Posted on: Tuesday, September 3, 2002
League is buzzing with talk of parity
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| St. Louis, led by quarterback Bobby George, is once again the favorites to capture the league crown, but balance is the buzz word for this season.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser |
For a change, preseason talk about Interscholastic League of Honolulu football does not necessarily center around St. Louis.
Yes, the 16-time defending champion Crusaders again are the favorite to win yet another title. But for the first time in recent memory, the six-team league is showing the kind of balance it enjoyed in the early 1980s, when scores like 84-0 and 69-0 were unheard of.
"I think the league is outstanding," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "It'll be exciting; every week will be a good challenge. St. Louis forced everybody to get better, and it demanded more of everybody. Everyone was looking for more parity, and I think we've achieved that."
Pac-Five coach Don "Spud" Botelho, the dean of Hawai'i coaches in his 38th season, agrees.
"It's about time," Botelho said. "In the past few years, the league wasn't a good product. Our attendance was down, and we weren't drawing fans from the general public because people knew who was going to win. I think this year will be different."
The ILH is 6-1 in non-league games so far, with two more big tests against strong Southern California programs in a Friday doubleheader at Aloha Stadium. Pac-Five will take on Beverly Hills at 5, and Iolani will meet Edison of Anaheim in the nightcap.
The ILH's only loss so far was Pac-Five's 28-7 defeat at the hands of Farrington on Aug. 24.
"We weren't ready," Botelho said. "Farrington was really good, and we had only about 10 or 11 practices because we didn't have two-a-days."
Advertiser library The Wolfpack rebounded with a 42-0 road win over Hilo on Saturday.
If a league is only as good as its second division, then the ILH should be the state's toughest conference.
Damien, which went 0-8 last year, showed huge improvement in a 42-15 victory over Kaimuki on Aug. 24. Pac-Five, 4-7 in 2001, has its largest offensive line ever and a cannon-armed quarterback in senior McShane Dator.
"We've had a series of good quarterbacks over the past 10 years, but the problem was, we couldn't protect them," Botelho said. "Now we've got a bigger line, so we should give Dator better protection. That's the key to our offense."
Dator threw five touchdown passes against Hilo as the Wolfpack built a 28-0 first-quarter lead and a 35-0 halftime advantage.
Iolani, which finished 7-2 last year, will again compete with Damien and Pac-Five in the ILH's "Division II." But the Raiders actually could be one of the top teams in the state, if their 48-20 victory over Radford on Aug. 24 is any indication.
Iolani's running back duo of juniors Raynold Stowers and Kelly Teramoto combined for 313 yards and five touchdowns on 30 carries that night, behind an experienced line that opened up huge holes on traps and counters.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser The Raiders' defense, led by linebacker Kala Ka'aihue and defensive backs Blake Wong and Kyle Muraoka, also looked strong.
"Their skill kids are outstanding," Botelho said.
Said Ane: "I was really impressed with Iolani's toughness and execution."
Punahou, which has beaten 'Aiea and Kealakehe, will use a West Coast offense this year after applying a single-wing attack the past few seasons.
"We'll try to go with quick running plays and a short passing game that will help control the ball," Ane said. "We've got six starters back on offense, but it's just like having all new starters because it's a new system."
The Buffanblu already suffered a big blow on defense when safety/outside linebacker Matt Culver tore an anterior cruciate ligament in their first scrimmage.
He is expected to miss the entire season.
While the rest of the league has improved, so have traditional powers St. Louis and Kamehameha. Both return starting quarterbacks in Bobby George and Caleb Spencer, respectively, and both have the kind of depth other teams dream of.
But the embarrassing routs of yesteryear could be over.
"I think everybody hopes so," Ane said.
Better pass protection should help Pac-Five quarterback McShane Dator thrive
Caleb Spencer should lead Kamehameha into contention.
