For the record, 'Aiea is still wary of Lahainaluna

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

'Aiea and Lahainaluna have different hurdles to clear as they prepare for Friday's First Hawaiian Bank Division II Football Championships semifinal showdown.

Lahainaluna's is physical, 'Aiea's is mental.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Kuniakea Athletic Stadium at The Kamehameha Schools.

For the Lunas, coming off a 21-14 win against Big Island Division II champion Hawai'i Prep, their concern is facing a team with size and depth.

"They're bigger than us and quicker than we are," Lahainaluna coach Robert Watson said. "It's another upfield battle. We just hope we can continue to improve a little so we can give 'Aiea a game."

For the eighth-ranked Na Ali'i (8-2), who drew a quarterfinal bye, their concern is looking past the Lunas' 2-7-1 record.

"We told our kids, 'Don't look at the record. Look at the team,' " 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "They played well against a good HPA team. We have to be ready. The Maui league was tough this year. (The Lunas) lost a lot of games, but they were in (them)."

It is not like the Lunas stumbled this far. Quarterback Mahi Medeiros' 1,276 yards passing complements the team's rushing total of 1,111 yards. Nahiku Phillips and Nahe Akoi were his only targets against HPA. Rejoining them is Rylan Ancog, who leads the team in receiving with 367 yards. He sat out the HPA game for missing practice while on the Mainland.

Medeiros also is an adept rusher with 136 yards or he can hand the ball off to speedy Paul Maielua (398 yards) or powerful Kaniela Tuipulotu (241 yards).

"My understanding is they can throw the ball," Say said. "They play action and we cannot get caught up in the misdirection (plays)."

'Aiea answers with quarterback Kali Kuia, who has passed for 2,019 yards and 13 TDs. Ben Ah Mook Sang (701 yards) and Alden DeMello (646 yards) account for two-thirds of Kuia's completions. Kuia also will toss it to running back Raymond Tauala (21 receptions for 329 yards), who leads the team in rushing with 683 yards.

If Na Ali'i feel the need to control the ball, Ah Mook Sang can play quarterback, as he did in the OIA Division II championship against Kapolei. Besides being an effective runner, he passes with reliability (12 of 20 for 198 yards).

Still, the challenge for 'Aiea is 2-7-1. Na Ali'i might have the numbers — physically and statistically — on their side, but they know looking past the Lunas would be a mistake.

"In the state championship, everybody comes to play," Say said. "It doesn't matter what your record is."

NOTE: Lahainaluna and Baldwin are flying to O'ahu on Thanksgiving because it was hard to find enough airline seats to accommodate their traveling parties. Both teams work out here before Friday's game. Baldwin, which plays Saint Louis in the Division I semifinal, will practice at Aloha Stadium after Alabama, here to play the University of Hawai'i, works out. Lahainaluna will practice at Radford High.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.

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