honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 27, 2005

Kahuku, Kapolei clash in playoffs

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kahuku and Kapolei.

They are on opposite sides of the island. They are as different as one is old and the other new.

They will clash in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference quarterfinal game Saturday at the North Shore school. Kickoff is 7 p.m. and it will be televised live on OC 16. It is the first time the two will meet.

Top-ranked Kahuku (6-1), one of the original OIA schools, has 17 league titles, including six of the last seven.

Kapolei (5-3), the newest OIA school, is in its fourth season, but the Hurricanes are entering their third consecutive postseason.

Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez is looking for some sort of advantage in playing at Kahuku. And Kapolei's short history might be it.

"It's a daunting task for our guys," Hernandez said. "But maybe these guys are too young or maybe too naive to know any better. They're a hang-loose bunch of guys who like to play football."

Meanwhile, it's business as usual at Kahuku. Its old-school methods work. There's no skirting the issue.

"I wouldn't trade our offense for anybody's," Red Raiders coach Siuaki Livai said. "People watch our offense and think it's boring. We play smash ball. We're ugly, three yards, five yards. But that's what we are. Everybody wants a wide-open offense. That's not who we are."

The Red Raiders have rushed for 1,394 yards, more than doubling their passing total of 618. Running back Kamuela Alisa has taken the bulk of the carries (85) for 554 yards, but Malosi Te'o, Lehi Aumua, Simi Alo and Jason Mauai also get their share of rushes, thus assuring Kahuku of having fresh legs throughout a game.

Livai said he will continue to rotate quarterbacks Jacob Kahawai'i, Kaulin Krebs and Ioane Teripaia.

The Hurricanes are more balanced, with 1,441 yards rushing and 1,863 passing. Quarterback Brad Padayao is one of the state's leading passers with 1,664 yards and 15 touchdown passes. He's also rushed for 386 yards and nine TDs.

"He's probably the best-kept secret," Hernandez said. "If he's on his game, our team should be in good shape."

Each team has its own issues.

Kahuku's is simply minimizing mistakes.

"We're still trying to perfect what we do," Livai said. "We just need to cut down our mistakes. We can't have turnovers all over the place."

Kapolei's is maintaining ball control. The Hurricanes were overpowered in a 42-18 loss at Wai'anae.

"That's what hurt us against Wai'anae," Hernandez said. "We had too many three and outs (three downs and punt) on offense."

All of Kahuku's wins have been shutouts.

In another quarterfinal Saturday, 'Aiea (7-2) will play No. 4 and East champion Castle (6-2) at Kaiser at 6:30 p.m.

This could be a shootout in a battle of two of the state's top passers. 'Aiea's Kali Kuia and Castle's Bryce Kalauoka'ea have combined for more than 3,000 yards passing and 30 TDs.

Tomorrow, Farrington (4-5) will travel to No. 8 West champion Mililani (6-2) for a 7 p.m. game that also will be televised live on OC 16.

The Governors beat last year's state runner-up Leilehua, 28-10, in last week's opening-round game.

Also tomorrow, Kailua (3-5) travels to No. 9 Wai'anae (6-2).

In the White semifinals tomorrow, Kaiser (4-4) will play at Moanalua (7-1) and Radford (6-2) will revisit Campbell (7-1). In last week's regular season finale, the Sabers beat the Rams, 18-13.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.