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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 22, 2008

Campbell among five to boost OIA White

Advertiser Staff

Three Division I playoff caliber football programs are expected to add some punch to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's White Conference this season.

The White regular season begins tonight with Waialua traveling to Campbell and Anuenue at Kaiser. Both games are scheduled to start about 25 minutes after the conclusion of the 5 p.m. JV game.

Tomorrow, 'Aiea travels to Radford and Kalani will play Kalaheo at Kailua Stadium. Those games are set to begin about 25 minutes after the conclusion of the 4 p.m. JV game.

Campbell, which advanced to the OIA Red playoffs last season and is the last team to defeat defending DI state champion Leilehua, returns to the White after a three-year stay in the Red. The Sabers defeated OIA Red East member Roosevelt, 13-7, in nonleague action last Friday.

In the OIA's classification system, teams are moved up or down every third year based on a formula comparing won-loss records and also factoring in JV performance.

The formula factors in regular-season records only.

Joining Campbell in the move to the White are former fellow Red West members 'Aiea and Radford, plus former Red East participants Kalaheo and Moanalua. Kalaheo also advanced to the OIA Red playoffs last season, and 'Aiea failed to qualify only because of a tiebreaker formula.

Campbell, Kalaheo and 'Aiea each went 3-3 in the OIA Red regular season last year.

Campbell reportedly had about 170 players turn out for the varsity and JV teams. On the other end of the spectrum, Anuenue has only 20 players on the roster and Kalani and Kaiser each have 25.

"We don't have one or two real standout athletes this year, but we play more like a team," said Anuenue coach Kealohamakua Wengler.

In other nonleague action last weekend involving White Conference teams, 'Aiea defeated OIA Red West member Pearl City, 27-6; Kalaheo blanked Maui Interscholastic League Division I member Maui High, 44-0; Kaiser lost to OIA Red East member Kaimuki, 20-3; Anuenue lost to Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II member Kohala, 20-15; and Waialua lost to Interscholastic League of Honolulu DII member Pac-Five, 50-7.

Former OIA White teams that have been promoted to the Red are Kaimuki and Roosevelt in the East and Nanakuli, Pearl City and Waipahu and in the West.

'AIEA NA ALI'I

1962 to present (219-240-7)

STAFF: Coach Wendell Say (Leilehua '74), 17th season (85-71-1). Offensive coordinator Jeff Matsuzaki, Defensive coordinator Mila Li'ili'i.

2007: 3-3 Red West, 4-4 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: OL Blake Barro (5-11, 250, Sr.), OL Mark Faalele (6-0., 250, Sr.), DL Miah Fa'aoafe (6-0, 290, Sr.), OL Jasper Hunt (6-1, 330, Sr.), OL Kevin Kanae (6-2, 280, Sr.), OL Dayton Kaauamo (6-2, 289, Sr.), Lawrence Lagafuaina (6-1, 310, Jr.), RB/D Sean Malepeai (5-10, 210, Jr.), OL Jeff Mauga (6-1, 330, Sr.), DE Steven O'Meally (6-1, 210, Sr.), K Mason Puckett (6-0, 175, Sr.), DE Nainoa Tauala (6-0, 210, Sr.), LB Matt Watanabe (5-9, 200, Sr.).

ANUENUE NA KOA

2006 to present (5-13)

STAFF: Coach Kealoha Wengler (Kalani '90), 3rd season.

2007: 3-5 White, 4-5 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB/S Chase Aki (5-4, 152, Jr.), Kaipo Cullen (5-5, 145, Jr.), SB/DB Kainoa Keana'aina (5-7, 145, Sr.), QB/SS WR/DB Aina Keli'i-Supnet (5-7, 132, Sr.), RB/LB Kumuhonua Wong (5-9, 181, Sr.)

CAMPBELL SABERS

1963 to present (158-276-10)

STAFF: Coach/offensive coordinator Amosa Amosa, first season. Defensive coordinator Viavia Manuma.

2007: 3-3 Red West, 3-4-1 overall

KAISER COUGARS

1972 to present (167-176-10)

STAFF: Coach Patrick Samsonas ('Iolani '93), fourth season (13-14-1).

2007: 3-5 White, 3-6 overall

KALAHEO MUSTANGS

1974 to present (150-164-7)

STAFF: Chris Mellor (Oakland Tech, Calif. '88), third season (6-11).

2007: 3-3 Red East, 5-4 overall

KALANI FALCONS

1960 to present (89-354-8)

STAFF: Coach/offensive coordinator Greg Taguchi, first season after two years off, fourth season overall (1-22-1). Defensive coordinator Scott Melemai.

2007: 0-8 White and overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Michael DiSeria (6-3, 230, Sr.), RB/SB Matt Shishido (5-6, 145, Sr.)

MOANALUA MENEHUNES

1973 to present (105-220-9)

STAFF: Arnold Martinez (Vallejo, Calif., '88), sixth season (19-24-1).

2007: 1-5 Red East, 2-5-1 overall

RADFORD RAMS

1959 to present (278-213-8)

STAFF: Fred Salanoa, sixth season (21-25)

2007: 0-6 West, seventh; 0-8 overall

PLAYERS TO WATCH: DL/OL Marcus Malepeai (6-2, 245, Sr.), RB/LB Tuulauena Lolohea (5-11, 205, Jr.), Slot/S Mosiah Manuma (5-10, 185, Sr.), WR Shawn Putman-Curry (6-1, 205, Sr.)

WAIALUA BULLDOGS

1940 to present (180-392-18)*

*Does not include missing scores from 1943 to 1945 seasons

STAFF: Lincoln Barit, sixth season (14-28-1)

2007: 2-6, White tied for seventh, seventh seed; 2-7 overall.