I lead with 5-0-1 records. They played to a 24-24 tie in their first meeting. The winner is ILH champion.
Should there be a tie again, a playoff is set for Nov. 8.
Baldwin clinched the Maui Interscholastic League's second-round championship with a 13-7 win against Maui on Saturday night. The Bears (3-0 second round) close out the round against King Kekaulike at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at War Memorial. They will play first-round champion Lahainaluna on Nov. 9 for the overall MIL title and a state berth.
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VOLLEYBALL
• OIA: The semifinals are set for Wednesday in the boys' and girls' playoffs.
The Moanalua boys, third in the East, upset West runner-up Nanakuli, 13-15, 15-13, 15-12, on Saturday at Wai'anae to advance. The Menehune will play East champion Kalaheo in the semifinals at 7 p.m. at Kalani. The Mustangs ousted Radford, 14-16, 15-4, 15-8, at Kalani.
In other boys' matches, West champion Pearl City swept Leilehua, 15-5, 15-4, and East runner-up Farrington eliminated Kahuku, 12-15, 15-2, 15-9. Farrington will play Pearl City at 7 p.m. at Wai'anae.
In girls' matches, West champion Wai'anae downed Kaiser, 13-15, 15-4, 15-7, and East runner-up Kahuku defeated Moanalua, 12-15, 15-2, 15-9. The Seariders will play host to the Red Raiders at 6 p.m. in a semifinal.
In other matches, West runner-up Pearl City swept Waipahu, 15-11, 15-5, and Kalani beat Roosevelt, 15-10, 16-14. Pearl City will visit Kalani at 6 p.m. in the other semifinal.
In junior varsity matches, Nanakuli will play at Wai'anae at 5 p.m. and 'Aiea will face Moanalua at 5 p.m. at Kalani.
The championships are set for Nov. 2 at the Stan Sheriff Center. All semifinalists have earned state berths.
• ILH: Kamehameha can clinch the boys' league championship with a win against Punahou at 5 p.m. today at Kekuhaupio Gym.
It is the final game of the second round, where the Warriors are 3-0 and the Buffanblu are 2-1. Kamehameha won the regular season title, so a second-round title gives it the overall crown and the first of the league's two state berths.
If Punahou wins, there will be a three-way tie in the second round, including Iolani, which is 3-1. If that happens, a draw will determine which of the three has a bye, while the other two play. The winner then plays the bye team for the second-round title. If the champion is different from Kamehameha, there will be another playoff for the overall title.
For the girls, Iolani can clinch the overall title by beating Punahou 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Iolani.
