St. Louis, Kahuku to face national powers in Classic

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Dreams really do come true, at least in high school football.

St. Louis coach Delbert Tengan, De La Salle athletic director Terry Eidson, Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai and Long Beach Poly coach Raul Lara discuss the Sept. 21 Classic. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

Fans here will be pinching themselves on Sept. 21, when those matchups become reality at Aloha Stadium in the HHSAA/First Hawaiian Bank Football Classic at Aloha Stadium.

The local media yesterday got a glimpse of what to expect in the doubleheader, when coaches from all four teams gathered for a press conference and meeting at the University of Hawai'i's Stan Sheriff Center.

"When we played De La Salle last year, I never thought anything would top it," Long Beach Poly coach Raul Lara said. "Now, sitting down here, I really think this event will top that. I think these are the four best programs, at least on the West Coast. The state of Hawai'i is really lucky to have this."

Major powers from different states have met before, but never in a doubleheader with all four programs boasting such beefed-up resumŽs.

De La Salle, crowned National Champion by USA Today in 1998, 2000 and 2001, brings a national-record 125-game win streak into this season.

The Spartans have not lost since 1991, recording 10 straight undefeated seasons since. The 1991 loss actually snapped a 34-game win streak, meaning De La Salle has won 159 of its last 160 games dating to 1989.

Last fall, the Spartans — ranked No. 2 at the time — defeated No. 1-ranked Long Beach Poly, 29-15, in a highly anticipated matchup before a crowd of about 15,000 in Long Beach.

Still, De La Salle athletic director Terry Eidson said the Sept. 21 doubleheader may be the biggest event in which the Spartans will participate.

"We're really excited," said Eidson, who doubles as De La Salle's defensive coordinator. "It's very unusual to see teams from out of state coming together like this. It's probably the most exciting thing I've been involved with in 20 years of high school athletics. I think it'll be a great experience for the kids, something they'll remember for the rest of their lives."

Long Beach Poly also is a program steeped in rich tradition. The Jackrabbits have won three straight championships in the California Interscholastic Federation's highly competitive Southern Section Division I.

Walter Dods, chairman and chief executive officer of First Hawaiian Bank, talks about the Sept. 21 high school football showdown at a press conference. First Hawaiian is the event’s title sponsor. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

But Lara said he expects Kahuku to provide a stiff challenge, especially in the trenches.

"We thought we were big, but then we saw tape of their championship game (against St. Louis last year)," Lara said. "That definitely is a concern. And you can tell that they are coached real well."

Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said his team feels privileged to play a team of Long Beach Poly's caliber, and his players already have set their sights on the doubleheader.

"For us to come from way out there where we are and be given an opportunity like this, it's what we struggle for all our lives," said Livai, who played for Kahuku in the 1970s. "I want to make the most of it. It's good to have a big challenge like this other than St. Louis, and I think it will open up other opportunities. For the kids, it's an experience they will have for life."

The Classic also represents a baptism of fire for St. Louis' first-year coach, Delbert Tengan, who takes over for legendary coach Cal Lee. Tengan, though, said he relishes the chance to face a program of De La Salle's stature.

"As a rookie head coach, I couldn't ask for more," Tengan said. "The interest from our players has been tremendous, and I think the fan interest is going to be great."

Advance ticket sales have been brisk, and some observers are estimating a crowd of at least 30,000 for the Classic. Especially because of De La Salle's streak, the games will draw national attention.

All four coaches said their players have used the doubleheader as motivation in their offseason training.

"In January, we told our players, 'This game could draw 35,000 people, so think about that when you're working out,' " Eidson said. "A few of our players will go on to play for major colleges, but most of them won't play in front of that kind of crowd ever again."

Eidson, though, cautioned fans against viewing the doubleheader as the settlement to any argument.

"It doesn't prove that one state is better than another, although all four coaches have a lot of guts because it does put a lot on the line," Eidson said. "But no matter who wins, they'll all still be great programs the day after. This is just an opportunity to play good, competitive football on one given night."