Nanakuli captures OIA White title
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Not wanting to leave its destiny to chance, Nanakuli took matters into its own hand by defeating Kaimuki, 20-6, to capture the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White football title last night at Roosevelt stadium.
In the process, the Golden Hawks snuffed Kapolei's and Pearl City's playoff hopes.
Albert Distajo passed for one touchdown and returned an interception for another for the Golden Hawks (6-1), who have the White's top seed and will face Red West No. 3 Mililani in a first-round playoff at 5:05 p.m. Friday at Aloha Stadium.
Despite the loss, the Kaimuki (5-2) has the White's second seed and will play Red East No. 3 Castle at 5:05 p.m. Thursday.
Although Kaimuki has the same record as Pearl City and Kapolei, the Bulldogs beat both during the season to win the head-to-head tiebreaker. Pearl City beat Kaiser, 7-0, Friday night and Kapolei beat Kalani, 49-0, last night.
Had Nanakuli lost, a coin toss would have determined the second seed.
"I told them, 'You can take the risk of a coin toss or control your own destiny,' " Nanakuli coach Al Beaver said. "The kids decided to control their own destiny."
Nanakuli's defensive line of John Van Giesen, Gary Stanton, Keala Watson and Ned Scanlan limited Kaimuki's offense to 203 yards and 10 first downs, three of which came from penalties.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Golden Hawks took the lead on a Distajo's 24-yard TD pass to Joerel Alapai, who caught the ball at the 1 and spun out of a tackle. Nanakuli got a two-point conversion on a dive up the middle by running back Ikaika Asinsin.
Beaver said the Golden Hawks went for two points after each TD because he said their power-I formation is more efficient than their kicking game.
"It's been like a crap shoot," Beaver said. "You never know what you're going to get when you kick the ball."
Nanakuli failed on its two other two-point tries.
Kaimuki responded on its ensuing series. Aided by a roughing-the-punter penalty, the Bulldogs eventually scored on a 37-yard TD pass from Shelden Sarcedo to Darin Fujimoto with 5:58 left in the half. Sarcedo's run on the two-point conversion failed, as Nanakuli held an 8-6 lead.
After a scoreless third quarter, Asinsin got the Golden Hawks on the board again with a 56-yard TD run to increase their lead to 14-6. He finished the game with 117 yards on 15 carries.
Kaimuki threatened on its next series, but Distajo intercepted Sarcedo's pass and returned it 94 yards for a TD to make it 20-6.
This is Nanakuli's first title since 1997, when it shared the Blue championship with Mililani. That also was the last time the Golden Hawks made the playoffs.
"We going go home and we're going to party tonight," Asinsin said. "Guarantee. It's been a while. Five years. But we went earn 'em."
NANAKULI (6-1) 0 8 0 12—20
KAIMUKI (5-2) 0 6 0 0— 6
Nana—Joerel Alapai 24 pass from Albert Distajo (Ikaika Asinsin run)
Kaim—Darin Fujimoto 37 pass from Shelden Sarcedo (run failed)
Nana—Asinsin 56 run (pass failed)
Nana—Distajo 94 interception return (run failed)
RUSHING—Nanakuli: Distajo 9-28, Asinsin 15-117, Kyle Beck 7-67, Less Schnabel 2-17. Kaimuki: Sarcedo 15-41, Vaiala Tupuala 6-15, Fujimoto 5-31, Kellen Kawasaki 7-7, David Taumalolo 1-3, Daniel Tautofi 1-21, Josiah Kua 1-(minus 3).
PASSING—Nanakuli: Distajo 3-7-1—47. Kaimuki: Sarcedo 4-19-1—88.
RECEIVING—Nanakuli: Jimmy Afamasaga 1-11, Alapai 1-24, Asher Valanzuela 1-12. Kaimuki: Tautofi 1-12, Kua 2-33, Fujitmoto 1-37, Anthony Mitani 1-6.
JV—Kaimuki 32, Nanakuli 18.
• KAPOLEI 49, KALANI 0: John Dela Rama rushed for two touchdowns to lead the Hurricanes over the Falcons at Kaiser High School field.
Kapolei finished its first varsity season with a 5-2 record. Kalani was 0-7.
Kapolei (5-2) 7 21 14 7—49
Kalani (0-7) 0 0 0 0—0
Kapo—John Dela Rama 4 run (Nick Cavaretta kick)
Kapo—Warren Simanu fumble recovery (Cavaretta kick)
Kapo—Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada 8 run (Cavaretta kick)
Kapo—John Medeiros 1 run (Cavaretta kick)
Kapo—Alex Abregana 45 run (Cavaretta kick)
Kapo—Dela Rama 19 run (Cavaretta kick)
Kapo—Gilbert Brown 50 run (Cavaretta kick)
RUSHING—Kapolei: Medeiros 7-75, Brown 7-80, Dela Rama 6-55, Kaheaku-Enhada 2-20, Charles Recamara 3-43, Brandon Pieper 1-30, Andre Meekins 4-3, Kyle Albano 1-12, Abregana 1-45, Stephen Travis 3-(minus 7). Kalani: Daniel Dabbs 6-(minus 7), Matt Runnels 14-(minus 40), Keaka Lee 5-(minus 5), Zach Gregory 2-1, Reid Pamatigan 1-(minus 5).
PASSING—Kapolei: Medeiros 1-3-0—9. Kalani: Runnels 4-12-0—15, Dabbs 1-6-0—40.
RECEIVING—Kapolei: Chavis Gamboa 1-9. Kalani: Teetai Ane 3-38, Jared Diseria 2-17.
JV—Kapolei 54, Kalani 50
Reported by Tino Palacio
Upcoming games
Interscholastic League of Honolulu
• Friday
Pac-Five at Kamehameha, 7
• Saturday
At Aloha Stadium
Damien vs. Punahou, 4:45
St. Louis vs. Iolani, 7:30
Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation
JV games at 5 p.m., varsity at 7:35 p.m. All games p.m.
• Friday
Kaua'i vs. Waimea at Hanapepe Ball Park
Maui Interscholastic League
All games at War Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m., unless noted
• Friday
King Kekaulike vs. Maui
• Saturday
Lahainaluna vs. Baldwin
Big Island Interscholastic Federation
• Playoffs on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26
