Posted on: Friday, October 10, 2003
First-place battles set in OIA's Red, White
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
O'ahu Interscholastic Association football will have its own "rumbles on the rock" tonight.
In the Red Conference Eastern Division, Castle (6-1 overall, 5-1 OIA) travels to Kahuku (6-0, 5-0) in a crucial fight for first place. In the Red West, Mililani (6-0, 5-0) visits surging Wai'anae (3-3, 3-2). And in the White Conference, 'Aiea (5-1, 5-0) faces Kapolei (6-0, 5-0) at Mililani in a long-awaited showdown.
All kickoffs are set for about 7:30. Here is a closer look at each game:
Castle at Kahuku
Advertiser Top 10 ranking: Castle No. 4, Kahuku No. 2
Last week: Castle defeated Roosevelt, 32-6; Kahuku defeated Kaimuki, 66-0.
Notes: This game will showcase three of the state's best receivers in Castle's Ikaika Ho (20 catches, 392 yards, four touchdowns) and Jarred Suzui (23-392, 4) and Kahuku's Spencer Hafoka (17-518, 3). All three are extremely dangerous in the open field after the catch ... Castle sophomore quarterback Bryce Kalauoka'aea has completed 41 of 79 passes for 661 yards and nine touchdowns. Kahuku quarterback Waika Carvalho has thrown for 805 yards and seven TDs, against only two interceptions ... Defensively, the game also will feature two of the Hawai'i's top linebackers in Castle's Blaze Soares and Kahuku's Walker Vave.
Mililani at Wai'anae
Advertiser Top 10 ranking: Mililani No. 6, Wai'anae unranked
Last week: Mililani defeated Nanakuli, 16-6; Wai'anae defeated Pearl City, 30-22.
Notes: Mililani is off to its best start since 1990, when the Trojans finished 9-2 ... Mililani has three of the West's top six rushers in Carlo Reneses (381 yards, 4 TDs), Aran Bisho (258, 4)and Jordan Apduhan (233, 3) and leads the division in total offense (321.6 yards per game) ... After a slow start, Wai'anae has won three of its past four games ... Seariders running back Chris Lave leads the West in rushing (425 yards, 8 TDs).
'Aiea vs. Kapolei
Advertiser Top 10 ranking: 'Aiea No. 9, Kapolei No. 8.
Last week: 'Aiea defeated Kalani, 50-0; Kapolei defeated Kalaheo, 42-12.
Notes: 'Aiea has allowed only 27 points in five league games; Kahuku is the only other OIA team to surrender fewer points ... Kapolei has a balanced attack led by running back John Dela Rama (527 yards, 8 TDs) and quarterback Jon Medeiros (731 yards passing, 10 TDs) ... The Hurricanes have allowed only 120.2 yards per game, best in the OIA ... Kapolei won last week despite missing three injured starters (defensive back Kainoa Enhada, running back Gilbert Brown and defensive lineman Warren Simanu) ... 'Aiea quarterback Kala Kuia, a sophomore, leads the White in passing with 90 completions in 138 attempts (65.2 percent) for 1,121 yards and 10 touchdowns. Ben Ah Mook Sang (26 catches, 330 yards, 4 TDs), Alden DeMello (22-322, 3) and Jonathan Burgos (17-275, 4) are his top targets.
