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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 11, 2007

OIA playoff picture still fuzzy

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

As O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference football enters its final weekend of the regular season, just three of the 14 teams have been mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture, and only three teams have secured first-round byes and home-field advantage in the quarterfinals.

Thus, a lot will depend on tomorrow's and Saturday's results.

Radford (0-5 regular season), McKinley (0-4-1) and Moanalua (1-4) will end their seasons this weekend. Kahuku (5-0) has clinched the Eastern Division's No. 1 seed and earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the quarterfinals.

Mililani (4-1) can clinch the West's No. 1 seed by defeating Radford tomorrow night, or if Kapolei (3-2) defeats Wai'anae (3-2). Mililani owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Kapolei and Leilehua (3-2).

If the Trojans lose, then Wai'anae can win the West if it beats Kapolei and if Campbell (2-3) beats Leilehua.

If Mililani, Wai'anae and Leilehua end up tied for first place at 4-2, seeding could be determined by a coin toss because they each would be 1-1 against the other two teams head-to-head.

In the East, the winner of the Castle-Farrington game will earn the No. 2 seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the quarterfinals. Farrington (3-1-1) can finish no lower than third and has clinched a first-round bye regardless of tomorrow's outcome.

Also of note, earlier forfeits by 'Aiea (3-3) and Campbell could end up costing each team dearly.

'Aiea has a bye this weekend and needs either a Campbell loss or a Kapolei victory to get into the playoffs.

Campbell, meanwhile, needs to beat Leilehua and then have Wai'anae beat Kapolei Saturday.

As it stands, a four-way tie for third place is possible in the West. If Kapolei is part of the tie, then 'Aiea's forfeit loss to the Hurricanes would knock Na Ali'i out of the playoff picture. If Wai'anae is part of that tie, then Campbell's forfeit to the Seariders would knock the Sabers out of the playoff picture.

Here is a quick look at each team's scenario:

EASTERN DIVISION

KAHUKU (5-0): Clinched East No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage in quarterfinals.

FARRINGTON (3-1-1): Clinched playoff berth and first-round bye; can finish second and earn home-field advantage in quarterfinals with a victory over Castle and will finish no lower than third even with a loss.

CASTLE (3-2): Clinched playoff berth; can finish second and earn first-round bye and home-field advantage in quarterfinals with win over Farrington. Can still finish third and earn first-round bye on coin flip if it loses to Farrington and Kalaheo defeats McKinley. Can finish fourth and earn home-field advantage in first round even if it loses, if McKinley defeats Kalaheo, or if Kalaheo wins the coin toss.

KAILUA (3-3): Regular season done, clinched playoff berth; can finish third and earn first-round bye on coin toss if Castle loses and Kalaheo defeats McKinley. Can clinch fourth place and home-field advantage for first round if Kalaheo loses or if Castle wins coin toss.

KALAHEO (2-3): Clinched playoff berth; can finish third and earn first-round bye on coin toss if it defeats McKinley and Castle loses. Can also finish fourth and host first round game if Kailua wins coin toss.

WESTERN DIVISION

MILILANI (4-1): Clinched first-round bye; can clinch No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in quarterfinals by defeating Radford or if Wai'anae loses. Can finish as high as second and earn home field for the quarterfinals even with a loss and a Wai'anae victory, if Leilehua loses or via a head-to-head tiebreakeer with the Mules. Will finish no worse than third.

KAPOLEI (3-2): Clinched playoff berth. Can finish second and earn home-field advantage in quarterfinals with a win and a Leilehua loss, or via a coin flip if Mililani and Leilehua also finish 4-2. Can finish third and earn first-round bye with a win. Will finish no lower than fourth and host first round even with a loss.

LEILEHUA (3-2): Clinched playoff berth; can finish first or second and earn a bye and home-field advantage in quarterfinals if it defeats Campbell and Mililani loses to Radford and Wai'anae beats Kapolei, forcing a three-way tie and coin flip. Will finish at least third and earn a first-round bye even with a loss if Kapolei defeats Wai'anae, or with a victory plus a Mililani loss.

WAI'ANAE (3-2): Clinched playoff berth; can finish first with a victory over Kapolei, plus losses to Mililani and Leilehua, or via a coin toss in a three-way tie. Can still finish third and earn first-round bye if it wins and Leilehua defeats Campbell.

'AIEA (3-3): Regular season done; can clinch playoff berth if Leilehua defeats Campbell or if Kapolei beats Wai'anae. Can finish as high as fourth and earn home-field advantage for first round if Kapolei wins.

CAMPBELL (2-3): Needs to defeat Leilehua, then have Wai'anae beat Kapolei.

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.