Saint Louis, Kamehameha play for ILH title
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
For the seventh consecutive year, the final game of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu football season — whether the last game of the regular season or a playoff — Saint Louis and Kamehameha will meet to determine the league champion.
Kickoff for the ILH regular-season finale is 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Aloha Stadium. The winner gets the Division I state berth; the loser turns in its equipment. If the Warriors (5-1 ILH, 7-1 overall), ranked second in The Advertiser Top 10, and the No. 3 Crusaders (5-1, 6-1) play to a tie, there is no overtime. A playoff would be held Nov. 8.
"We're looking forward to it," Saint Louis rookie coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "We know what's at stake. We want to go to postseason and want to win the ILH for Saint Louis."
The Crusaders have modern history on their side as they try to extend their title streak to 18. The Warriors are trying to win their first title since 1979.
"The last three years we've had our chance," Kamehameha coach Kanani Souza said. "(Our team is) not the same team as it was in the first round (because of injuries). But it's no excuse. We have to find a way to get our best foot forward and keep the faith."
The Warriors beat the Crusaders, 16-13, in their first meeting. Saint Louis had one preseason game to that point to Kamehameha's two.
"We're in better game-shape than the last time," Arceneaux said.
The Crusaders have won five consecutive games since that loss. Running back B.J. Batts, the Advertiser's Offensive Player of the Year last season, has been more prominent in the Saints' offense. He scored three touchdowns and rushed for a season-high 146 yards in a 33-20 win against Iolani last week.
Meanwhile, the Warriors saw a seven-game win streak (including preseason) snapped by Punahou, 14-6, last week. Since their win against Saint Louis, the Warriors have lost three of their five interior offensive linemen. Also, safety/running back Travis Beyer hurt his shoulder in a game following his 183-yard rushing effort against Iolani. And quarterback Pono Kam hurt the elbow of his throwing arm last week against Punahou.
"Unfortunately, we don't have some of the guys we started with, but that's life," Souza said.
Arceneaux, who played football and basketball with a leg injury his senior year at Saint Louis, said the players who don't have season-ending injuries will somehow get into the game.
"For a lot of the players, this might be their last game," he said. "They'll find a way to play."
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
