ILH, OIA turn back the clock

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Some will view this weekend's "crossover" football games between the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and the O'ahu Interscholastic Association as the end of a 34-year "cold war" between the leagues.

Toyama

Whatever the case, O'ahu high school football will take a step back toward the glory days of the 1960s when public and private schools clash again in high-profile games.

The most high-profile of them all is tomorrow night's showdown between 2003 state championship finalists Kahuku and Saint Louis at Aloha Stadium.

That game is set to start at 7 p.m., following another classic matchup between perennial powerhouses Kailua and Kamehameha at 4.

Other interleague games at 7:30 tonight have Damien facing Castle at Kailua, Farrington playing Punahou at Kamehameha and Kaimuki meeting Pac-Five at Kaiser.

Also, McKinley travels to Iolani tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Next week, the ILH teams will be playing counterparts from the OIA Red Conference-Western Division. None of the crossover games will count in league standings, but a lot of pride will be at stake and the competition is expected to be at a high level.

"I think this is good, it gives everybody a different look," said Chester Wilson, a senior linebacker for Saint Louis. "We get to see other teams, and it'll be more competitive."

Teammate Aaron Bain, a senior wide receiver, said the interleague games will spice up the Crusaders' schedule.

"Before, we were limited to playing ILH teams, but now it's more open," Bain said. "We get to play (OIA teams) now instead of waiting for the playoffs."

Until 1970, private and public school teams played each other regularly in the 10-team ILH. But the five Honolulu public schools (Farrington, Kaimuki, Kalani, McKinley and Roosevelt) seceded and joined the OIA, and for the next 34 seasons, the two leagues met only in select "preseason" games and in the Prep Bowl or state tournament.

For example, tomorrow will mark the first time since 2000 that Kamehameha will face an OIA opponent.

"I think it's good for the fans, because they'll get to see some so-called 'name schools' play each other in marquee matchups," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said. "It piques their interest and gets people excited. It definitely adds flavor to the season and I think it'll make both leagues better."

That was the intent of OIA executive secretary Dwight Toyama, who came up with the idea following last season.

"Overall, I think it's going to help all programs," said Toyama, who played for Kaimuki in the late 1960s. "People kept talking about old rivalries, and this is one way to satisfy public interest and provide more exposure for our kids. Also, hopefully it'll generate more revenue because these are games people would want to see."

Last year's state championship doubleheader (Kahuku vs. Saint Louis in Division I, 'Aiea vs. Damien in Division II) drew an Aloha Stadium crowd of 15,061. In the 1960s, "Turkey Day" doubleheaders routinely drew sellout crowds of about 25,000 at Honolulu Stadium.

"When Dwight called me after last season and proposed (interleague play), I was very interested," said ILH executive director Don Botelho, who coached at Damien in the 1960s. "Trying to find nonleague games after the first week was getting tougher and tougher, so this helps everybody get a decent schedule. Most of us are excited about it, and hopefully this will lead to bringing back the interest in high school football."

And, ending the cold war?

"I don't know if it did exist, but the bottom line for both leagues has always been the same: Provide the best experience for our student-athletes," Botelho said. "Dwight and I are good friends, and I think the relationship (between the OIA and ILH) is really good now."

Toyama concurred.

"That's one of the reasons I wanted to do this," Toyama said. "People have the perception that we don't get along, but we do. We can work together."

Radio/TV: Tomorrow night's doubleheader at Aloha Stadium will be broadcast live on the radio (KHNR 650 AM and KPOI 97.5 FM) and also be available live on Oceanic Cable TV for a pay-per-view fee of $12.99. For details on ordering the telecast, call 625-8100.

Corrections: Kalani's football team went 4-4 in each of the 1996 and 1997 seasons. A story in yesterday's Advertiser did not account for those records.

Also, McKinley's Tilton Kaluna threw an 82-yard touchdown pass to Junxien Zheng in last Saturday's 27-26 loss to Pac-Five. Another player was credited with the pass in Sunday's Advertiser.

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