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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 4, 2005

Prep football titles on line across the state

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

The final week of the regular season for three of the state's five high school football leagues will determine if playoffs are needed or if state berths can be secured.

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation's final regular season weekend will only determine home-field advantage for its Division I and II championship games.

ILH

In Division I, Kamehameha (5-1) can clinch the the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's overall title and state berth with a victory or tie tomorrow against Saint Louis (4-2). Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

The only chance Saint Louis and Punahou (4-2) have of dethroning the defending league champion Warriors is if both win. If Saint Louis beats Kamehameha and Punahou loses to Pac-Five tomorrow, a playoff would be needed between the Warriors and Crusaders. However, if Punahou also wins, there will be a three-way tie. Momentarily, a draw is supposedly the only tiebreaker.

The league could initiate a two-round process, meaning one team would draw a bye with the other two playing and the winner taking on the bye team the following week. But there is no guarantee the ILH will have an open week as it had last year — the first time the state tournaments were reduced to six teams with two teams getting byes — to play an extended round. The ILH and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champions had the byes last year. But the Maui Interscholastic League, where Baldwin is the only undefeated team so far, can make a case for the bye if the Bears beat Lahainaluna tomorrow to win the MIL.

The Hawai'i High School Athletic Association, which sponsors the state tournaments, will convene Sunday to finalize the tournament scheduling, executive director Keith Amemiya said.

Meanwhile, Kamehameha and Saint Louis are only sweating out their game, not the tiebreaking process.

"We know the ADs are working on that," Kamehameha coach Doss Tannehill said. "Our focus needs to be on the positive."

If the Warriors win, it would be the only season series split. The Crusaders beat the Warriors, 21-14, the first time. But Saint Louis has lost to Punahou twice, while the Buffanblu were swept by the Warriors.

Kamehameha and Saint Louis are concerned with each other's offenses.

"They've got two great running backs in (Jeremiah) Dela Pena and (Bryson) Vivas," Crusaders coach Delbert Tengan said. "They have that one-two punch in their running game. (Quarterback George) Ka'ai is getting better and (receiver Aaron) Nichols is getting more touches."

Unlike past years, when Saint Louis was known more as a passing threat, the Crusaders are better at ball-control because they run more now, Tannehill said.

"They've gone to the run more than they have in the past," he said. "They're more balanced and that creates some problems."

While quarterback Cameron Higgins has 1,267 yards passing, he also has 132 yards rushing, including five rushing TDs. Running back Cody Wells, who scored the game-winning TD against the Warriors the first time, leads his team with 668 yards rushing.

Iolani (3-3) can clinch the Division II title with a win or tie against Damien (2-4), 3:15 p.m. today at Iolani's Kozuki Stadium. A Monarchs win will force a playoff for a berth to the Division II state tournament.

KIF

Kaua'i (4-0-1) can clinch the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation title and Division II state berth with a win or tie against Waimea, 7:30 tonight at Hanapepe Stadium.

In previous meetings, Kaua'i beat Waimea, 7-0, and played to a 7-7 tie. A Waimea win will force a playoff next weekend.

MIL

Baldwin (4-0), which won the first-round title, can clinch the second round and overall Division I championship with a win or tie against Lahainaluna (4-1) 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at War Memorial Stadium.

The defending MIL champion Lunas must win to force a Division I and overall championship between the first- and second-round champions.

Kamehameha-Maui has already clinched the Division II title and Division II state berth.

BIIF

Kealakehe (6-1) and Kea'au (6-2) will play for the Division I title and Kamehameha-Hawai'i (6-2) and Konawaena (6-2) will battle for the Division II crown next weekend.

All are jockeying for home-field advantage in this final weekend of regular season play, a make-up for the Sept. 30-Oct. 1 postponements caused by rain.

Kea'au plays at Konawaena tonight. Tomorrow, Kealakehe goes to Kohala and Kamehameha plays Hilo at Wong Stadium.

If needed, Kealakehe will host Hawai'i Prep on Tuesday in a make-up of from Sept. 23 because of the death of Kealakehe football player Royden Kalavi.

Only the division champions get respective state berths.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.