Posted on: Friday, October 22, 2004
Saint Louis QB may be out for season
| • | State tournament brackets |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
A stunning 36-31 defeat to Iolani may not have been the Saint Louis School football team's biggest loss on Saturday.
A more crushing blow for the Crusaders might be a separated shoulder suffered by starting quarterback Stanley Nihipali, who could be out for the season.
Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said yesterday afternoon that Nihipali, a senior in his third varsity season, is "definitely out" for tonight's crucial game against Punahou at Aloha Stadium.
"It's the same injury as Timmy (Chang, the University of Hawai'i quarterback), except Stanley's is on his (right) throwing shoulder," Tengan said. "He might be gone for the season; I don't know."
The Crusaders, who have won the past 18 Interscholastic League of Honolulu championships, are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the ILH. Kamehameha and Iolani also are 3-1 in league play.
Saint Louis defeated Kamehameha, 21-20, in the first round but the teams will meet again on Oct. 30.
Nihipali has completed 79 of 167 passes for 1,232 yards and 13 touchdowns with five interceptions.
Nihipali's backup, junior Cameron Higgins, has completed 22 of 42 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns with five interceptions in six games. But the bulk of those statistics (13 of 23 for 205 yards, two TDs) came in a 20-7 "nonleague" victory over Kamehameha on Oct. 9.
Although that game was sanctioned by both the ILH and Hawai'i High School Athletic Association, The Advertiser does not reflect it on the teams' overall records because of unusual competitive circumstances in which both coaches agreed beforehand not to play any starters.
Both teams played league games the day before.
Here is a closer look at tonight's game, in addition to tonight's two O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference playoff matchups:
PUNAHOU vs. SAINT LOUIS
When: 7:30 p.m. Records: Punahou 3-4 overall, 1-3 ILH; Saint Louis 5-2, 3-1 Last week: Punahou lost to Kamehameha, 39-21; Saint Louis lost to Iolani, 36-31
Notable: The Crusaders' loss to Iolani was their first to a team other than Kahuku, Kamehameha or De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) since 1995, when Punahou defeated them, 21-13. ... Punahou almost pulled an upset of its own Saturday, when it led Kamehameha 21-12 entering the fourth quarter. But the Warriors rallied for 27 unanswered points aided by a Buffanblu fumble and Ikaika Hardie's 90-yard punt return for a touchdown. ... Saint Louis defeated Punahou, 35-7, in their first-round game on Oct. 1.
• • • 'AIEA vs. ROOSEVELT
When: 7 p.m. Where: Mililani High School Stadium Records: 'Aiea 4-4 overall, 3-3 OIA Red Conference West Division; Roosevelt 2-6, 2-4 OIA Red East Last week: 'Aiea had a bye; Roosevelt lost to Castle, 29-28
Notable: Roosevelt quarterback Rudy Artuyo led the OIA Red East in passing with 94 completions in 182 attempts for 1,115 yards and 13 touchdowns, but he also has thrown 12 interceptions. His favorite target is Tui Richter (27 catches, 347 yards, five TDs). 'Aiea led the OIA Red West in defense, allowing 157.2 yards per game. ... 'Aiea quarterback Kali Kuia is one of the state's most accurate passers, completing 80 of 113 attempts (70.8 percent) for 605 yards and five touchdowns. ... 'Aiea also has a running threat in Donny Mapusaga (96 carries, 460 yards, five TDs).
• • • NANAKULI at KAILUA
When: About 7:30 p.m. Records: Nanakuli 3-5 overall, 2-4 OIA Red West; Kailua 3-4-1, 2-3-1 OIA Red East Last week: Nanakuli lost to Kapolei, 18-0; Kailua lost to Kahuku, 46-0 Notable: Kailua running back Kekoa Su'a, who has rushed for 282 yards and three touchdowns on 56 carries (5.0 ypc) in five games, is back in the lineup after missing last week's game while on a baseball trip to Arizona to play before Major League scouts. His presence gives the Surfriders another threat to go along with Damien Torres, who led the OIA in rushing with 957 yards on 108 carries (8.9 ypc) and 10 touchdowns. ... Nanakuli quarterback Jaycee Alapai, who has rushed for 337 yards on 63 carries (5.4 ypc) in five games, missed the past three games while attending to schoolwork and is awaiting clearance today.
• State brackets set: The HHSAA released its brackets yesterday for the Division I and Division II state tournaments, which begin Nov. 19. The Division I tournament has shrunken to six teams from an eight-team field the previous five years. The ILH and OIA champions each will receive a first-round bye, with the OIA's runner-up and third-place team traveling to Maui and the Big Island, respectively, in the first round.
The downsizing means there is no Division I berth for the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion or OIA fourth-place team.
In Division II, the ILH and OIA champs also receive first-round byes, with the OIA runner-up traveling to the Big Island and the Maui champion visiting Kaua'i in the first round.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
