Waimea no longer an underdog
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The reward for winning the O'ahu Interscholastic Association football championship last week was about equal in significance to the punishment for losing it.
Courtesy The Garden Island Newspaper
That's because the winner, Castle, gets to stay home for its state tournament quarterfinal game on Friday and play Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Hawai'i Prep at Aloha Stadium, while the loser, Kailua, must travel to Lihu'e to face 11-time Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champ Waimea at Vidinha Stadium.
Waimea running back Jordon Dizon will be the focus of Kailua's defense when the teams meet Friday at Vidinha Stadium in the quarterfinals of the Chevron State Championship.
That trip to the Garden Isle has been a rough one for some of O'ahu's top programs in recent years, as Castle, Kailua and Punahou all have gone there and come back with surprising losses.
Waimea's consistently good showings against O'ahu teams are so impressive, the Menehune actually may have finally shed the underdog label.
"I think the element of surprise is gone already," Waimea coach Jon Kobayashi said. "Kailua will be ready to play."
That may not have been the case in 1999, when the OIA runner-up Surfriders were shocked by the Menehune, 20-18. On that trip, Kailua went through a hectic schedule — arriving in Lihu'e on game day and finally warming up at Vidinha after the long process of meeting on its Windward O'ahu campus, busing to Honolulu International Airport, checking in, going through security, landing on Kaua'i, claiming luggage, busing to the hotel, eating and then busing again to the stadium.
"There's about 80 of us (in the travel party) directly associated with the football team," Surfriders coach Darren Johnson said. "My athletic director (Mel Imai) and support staff have been awesome with arrangements and stuff, but it's still a big task for us."
Last year, Kailua had to travel to Hilo for its first-round game against Waiakea at Wong Stadium. The Surfriders arrived the night before the game, got a good night's sleep at the Naniloa, then had all day to prepare for the game. They won, 53-8.
"They've got it down already," Kobayashi said.
Johnson thinks so, too.
"A lot of our seniors have already been through it, so they know what it's like," Johnson said. "We've told them, 'This is no pleasure trip.' "
The Advertiser continues a series of previews for this week's quarterfinal games of the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association state football playoffs: • Yesterday: • Today: Kailua at Waimea • Tomorrow: Hawai'i Prep vs. Castle • Friday: Farrington vs. St. Louis
Especially when facing yet another strong Waimea team. The Menehune (7-1) have won seven straight games since losing its opener to Kamehameha more than two months ago.
State football previews
As usual, Waimea has won with precise execution and minimal penalties and turnovers. Although the Menehune roster, at 40 players, is 43 percent larger than last season's, many of the starters still play offense and defense.
But this year, the Menehune also have a big running back who can dominate a game.
Jordon Dizon, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior, made headlines around the state last month by rushing for a stunning 370 yards and five touchdowns in a victory over Kapa'a.
"The No. 1 thing about him is he is a great citizen," Kobayashi said. "He's unselfish and he works really well with his teammates. He has size and speed; he can run around you or run through you."
Johnson said Dizon presents a big challenge for his defense.
"We need to stop him," Johnson said.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Penalties and turnovers hurt Kailua in the loss three years ago, and the Surfriders had three turnovers against Castle last week. But Kobayashi said Waimea is not counting on a repeat performance.
Kailua coach Darren Johnson, left, and Waimea coach Jon Kobayashi will face each other for the second time in four years.
"We need to not beat ourselves," he said. "We can't just hope that somebody else messes up."
Kailua vs. Waimea
• What: Fourth Chevron State Football Championship Quarterfinals
• When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
• Where: Vidinha Stadium, Lihu'e, Kaua'i
• Venue information: Parking always open and free. Turnstiles open 6:30 p.m.
• Tickets: $7 adults, $5 students (K-12)
KAILUA SURFRIDERS
• O'ahu Interscholastic Association 2nd seed
• Coach: Darren Johnson, 7th season, 50-25
• Record: 9-2
• Streak: One loss
• Tournament history: Third appearance, 1-2 overall; 0-1 at Vidinha Stadium, 1-0 at Wong Stadium, 0-1 at Aloha Stadium.
• Scores:
W, Hawai'i Prep, 40-0*
W, Campbell, 47-18
W, Roosevelt, 54-0
W, Farrington, 41-14
W, Castle, 20-0
W, Kalaheo, 49-0
W, McKinley, 42-22
L, Kahuku, 7-12
Quarterfinals: W, Mililani, 41-17
Semifinals: W, McKinley, 41-28
Championship: L, Castle, 0-25
WAIMEA MENEHUNES
• What: Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion
• Coach: Jon Kobayashi, 10th season, 73-15-1
• Record: 7-1 overall, 6-0 KIF
• Streak: Six wins
• Tournament history: Fourth consecutive appearance, 2-3 overall, 2-0 at Vidinha, 0-3 at Aloha Stadium.
• Scores:
W, Hilo, 25-0*
L, Kamehameha, 7-42*
W, Kaua'i, 34-20
W, Kapa'a, 29-6
W, Kaua'i, 7-0
W, Kapa'a, 55-0
W, Kaua'i, 20-7
W, Kapa'a, 28-3
* preseason games
