Hawai'i-California football games garnering attention

• High school football non-league schedule

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association/First Hawaiian Bank Football Classic doubleheader on Sept. 21 is already gaining national exposure.

The opener at Aloha Stadium pits two-time defending state high school champion Kahuku against nationally ranked Long Beach (Calif.) Poly with the nightcap featuring perennial state power St. Louis against two-time defending national champion De La Salle (Concord, Calif.).

The Sporting News/Student Sports High School Football 2002 magazine, which is on store shelves with NFL and college football publications, calls Sept. 21 one of "two key dates for the 2002 high school football season" in a story featuring De La Salle. The other date is Oct. 12, when the two California teams play at Cal-Berkeley's Memorial Stadium. The story goes on to say St. Louis and Long Beach Poly have the best chance at stopping De La Salle's national record 125-game winning streak.

The Student Sports Fab 50 lists De La Salle No. 1, Long Beach Poly No. 8 and St. Louis No. 15. In its West Regional ranking, the same schools are the top three teams. Although Kahuku is the defending state champion with a 23-game win streak, it is not among the Fab 50, but is listed at No. 16 in the West. The magazine cites St. Louis ahead of Kahuku because the Crusaders have more returning starters.

The magazine also has a feature on Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai.

Kahuku also is recognized in the publication for having six recruits signing Division I-A letters of intent. The Red Raiders were among 20 teams nationally with at least five signees.

Kaua'i also got some publicity in the magazine. It recognized Hanapepe Ball Park as one of the best venues to watch high school football in the nation. Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation power Waimea plays its home games there.

Discounted advance ticket sales at Kahuku and St. Louis for the Sept. 21 doubleheader have been brisk, both schools reported. Kahuku reported 1,300 tickets sold through phone orders and via its Web site. St. Louis reported approximately 2,000 sales. The schools are selling tickets for seats in their respective sections at Aloha Stadium. Kahuku reported people driving in from Honolulu, Waipahu and 'Ewa Beach to get seats in its section. St. Louis said it had about a dozen inquiries from the Neighbor Islands.

The advance tickets are $17 from the two schools through Aug. 15. After that, tickets will be available to the general public for $24.

De La Salle and Long Beach Poly also had an allotment of tickets for boosters making the trip.

High school football non-league schedule

At school sites, JV game at 5 p.m. with varsity to follow 25 mintues after JV game, unless noted

Friday, Aug. 23

• Kalaheo at Campbell
• Leilehua at Castle
• Farrington at Kamehameha, JV only
• Waialua at Kailua, JV only
• Kaiser at Mililani
• McKinley at Radford, JV only
• Waipahu at Moanalua
• Roosevelt at Pearl City
• Kapolei at Wai'anae
• King Kekaulike vs. Kapa'a at Vidinha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
• Waimea vs. Hilo at Wong Stadium
• Scotts Valley (Calif.) vs. St. Anthony at War Memorial, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 24

• Kaimuki at 'Aiea, 5 p.m. JV
• Punahou at 'Aiea, varsity
• Pac-Five vs. Farrington, 5 p.m. at Aloha Stadium
• Kailua at Hawai'i Prep, 2 p.m., varsity only
• Damien vs. Kaimuki, 2 p.m. at Aloha Stadium
• McKinley at Kealakehe, 7:30 p.m.
• St. Louis at Nanakuli
• McKinley at Radford, 5 p.m., JV only
• Radford vs. Iolani at Aloha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
• Waialua at Konawaena, 7 p.m.
• Farrington at Kamehameha, 5 p.m., JV
• Baldwin at Kamehameha, 7:30 p.m.
• Maui vs. Kaua'i at Vidinha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
• Waiakea vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial, 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 30

• Waimea at Kamehameha, 7 p.m., varsity only

Saturday, Aug. 31

• Kealahehe at Punahou, TBA, varsity only
• Pac-Five vs. Hilo at Wong Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Kapa'a at Honoka'a, 7:30 p.m., varsity only

Sunday, Sept. 1

• Kohala at Kamehameha, 7 p.m., varsity only

Friday, Sept. 6

• Beverly Hills (Calif.) vs. Pac-Five at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
• Edison (Calif.) vs. Iolani at Aloha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 7

• Kapa'a at Kamehameha, 7 p.m., varsity only

Saturday, Sept. 21

At Aloha Stadium

• No. 8 Long Beach (Cailf.) Poly vs. Kahuku, 5 p.m.
• No. 1 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) vs. No. 15 St. Louis, 8 p.m.

National rankings based on Student Sports Fab 50.