Posted on: Saturday, December 4, 2004

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

It is too long, too cumbersome for a headline, of course, but if justice were served today, the headline for the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Division I Championship might well read something like this:

"Kepa Gaison, Ian Estrada, Tyler Williams, Kahawai Soon and Hayden Kahele help lead Kamehameha to State Title"

On a night when the Warriors found their heroes in bunches — in the defensive secondary, at running back, quarterback, etc. — their offensive line weighed in, literally and figuratively, with, well, the biggest contributions in a 28-7 victory over gritty Leilehua.

The offensive line, often overlooked everywhere, even in this march to a 10-1-1 season, could not be ignored this night. Nor could it be stopped.

It was the thundering starting offensive line that threw its 262-pound average weight and all-senior experience around to lead the Warriors, yard by painstaking yard of Aloha Stadium FieldTurf to lead Kamehameha to its first postseason title in 28 years.

The second largest state playoff crowd, 17,757, saw, for the better part of three quarters, a 7-7 thriller — until the Warriors began indisputably to wear down the Mules and take over the game.

Just as the Warriors had eventually worn down Lahainaluna last week in the semis and run interference for running back extraordinaire Jayson Rego, this time they turned the tide on the Mules.

Where Leilehua's often-outsized Mules had held their own all season with bigger teams and turned back Kahuku just last week, this time there would be no relief. This time there was no escape from the blue hoard and the 331 yards of total offense it opened the way for and the 4.9 yards per rush.

Before Rego broke loose on his biggest run of a remarkable 39-carry, 212-yard night — a 79-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 52 seconds left in the third quarter — for a 14-7 lead, the game had changed.

And, the offensive line was leading the charge, propelling Rego past the defensive line and through the linebackers where his brilliance took over.

On the game-tying drive, Rego carried six times for 18 yards, shielded behind his front wall, to set up the 4-yard pass from backup quarterback Pono Kam to Jacob Ho to match Leilehua at 7.

Given second life — and a first down — on a hotly disputed pass interference penalty with 2:41 left in the third quarter — the Warriors made the most of the opening for the go-ahead on Rego's run.

In the end, amid the confetti-strewn turf, the offensive line shared high fives and hugs, the tokens of appreciation of grateful teammates and coaches.

While there might not be a headline in it for them, this line would not go unrecognized or unappreciated.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.