Long Beach plans to 'mix it up' against Kahuku

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	ON TV KGMB will televise live tonight's St. Louis and Kahuku games 5 & 8 p.m.

The Red Raiders (3-0) will put their 26-game winning streak on the line against the Jackrabbits (1-0), ranked third in the USA Today Super 25, in tonight's opener of the HHSAA/First Hawaiian Bank Football Classic doubleheader at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is 5 p.m.

Aside from facing Hawai'i's two-time defending state champion, the Jackrabbits are concerned with humidity that they hardly, if at all, experience along the Southern California coast.

"We don't get this," Jackrabbits coach Raul Lara said of Hawai'i's weather. "We've been preaching since double days, 'OK, you guys start getting hydrated. You have to start hydrating yourself.' Nutrition was an issue for us, too. We've been preaching it to the kids. Whether the kids have been doing it (hydrating themselves), we don't know. We hope they have. When they came off the airplane (Thursday), I think they started realizing how hot and humid it is out here."

It will only get hotter at game time because the teams are similar in style and use brute strength.

Both offenses' plays are dictated by what the defense offers.

"We mix it up," Lara said. "It depends on what the defense is giving up. If they're loading up front nine-, eight-men fronts, we're not going to sit there and run it all night. We're going to throw the ball to get them out of that. Once we get what we want, then we'll start running."

Although the Jackrabbits live up to their mascot — running backs Lorenzo Bailey and Jeremiah Toloumu were timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.42 and 4.58 seconds, respectively — they will throw when the opportunity presents itself. In their 45-0 win at Westchester (Los Angeles) last week, senior quarterback Leon Jackson completed 12 of 15 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Kahuku has the same approach, except it hasn't shown it in its first three games. The Red Raiders mostly run the ball, having attempted 19 passes in that span. But as they have in past seasons, they will throw when the defense stacks the line.

Another common thread is both teams have size. The Jackrabbits' key returning offensive linemen are Division I prospect Kevin Brown (6-2, 290), Hercules Satele (6-2, 245) and Josh Tauanuu (6-3, 260). The Red Raiders have Joseph Napeahi (6-3, 320) and Jeremy Perry (6-2, 300).

Lara said he was surprised at Kahuku's size.

"They're big guys just trying to pound the ball," Lara said. "I just hope we can last with them guys because they're big guys. I thought we were big. They're much bigger than us. I didn't think there would be any team bigger than us."

But the Jackrabbits have speed and size on the line. Brown, who bench pressed 385 pounds, was timed at 5.1 seconds in the 40. Tauanuu, who bench presses 350 pounds, was timed at 4.9.

Long Beach Poly's defensive line also is huge with end Junior Lemauu (6-5, 250), Satele and Tauanuu.

"There's no difference in preparing for (Poly)," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. "It's similar to preparing for St. Louis."

While the Jackrabbits are pretty set with experienced starters (nine to Kahuku's six), the Red Raiders are unproven at their offensive skill positions. Quarterback Spencer Hafoka is a sophomore who was the starter on last year's junior varsity. He replaced two-time all-state selection Inoke Funaki, who is with the University of Hawai'i.

Livai also has used 15 different running backs, as none has separated himself from the pack the way Mulivai Pula did the last two years.

Kahuku has had three games to fine tune for Long Beach Poly, which has played one game. That concerns Lara.

"They (Red Raiders) should be more precise in running their plays than us because we have only one game," Lara said. "That's another thing we preached about. We had to hurry up and get good quick."

Kahuku struggles with penalties, but are usually superior enough to overcome them against in-state competition. It committed 18 for 158 yards in a 40-6 win against Kalaheo two weeks ago. The same thing happened last year, when they committed numerous penalties throughout the regular season and continued to win. It got to the point where Livai conceded during postseason that that was the nature of his team.

Kahuku's advantage is depth. It carries 106 players, but fewer than half play. The Jackrabbits have 67 players, but only 45 made the trip. Lara said his team was allotted 75 paid slots. The extra 30 slots went to coaches and support staff.

Lara conceded depth might affect his team, although he used the same 45 in the Westchester game to simulate his situation for tonight's game.

"Hopefully nobody gets hurt and we don't have to utilize that person (we left behind.)," Lara said.

As for accepting the invitation to play in the Classic, Lara said it was a no-brainer.

"Anytime somebody comes up and says, 'Hawai'i wants to pay 75 slots,' I mean, how can you turn it down?" he said. "Our kids have that opportunity to go somewhere where they may never go in their lives again."

How will Kahuku fare?

MICHAEL CARTER

Former University of Hawai'i quarterback, 1989-92, and current assistant for Kapolei High School

Long Beach Poly

Class of 1989

"Playing with local kids at UH and now coaching them in high school, I can say that they do have a lot of pride. And the Kahuku fans at last year's St. Louis game — those were the best high school fans I've ever seen. But I just think Kahuku will be overmatched this time, with the athletic talent that Poly has."

HYRUM PETERS

University of Hawai'i defensive back

Kahuku Class of 1999

"It's going to be a tough game physically and mentally. But I have no doubt in my mind that Kahuku will be ready. To me, island football is way different ... no matter if we're losing by plenty, we have the fire to try and catch up. It'll be tough, but I gotta go with Kahuku. I'm just gonna believe in them."

Tickets

• Mauka and Makai (orange/blue) $24
• Mauka and Makai (red/yellow) $19
• South end zone (all levels) $14
• North end zone (orange) $6
• North end zone (blue/brown/red/yellow) $5
• Stadium box office opens from 9 a.m.

Parking

Aloha Stadium: $2

Alternate parking areas:

• Leeward Community College ($2 shuttle service)
• Kamehameha Drive-In ($2, free shuttle)
• Radford High School ($1, no shuttle)

Shuttles run from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 8 p.m.

Streaks

De La Salle has won a national-record 126 games in a row

Kahuku has won 26

St. Louis has longest Hawai'i streak at 55 (1985-1990)