Perennial power Waimea hosts upstart Damien
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
After successfully defending its Garden Island against invaders from the O'ahu Interscholastic Association three times in previous state tournaments, the Waimea High School football team will try to fend off a foe from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu tomorrow.
Waimea (6-2) and Damien (3-5) will clash in a Division II state semifinal at 7:30 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium in Lihu'e.
The Menehunes are no strangers to the state tournament, having scored quarterfinal upsets at Vidinha over the OIA's runner-up in 1999 (Kailua), 2001 (Castle) and 2002 (Kailua). This time, they take on a Monarchs team that is coming off an upset themselves, a 20-14 victory over Kapolei last Friday.
"We're in for a tough task," Waimea coach Liko Pereira said. "They've got a real balanced offense. (Ranson) DeCosta is a great running back and they have a great quarterback (Tevita Williams), and they've got speed on the outside. We have to try and stop their running game, and we'll have to mix up coverages to stop their passing."
Against Kapolei, DeCosta rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, and Williams passed for 240 yards and one touchdown. In its two previous games, Damien defeated Pac-Five, 42-40, and Iolani, 28-21.
"We've been getting better every week," Monarchs co-coach Dean Nakagawa said. "Mostly it's been mental preparation — belief in themselves."
Getting over that mental hump has not been easy, as Damien entered this season having won only one of its previous 15 games. Even after a 32-6 victory over Pac-Five in the ILH opener, the Monarchs needed to win their final two league games against Pac-Five and Iolani to qualify for the state tournament.
"Honestly, we're fortunate to be where we're at," Nakagawa said. "Against Pac-Five, we were 12 points down with two minutes left and came back. The seniors basically gutted it out, and from that game on, everybody's just been playing their hearts out."
That kind of effort is a trademark of Waimea, which built a reputation as overachievers during an 11-year run as Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champions (1992-2002).
"I give credit to (former coach) Jon Kobayashi for building the program up and keeping it going," Pereira said. "This was the first year for myself and our coaching staff, and I think it took a while for the kids to get used to it."
The Menehunes' six-year, 34-game KIF unbeaten streak ended on Sept. 19 when Kaua'i scored a 26-12 victory, and Waimea lost again to the Red Raiders on Oct. 10, 6-0. But the Menehunes ended the KIF season with a 20-13 win over Kaua'i on Oct. 31.
"I think we've ironed out a lot of our early problems, especially on special teams," Pereira said. "We were really lacking in that department. Our offensive line has improved, too. We're blocking the right people now."
The timing is perfect for Waimea, as standout running back Jordon Dizon is close to being fully healed from a severe ankle sprain that kept him out for 5 1/2 games. Dizon now is nursing a high fever that sidelined him the past couple days.
"He's had some bad luck, but his ankle is about 90 percent right now," Pereira said yesterday. "(Running back) Po'okela Chang-Wo stepped it up when Jordon was out, and Gary Mata also helped out a lot. When we needed someone in short-yardage situations, he got the first downs. That was a real big point for us. And (tight end) Justin Estes punted (in Dizon's absence)."
The Menehunes have not played since that Oct. 31 game, but the time off has helped Dizon and others recover from injuries.
"The first couple weeks, we mainly healed up all our aches and pains," Pereira said. "We stayed off the field and tapered, just doing some conditioning and work in the weight room. The last two weeks, we got back on the field and banged it up again."
Pereira said his team would rather play at its cozy home field, Hanapepe Ball Park, than take the 45-minute bus ride to Vidinha. But that's still a much easier trip than the one the Monarchs will make from Houghtailing Street in Kalihi to Lihu'e tomorrow morning.
"We've got some adversity with the travel, and Waimea will be rested and waiting for us when we get there," Nakagawa said. "But we don't want to make excuses. We told the team that at this point in the season, every team we play is gonna be real good. We just have to execute and do the things that got us here."
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
