Heavy rains dampen Kahuku's dry run

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

	First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships Tomorrow at Aloha Stadium Division II Who: Damien (5-5) vs. 'Aiea (9-2) Time: 5 p.m. Division I Who: Saint Louis (9-1) vs. Kahuku (13-0) Time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $7 general, $5 students K-12. Parking: $2 Radio: KWAI 1080 AM will broadcast both games live TV: None

Heavy rains Saturday, Sunday and Monday soaked the Red Raiders' field, limiting them to film study, weight training and one-hour practices in the gym the past three days in preparation for tomorrow night's First Hawaiian Bank State Championship game against Saint Louis at Aloha Stadium.

"We were not on the field, period," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said Tuesday night. "You can swim around our track. It definitely will hurt us; I wish we had a real practice to prepare for Saint Louis."

The timing could not have been worse for the 13-0 Red Raiders, who need the field practices to simulate the Crusaders' sophisticated run-and-shoot offense.

"We've looked at specific things they do week by week, but now I kind of regret we didn't put in more practices earlier to prepare for them," Livai said. "But then if we did that, we'd be underestimating whoever we were playing that week. We just have to make the most of what we have."

Saint Louis, meanwhile, has been practicing daily on its synthetic FieldTurf, which has a drainage system designed to keep the surface dry. The Crusaders (9-1) are using the time to look for holes in Kahuku's defense, which has allowed an average of 6.2 points per game.

"Their whole defense is aggressive," Saint Louis quarterback Keali'i Perbera said. "I think that's going to be a key: how we do against their defense. We just have to do our assignments."

The Crusaders' famed offense appears to be peaking again, despite a change in head coaches for the second time in two years. Former Saints quarterback Darnell Arceneaux, 26, was not announced as head coach until June 23, but he retained longtime assistants Vince Passas and Frank Pahia as his offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, respectively.

"The biggest change usually is in the blocking system, but they've still got Frank, and Vinnie's still there, too, so they haven't changed," Livai said. "And as young as Darnell is, you've got to count his playing days as experience. He may not have coaching experience, but he was a quarterback for them and this system is what he's been taught since 10, 11 years ago. He faced everything and knows what is working and what is not working. He's so familiar with what they're doing and what they need to do; it'd be different if he was a defensive lineman."

Saint Louis' offense already was potent with Perbera, running back B.J. Batts and receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku, but the hot player of late has been 6-foot-5, 220-pound senior receiver Desmond Hanohano.

After playing in only two games in 2002 because of injuries, Hanohano caught 22 passes for 429 yards and eight touchdowns in seven regular season games this year. But in two state tournament victories so far, he has 12 catches for 414 yards and five touchdowns.

"I feel it's more of a team effort," Hanohano said. "The O-line is giving me time to get open, and Keali'i is making the right reads, he reads the progressions. And in practice the defense — even the second- or third-string guys — helps by giving us good looks and going hard against us."

Hanohano thinks he runs the 40-yard dash in "about 4.8 or 4.9" seconds, but Perbera said Hanohano's speed "is incredible" for someone his size.

"He can cover five yards in 1-1/2 steps," Perbera said. "He's always been there, on the streak (pattern) and everything. We try to utilize his mismatches, and I just throw it up to him and have confidence in him catching the ball."

Physically, Perbera (5-7, 160) is almost the opposite of Hanohano — and certainly not in the mold of past Crusaders quarterbacks like Timmy Chang, Jason Gesser or Arceneaux. But Perbera, who was third string last year, more than makes up for his lack of size with accuracy and toughness.

"Some kids in his situation might have just quit and walked away, but he had the guts to stick it out and work hard," Arceneaux said. "When we came in last summer I said, 'Every position is up for grabs, and even if you started last year, you're not a starter until you prove it to us.' Keali'i overcame the adversity and proved himself."

Tomorrow, he will try to overcome a fierce Red Raiders defense led by linemen Makana Nicodemus and Shosei Yamauchi, linebacker Walker Vave and defensive backs Afa Garrigan and Tori Taulogo.

"That free safety (Garrigan) is in every film we looked at," Arceneaux said. "I think their defensive line is smaller than usual, but they're just as strong and active. They've still got great athletes back there and the coaches put them in the right situations."

The key for Kahuku likely will be which offensive unit shows up: The one that steamrolled opponents and averaged 42 points per game in a 10-0 start? Or the one that scored only six points against Kailua in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship game, just seven in the first half against Kaua'i in the state quarterfinals and fumbled nine times in last week's semifinal victory over Farrington?

"With our offense, if it's not this, it's that," Livai said. "We don't know what it's going to be this week, but one thing we know is we cannot make as many mistakes against Saint Louis because every series we give them, they can take it to the house. Our defense cannot be running around forever, because if you leave any defense on the field long enough, it will break down at some point."

Arceneaux, for his part, expects the Red Raiders to be at their best.

"They're big, physical and hungry," Arceneaux said. "I think it's gonna come down to the wire. It's gonna be a great game, with two great teams ...

"A treat for everybody."

EXTRA POINT: The inaugural "Samoa Bowl," pitting Hawai'i high school seniors against a team of all-stars from Samoa, is set for New Year's Day in Pago Pago, American Samoa. The Hawai'i team is still looking for interested players. For more information, go to the game's official Web site at www.samoabowl.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.