Times have changed, as the Bulldogs won their fourth straight ROIA title in 1955 but haven't won one since. As Waialua's enrollment shrank with the eventual closing of the landmark sugar mill, its football fortunes diminished to the point where the sport was almost dropped in 1998 because of a lack of players.

Last Saturday night, however, the good times rolled again as the Bulldogs posted their first victory of the season, 23-13, over Kalani before a homecoming crowd of about 1,800 at idyllic Waialua Stadium.

The special guests were 25 members of the 1954 championship team who gathered for a pregame dinner and were introduced at halftime.

Toshi Nakasone, who coached all four of the Bulldogs' title teams from 1952-55, spoke to his former players after dinner and introduced them at halftime.

"That's the first time I've seen him in about 20 years," said Richard Orillo, a right end on the 1954 team. "He looks good. I still call him, 'Coach.' "

Just about all of the 25 teammates from that squad who showed up Saturday looked to be in good shape for their age, which is now 67 or 68. They recalled those championship years while looking at a display of yearbook photos and newspaper clippings.

It was a different era when Waialua was a plantation boom town, and the Bulldogs' football team became a focal point of the community.

"We all lived in camps, so you had Filipino Camp, Portuguese Camp, Japanese Camp, Spanish Camp ...," said Francis Guigui, a center in 1954. "But on the football team, we all came together."

Nakasone said that until 1954, the Bulldogs practiced and played home games on a plantation field. But a campus stadium was built that year, and it was the place to be on Saturday afternoons (they played one night game in the season finale).

"We were the first to play on this field, and we used to get 3,000 to 5,000 people coming to our games," Orillo said. "All the seats were filled, and people would sit (on the ground) behind the end zones."

Orillo added that community support was extended throughout the week, as local businesses recognized the football players.

"We had places like Yama's, Jerry's and Sagara Okazu give us meal tickets so we could eat for free," Orillo said. "Back then, the hamburger was 10 cents."

Like now, Waialua's teams in the 1950s were not blessed with great size. Fullback Kenneth Souza was the biggest player on the '54 team at 210 pounds.

But Nakasone and the players said they were able to succeed because of an emphasis on conditioning, plus rules limiting substitutions. Most of the starters played on offense and defense the entire game.

The Bulldogs thus were able to put their strongest 11 players against 11 from bigger schools, without worrying too much about depth. But Orillo said they still were at a disadvantage against a school like Waipahu, which drew students from Halawa to Wai'anae.

"They had the cream of the crop," Orillo said.

Waialua, however, prevailed led by quarterback Bobby Sarno, fullback Souza, halfbacks Leo Bajo, Dickie Achiu and Joe Leong, center Guigui, tackle Thomas Maruyama and right end Orillo.

Tino Nacapuy was a scoring weapon as a barefoot kicker.

Then, of course, there was the desire and hustle inherent with being the constant underdog from a rural outpost.

"You cannot imagine the enthusiasm we had," Orillo said. "We trained hard, but what I remember most is how much fun we were having."

After watching the Bulldogs win again Saturday, Orillo said, "The school spirit is still there."

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

Notes

OIA cross country meet raises $5,500

The O'ahu Interscholastic Association/National Federation of High School cross country meet on Sept. 11 at Central O'ahu Regional Park raised $5,500, which was donated to the Lanakila Rehabilitation Center, according to an OIA press release.

Some 700 students from grades 6-12 from public and private schools took part in the meet in which participants secured pledges as part of a community service project, the release said.

Sur named Radford athletic director

Kelly Sur officially became athletic director at Radford on Sept. 13.