Posted on: Friday, November 5, 2004
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Iolani-Punahou rivalry has impact on ILH title
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
For the first time in 19 years, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu football season is coming to a close with Saint Louis on the outside looking in.
The 18-time defending ILH champion Crusaders mathematically are still in the title picture, but their only hope of extending the record streak rests on what would be a monumental upset by Pac-Five tonight in the regular season finale at Kamehameha.
More realistically, the league championship picture will focus on today's 3:15 p.m. game between arch rivals Iolani (8-1, 5-1 ILH) and Punahou (4-5, 2-4). If Punahou wins the home game, Kamehameha (7-1-1, 5-1) can sew up the title with a victory over the Wolfpack (3-6-1, 0-5-1), starting at 7:30 p.m.
If Iolani wins, it will earn a playoff on Nov. 13 for the overall championship. Even if Iolani wins the overall ILH title, the Raiders will play in the Division II state tournament because they declared themselves a D-II team before the season began.
If Pac-Five should somehow pull off the huge upset tonight, and if Saint Louis (6-3, 4-2) defeats Damien (3-5-1, 1-4-1) today at 4:30 p.m. as expected, Kamehameha and Saint Louis will meet again on Nov. 13 in a playoff for the Division I championship.
The winner would then play Iolani the following week for the overall ILH title.
Here is a closer look at the Iolani-Punahou showdown.
IOLANI AT PUNAHOU Advertiser Top 10 ranking: Iolani is No. 4; Punahou is unranked Last week: Iolani defeated Damien, 49-7; Punahou defeat-ed Pac-Five, 35-2 Notable: The rivals usually play twice a season, with one of the games designated as "non-league" because they are in separate divisions. However, both coaches (Wendell Look of Iolani and Kale Ane of Punahou) agreed to play just the regular season game this year because each team already has played three "crossover" games against O'ahu Interscholastic Associa-tion opponents. The rivalry — one of the state's oldest — began in 1936. ... The game will feature two of the state's top passing offenses, each guided by young quarterbacks. Iolani junior Kiran Kepo'o has completed 132 of 241 passes (54.8 percent) for 1,953 yards and 15 touch-downs, against six interceptions. His favorite target is senior Micah Kalama (39 catches, 598 yards, four TDs), but Kepo'o also will throw freely to receiver Travis Nishioka, slotbacks Kekai Kealoha and Blayne Yama and even running back Michael Hirokawa. ... Punahou sopho-more Brett Kan has completed 107 of 198 passes (54 percent) for 1,324 yards and 12 touch-downs with 11 interceptions. Sophomore receiver Jeremiah Ostrowski is coming off three very productive games, with nine catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns against Kamehameha, eight catches for 62 yards against Saint Louis and five catches for 118 yards and three TDs against Pac-Five. Senior receiver Brian Matsumoto also is coming off a big perform-ance, hauling in six passes for 119 yards and one touchdown last week. ... Iolani's defense ranks last in the ILH, allowing an average of 325.3 yards per game. But the Raiders also have a couple of big playmakers in defensive back Landon Patoc and linebacker Jon Takamura. Patoc had four interceptions against Pac-Five, two picks in their first victory over Damien and one more in the rematch last week. Takamura returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown in the first Damien game and made another pick last week. MAUI
Lahainaluna can clinch its fourth Maui Interscholastic League championship since 1997 tonight with a victory at King Kekaulike.
The Lunas escaped with a 16-10 victory over visiting Na Ali'i on Sept. 25. Even if Lahainaluna loses, it still can clinch the title if Baldwin defeats Maui tomorrow at War Memorial Stadium.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
