Upstart Kaua'i plans for upset against Kahuku

• First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

After an 11-year postseason drought, the Kaua'i High School football team's reward for finally winning its league championship and state tournament berth is a first-round game against O'ahu juggernaut Kahuku at 5 p.m. tomorrow at Aloha Stadium.

But those who thought Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai was just filling sandbags when he said his team is vulnerable became believers Nov. 7 when the Red Raiders struggled to a 6-0 victory over Kailua in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship game.

Kahuku (11-0) won only after tight end Tevita Finau caught a tipped pass for a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining in the game. The Red Raiders, unanimously ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, entered that game having won its previous 10 by an average score of 42-7.

"That's what I've been telling people: When we're bad, man, we're really bad," Livai said. "Sometimes, we can't even execute plays against air."

Kaua'i (5-3) promises to provide much more resistance than a cool fall breeze. The Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion, also known as the Red Raiders, broke Waimea's 11-year hold on the title by beating the Menehunes, 26-12, on Sept. 19 and 6-0 three weeks later.

"Kahuku is very big and athletic, but we have good team speed and we do see some opportunities on film that we'll try to exploit," Kaua'i coach Keli'i Morgado said. "We just have to play assignment football."

Sticking to the game plan has helped the Red Raiders steadily progress from an 0-8 season three years ago, when they lost to Waimea by scores of 29-0, 63-0 and 24-0. Kaua'i went 2-6 in 2001 and then 3-4 last year, when it lost to Waimea, 7-0 and 20-7.

"The last two games against Waimea (in 2002), we were only one or two plays away from winning," said Morgado, now in his fifth season as head coach. "It just took a few years getting the kids to understand our offense and defense, because both sides are unlike what they do in Pop Warner."

Kaua'i' runs a single-back offense that is "somewhat like the run-and-shoot," Morgado said, although the Red Raiders run the ball more than the University of Hawai'i's version. Their top receivers are seniors Garen Itamura and Justin Arakaki, who both double as defensive backs.

Kaua'i's quarterback is Kekoa Crowell, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound junior. The line is led by senior Aren Racca, who plays offense and defense.

Livai said he has seen film of Kaua'i only from its 32-7 loss to Punahou on Aug. 29.

"It's harder to prepare for these (Neighbor Island) teams because you really don't know what they do," said Livai, whose Red Raiders defeated Waimea, 21-7, in the 2001 state quarterfinals. "But I really respect the island boys, they come here to play. For (Kaua'i), this is their first opportunity so they're gonna be bringing everything. We'll get a run for our money; it's anybody's game."

In the past — especially before Nov. 7 — few would have believed Livai. But Waimea's success in the state tournament (upsetting the OIA runner-up in 1999, 2001 and 2002) has made people wary of Neighbor Island teams, especially from Kaua'i.

"It's only natural for O'ahu teams to look past us, because they don't see much Neighbor Island football," said Morgado, who played for Punahou in the late 1980s. "But Waimea has dispelled some of that. They laid the foundation."

It's a foundation Kaua'i has waited 11 years to build upon.

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

First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships

Quarterfinals

Division I

Tomorrow

At Aloha Stadium

• Kaua'i (5-3) vs. Kahuku (11-0), 5 p.m.
• Mililani (9-2) vs. Saint Louis (7-1), 8 p.m.

At War Memorial Stadium, Wailuku, Maui

• Kailua (8-2-1) vs Baldwin (9-1), 7:30 p.m.

At Kea'au High School

• Farrington (6-4-1) vs. Hilo (8-2), 7:30 p.m.

Division II

Tomorrow

At 'Aiea High School

• Damien (3-5) vs. Kapolei (9-1), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

At War Memorial Stadium, Wailuku, Maui

• Hawai'i Prep (7-4) vs. Lahainaluna (1-7-1), 7:30 p.m.
• Bye—'Aiea (8-2), Waimea (6-2)

Tickets: $7 adults, $ 5 students (K-12)

Parking: $2 at Aloha Stadium; free at other venues

Radio: Kailua-Kahuku and Mililani-Saint Louis on KWAI 1080 AM. Kailua-Baldwin on KMVI 550 AM

TV: None