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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, November 18, 2003

Farrington will get early wakeup call to play Hilo

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Hilo High School football team's 27-14 road upset of Kealakehe last Friday caused quite a stir in the inter-island travel industry yesterday.

That's because several people making plans to attend this Friday's state tournament first-round game on the Big Island expected Kealakehe to win and thus had booked flights, hotel rooms and rental cars for Kona. That included an 80-person travel party from Hilo's opponent, Farrington.

With the Vikings' surprise victory, however, the game now will be held in Kea'au — some 110 miles from Kailua, Kona.

"As of now, we're still flying to Kona," Governors coach Randall Okimoto said early yesterday afternoon. "We're still in the planning process. It's the last thing we want to worry about, but it's the first thing we gotta take care of. It's been rough. It would have been much easier if we could have stayed home."

A few hours later, Farrington athletic director Harold Tanaka confirmed that the Govs will now fly to Hilo — on a 5:30 a.m. flight on Thursday.

"We'll sleep at school (Wednesday)," Tanaka said. "We were going to go to Kona, but we changed it — for the fourth time."

The alternative was a 2 1/2-hour ride on two buses down an often curvy, two-lane Big Island highway.

But whatever route the Governors (6-4-1) took to Kea'au's year-old football stadium, the challenges wouldn't stop there.

"Hilo looks like a good team," said Okimoto, who flew to Kona to scout last Friday's game. "They looked even bigger than Kealakehe, and they've got some skill guys. I was impressed with their running game, and they were opportunistic, they took advantage of turnovers. And they didn't quit — they showed that with a fourth-quarter touchdown that sealed the game."

The game was considered an upset because Kealakehe had won the regular-season meeting between the schools, 51-27. But Hilo coach Albert Kawelu said that score was misleading.

"(The Waveriders) got off to a big lead in the first half, but we came back in the second half," Kawelu said. "That's what I told our team after the game: we won the second half, 21-20. So if you count that, we've actually outplayed them the past three halves."

Farrington's early travel plans notwithstanding, Okimoto said he was wary of that fact as well.

"That's why we went up there (to scout)," Okimoto said. "We wanted to see for ourselves."

What Okimoto saw was a steady running game led by tailback Royden Nabarro (202 yards, three touchdowns) and fullback Nui Spikes. Nabarro rushed for 279 yards the week before in a victory over Waiakea and set a single-season league record with 1,845 yards, breaking the previous mark of 1,810 set last year by HPA's Brad Lau.

"He's a tough runner, he keeps on running after he gets hit and he doesn't fumble," Okimoto said. "And they have a big fullback who is a good blocker. We'll have our hands full."

To keep teams honest, the Vikings (8-2) have been taking advantage of quarterback Matt Haasenritter, a baseball pitcher who helped Hilo win the Senior League World Series in August.

"He went on a baseball trip and missed the first Waiakea game (a 17-14 loss) and the Kea'au game, and he came back the week of the first Kealakehe game," Kawelu said. "He was totally rusty. But he had a good game (last week), and when we threw 16 times, people were like, 'Hoh, you guys cutting loose!' Before, other teams would just stack eight or nine in the box against us."

Okimoto said Hilo's passing game must be respected.

"Their quarterback is mobile, and he makes good decisions," Okimoto said.

Defensively, the Vikings feature a strong linebacking crew led by Spikes, Ikaika Johnson and Jon Tuakalau. One of their main duties will be to contain the Governors' All-State running back, Matt Bell.

"Oh, man, we gotta watch out for Bell," Kawelu said. "We heard he can hurt you with the run or with the pass (catching), and they line up in all kinds of formations. We just have to have confidence that our offense can help keep their offense off the field."

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation is the only one of Hawai'i's five leagues still winless in state tournament games. BIIF champs Hilo (1999), Konawaena (2000), Waiakea (53-8) and Hawai'i Prep (2002) have lost first-round games by an aggregate score of 155-22.

But Okimoto discounts the past performances.

"They've made a lot of progress," Okimoto said. "I was impressed with Kealakehe, too."

And of course, as with any game in the Hilo area, rain could be a factor.

"But we're kind of used to that," said Okimoto, noting the Govs' home field is at Roosevelt. "It shouldn't be a shock to us."

Especially after Thursday's 3 a.m. wake-up call.

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

• • •

State football Division I capsules

Hilo Vikings

Big Island Interscholastic Federation champions

Record: 8-2

Coach: Albert Kawelu, 8th season (45-39-2)

Tournament history: Second appearance. Made tournament in 2000, but was eliminated in quarterfinals. BIIF has yet to win a state tournament game.

Season at a glance:

  • W, Hawai'i Prep, 7-0
  • W, at Konawaena, 9-7
  • W, at Ka'u, 59-14
  • W, Honoka'a, 33-7
  • L, Waiakea, 17-14
  • W, at Kea'au, 48-14
  • L, at Kealakehe, 51-27
  • W, Kohala, 41-14

BIIF semifinals

  • W, Waiakea, 37-13

BIIF championship

  • W, at Kealakehe, 27-14

Baldwin Bears

Maui Interscholastic League champions

Record: 9-1

Coach: Chad Kauhaahaa, 2nd season (16-3)

Tournament history: Third appearance. Has MIL's only win in a 1999 quarterfinal at Wailuku against Farrington.

Season at a glance:

  • W, Farrington* at AS, 3-0
  • W, Lahainaluna, 42-0
  • W, at King Kekaulike, 21-13
  • W, Linfield Christian* (CA) at War Memorial, 30-0
  • W, Pac-Three, 31-6
  • W, Maui, 16-6
  • W, Lahainaluna, 20-6
  • L, King Kekaulike, 22-20
  • W, Pac-Three, 41-0
  • W, Maui, 26-12

Kaua'i Red Raiders

Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champions

Record: 5-3

Coach: Kelii Morgado, 5th season (14-25-1)

Tournament history: Debut.

Season at a glance:

  • L, El Camino* (CA), 29-15
  • L, Punahou*, 32-7
  • W, Kapa'a, 30-6
  • W, Waimea, 26-12
  • W, Kapa'a, 34-14
  • W, Waimea at Hanapeepe, 6-0
  • W, Kapa'a, 28-0
  • L, Waimea, 20-13

Saint Louis Crusaders

Interscholastic League of Honolulu champions

Record: 7-1

Coach: Darnell Arceneaux, 1st season (7-1)

Tournament history: Fifth appearance. At 10-2, Crusaders are winningest team in tournament history.

Season at a glance:

  • W, at Kaiser*, 34-12
  • L, Kamehameha at AS, 16-13
  • W, Punahou at AS, 22-6
  • W, Pac-Five at AS, 42-0
  • W, Punahou at AS, 29-21
  • W, Damien at AS, 26-12
  • W, Iolani at AS, 33-20
  • W, Kamehameha at AS, 51-19

Kahuku Red Raiders

O'ahu Interscholastic Association champions

Record: 11-0

Coach: Siuaki Livai, 8th season (78-17)

Tournament history: Fourth appearance. Red Raiders are 8-1, their only loss coming to Saint Louis in the inaugural championship game. They are the only unbeaten team left in the state.

Season at a glance:

  • W, at Lahainaluna*, 34-0
  • W, Wai'anae at AS, 36-0
  • W, Roosevelt, 45-0
  • W, McKinley at Mililani, 40-12
  • W, Farrington at Roosevelt, 40-7
  • W, Kaimuki, 66-0
  • W, Castle, 47-15
  • W, at Kailua, 26-9

OIA quarterfinals

  • W, Wai'anae, 41-8

OIA semifinals

  • W, Farrington at AS, 42-18

OIA championship

  • W, Kailua at AS, 6-0

Kailua Surfriders

OIA runner-up

Record: 8-2-1

Coach: Darren Johnson, 8th season (58-28-1)

Tournament history: Fourth appearance. Surfriders are 1-3 with two losses coming to Waimea at Kaua'i in quarterfinals.

Season at a glance:

  • W, Punahou*, 22-7
  • W, Campbell, 47-8
  • W, Kaimuki, 61-0
  • W, Castle at AS, forfeit
  • W, Roosevelt, 47-7
  • W, McKinley at AS, 26-21
  • T, Farrington at Roosevelt, 13-13
  • L, Kahuku, 26-9

OIA quarterfinals

  • W, Nanakuli, 42-6

OIA semifinals

  • W, Mililani at AS, 20-12

OIA championship

  • L, Kahuku at AS, 6-0

Farrington Governors

OIA third

Record: 6-4-1

Coach: Randall Okimoto, 2nd season (12-11-1)

Tournament history: Third appearance. Has yet to advance past the quarterfinals (0-2)

Season at a glance:

  • L, Baldwin* at AS, 3-0
  • W, Waipahu at Roosevelt, 37-23
  • L, at Castle, 34-14
  • W, at Roosevelt, 35-7
  • W, McKinley at Roosevelt, 27-26
  • L, Kahuku at Roosevelt, 40-7
  • T, Kailua at Roosevelt, 13-13
  • W, Kaimuki at Kaiser, 35-6

OIA quarterfinals

  • W, at Pearl City, 21-7

OIA semifinals

  • L, Kahuku at AS, 42-18

OIA third place

  • W, Mililani at AS, 14-6

Mililani Trojans

OIA fourth

Record: 9-2

Coach: James Millwood, 10th season (60-37-4)

Tournament history: Debut.

Season at a glance:

  • W, 'Aiea, 14-7
  • W, at Castle, 28-14
  • W, Waipahu, 41-6
  • W, at Pearl City, 35-20
  • W, Campbell, 28-12
  • W, Nanakuli, 16-6
  • W, at Wai'anae, 27-0
  • W, at Leilehua, 31-0

OIA quarterfinals

  • W, McKinley, 13-12 (OT)

OIA semifinals

  • L, Kailua at AS, 20-13

OIA third place

  • L, Farrington at AS, 14-6

• • •

State football Division II capsules

Hawai'i Prep Ka Makani

Big Island Interscholastic Federation champions

Record: 7-4

Coach: Tom Goodspeed, 5th season (33-22)

Tournament history: Second appearance. Ka Makani are 0-1.

Season at a glance:

  • L, Waimea*, 26-21
  • L, Iolani*, 41-7
  • L, Hilo at Wong, 7-0
  • W, Kea'au, 42-18
  • L, at Kealakehe, 55-0
  • W, Ka'u, 43-0
  • W, at Kohala, 22-0
  • W, Honoka'a, 21-10
  • W, Waiakea, 21-7
  • W, at Konawaena, 14-13

BIIF championship

  • W, Konawaena, 42-0

Damien Monarchs

Interscholastic League of Honolulu representative

Record: 3-5

Coaches: Rudy Alejo and Dean Nakagawa, 2nd season (4-12)

Tournament history: Debut

Season at a glance:

  • L, at Nanakuli*, 37-19
  • W, Pac-Five at AS, 32-6
  • L, Iolani at AS, 21-6
  • L, Punahou at AS, 37-20
  • L, at Kamehameha, 28-7
  • L, Saint Louis at Aloha, 26-12
  • W, Pac-Five at Kam, 42-40
  • W, at Iolani, 28-21

Waimea Menehunes

Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation representative

Record: 6-2

Coach: Liko Pereira, 1st season (6-2)

Tournament history: Fifth appearance. Menehunes are 3-4, with all wins coming in quarterfinals at Kaua'i.

Season at a glance:

  • W, at Hawai'i Prep*, 26-21
  • W, Woodbridge* (CA), 25-20
  • W, Kapa'a at Hanapepe, 21-6
  • L, Kaua'i at Vidinha, 26-12
  • W, Kapa'a at Vidinha, 20-0
  • L, Kaua'i at Hanapepe, 6-0
  • W, Kapa'a at Hanapepe, 31-8
  • W, Kaua'i at Vidinha, 20-13

Lahainaluna Lunas

Maui Interscholastic League representative

Record: 1-7-1

Coach: Robert Watson, 14th season (71-68-3)

Tournament history: Second appearance. Lunas are 0-1.

Season at a glance:

  • L, Kahuku*, 34-0
  • L, Baldwin, 42-0
  • L, Pac-Three, 14-7
  • L, Maui, 26-0
  • L, King Kekaulike, 27-21
  • L, Baldwin, 20-6
  • W, Pac-Three, 21-13
  • L, Maui, 18-6
  • T, at King Kekaulike, 17-17

'Aiea Na Ali'i

OIA champions

Record: 8-2

Coach: Wendell Say, 12th season (62-52-1)

Tournament history: Second appearance. Na Ali'i are 0-1.

  • L, at Mililani*, 14-7
  • W, Kalaheo at Kailua, 41-0
  • W, Kaiser, 35-14
  • W, at Radford, 10-0
  • W, at Waialua, 49-13
  • W, Kalani, 50-0
  • L, at Kapolei at Mililani, 44-24
  • W, at Moanalua, 2014

OIA semifinals

  • W, Radford, 21-7

OIA championship

  • W, Kapolei at Mililani, 22-15

Kapolei Hurricanes

OIA runner-up

Record: 9-1

Coach: Darren Hernandez, 2nd season (14-4); 9th overall season (46-31-3)

Tournament history: Debut.

Season at a glance:

  • W, at Wai'anae, 21-0
  • W, Kalani at Leilehua, 60-0
  • W, at Waialua, 40-20
  • W, at Moanalua, 38-0
  • W, at Kaiser, 14-7
  • W, Kalaheo at Kailua, 42-12
  • W, 'Aiea at Mililani, 44-24
  • W, at Radford, 38-21

OIA semifinals

  • W, Kalaheo at Mililani, 41-0

OIA championship

  • L, 'Aiea at Mililani, 22-15

*Denotes non-league games. All MIL games at War Memorial, unless noted. AS=Aloha Stadium.

Note: Only OIA and BIIF name distinct Division I and II champions. All other leagues allow Division II teams a chance to win their respective overall league titles, so the non-overall champions in the Division II tournament are characterized as league representatives.