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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 7, 2008

Rematches add intrigue to OIA playoffs

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

OIA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

WHERE: Aloha Stadium

WHEN: Today, 4:30 p.m. (White), 7:30 p.m. (Red)

WHO: No. 10 Campbell vs. Radford (White), No. 4 Farrington vs. No. 3 Kahuku (Red)

TICKETS: $7 adults, students without OIA Activity Pass or ILH ID; $6 62 years old and older and active military with ID; $4 K to 8 and high school students with OIA Activity Pass or ILH ID.

PARKING: $2

TV: OC 16 will broadcast both games live

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It's second-chance weekend in O'ahu Interscholastic Association football.

All three games — the Red and White championships and Red third-place game — are rematches of regular-season meetings.

No. 3 Kahuku (9-1) will play No. 4 Farrington (8-2) for the Red title, 7:30 tonight at Aloha Stadium. The Red Raiders beat the Governors, 13-6, on Oct. 3. Both have qualified for the Division I state tournament, but the winner gets a first-round bye.

Radford (8-2) will play No. 10 Campbell (8-1) for the White title at 4:30. The Rams beat the Sabers, 26-14, Sept. 5. Both are in the Division II state tournament, but neither benefits, since Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II champion 'Iolani and Maui Interscholastic League Division II champion Lahainaluna have already drawn the first-round byes.

In tomorrow's Red third-place game, No. 7 Wai'anae (4-5) travels to No. 5 Leilehua (7-2). That game follows the JV championship between the same schools set for 4 p.m. The Seariders beat the Mules, 27-21, in the varsity game Sept. 26. Tomorrow's winner gets the OIA's third Division I state berth.

RED CHAMPIONSHIP

The thing with rematches is circumstances usually aren't the same.

Kahuku, trying to reclaim its title from 2006, will be without three starters since the regular-season meeting with Farrington. Guard Kamalani Aalona, strong safety Kamalani Alo and defensive lineman Kona Schwenke are out because of injuries sustained last week or earlier.

In the teams' earlier meeting, the Governors failed to capitalize on two second-half series with field position inside Kahuku territory.

"It really comes down to executing of those crucial plays," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "If you go back to that game, it came down to six to eight plays that were very crucial and could've gone either way."

Moreover, when Kahuku scored its go-ahead TD in the third quarter, it came after Farrington outside linebacker Isaiah Iuta left that series with a bruised elbow. Iuta blocked a potential game-winning field goal in the 26-24 win against Leilehua in last week's semifinals.

"Maybe if he's in the game, things would be different, but you never know," Okimoto said. "Through his play, he provides everybody a spark. He raises everybody's level of play."

Since the loss, Farrington has averaged 34.6 points per game in their past three games.

"They've become better," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "The scores after (the Oct. 3 game), they blew away everybody.

"Also, there's the revenge factor. It's hard to play a team like Farrington twice in the same season."

The Red Raiders rely on running the ball with St. John Lessary III (685 yards, 6 TDs). They are still successful at running even though it's obvious it's coming. Kahuku passes about 20 percent of the time.

"Because (our offensive line) is young, the run-blocking scheme is easier," Torres said. "Passing, they have to be able to pick up the different blitzes. For our youth, it's a lot harder for them. To be honest, they would prefer to run block than to pass block."

Farrington, too, will favor the run with RB Apelu So'oalo (842 yards, 9 TDs), but QB Dayton Kealoha can unleash if needed. While Kealoha only gets 5.5 yards per attempt, he has thrown only one interception against 10 TD passes.

WHITE CHAMPIONSHIP

It's been a little more than two months since Radford beat Campbell and there are some noticeable differences.

That week, Sabers QB Lalo Respicio came down with a virus that required hospitalization the day before the game and was not able to play. They also were without defensive lineman Christian Keli'i, who was ill.

During that time, Doug Brown was Radford's sole QB.

Respicio went on to become the division's top passer with 2,269 yards and 28 TDs, while Mosiah Manuma has emerged as the Rams' QB. Brown spells Manuma with moderate frequency to give Manuma, a safety and special teams player, an occasional breather.

Neither coach is looking back.

"I think the key is going to be our defensive unit," Campbell coach Amosa Amosa said. "For us, on offense, we have to eliminate mistakes. That's what hurt us the last time. We threw five interceptions. We set up all their touchdowns. Our defense did a pretty good job eliminating any long, sustaining drives."

Rams coach Fred Salanoa wasn't aware until recently that Respicio did not play against Radford. It was early in the season and Respicio started compiling his numbers as the season went along.

Salanoa said the Rams just can't key on Respicio because the Sabers have a lot of other talented players to worry about.

"If we just key on Lalo, they still have four, five guys who can hurt us," Salanoa said.

Campbell receivers Arthur Aiwohi, Daniel Masifilo, Derrick Santiago and Samson Anguay and RB Brandon Ahuna account for all 30 of Campbell's TD receptions, 28 of them from Respicio.

Salanoa said the Rams have to capitalize on any mistakes by the Sabers, who led the White in scoring.

"We have to make sure that we score, because they're going to score (a lot)," Salanoa said. "Every little inch they give us, we're going to have to turn it into a mile."

RED THIRD PLACE

A third-place game probably has never drawn as much interest, as the defending state champion Mules must avenge a regular-season loss to the Seariders for a chance to defend their title.

Wai'anae snapped Leilehua's 11-game win streak dating to last year's title run. The Mules were foiled by turnovers and a blocked field-goal attempt by the Governors in last week's semifinals to put themselves in this predicament.

Home-field advantage isn't necessarily a bonus because the Mules lost to the Seariders at home last time. The Seariders rushed for 273 yards in the win.

Mules' QB Andrew Manley was intercepted three times against Farrington, with two returned for TDs.

ILH

No. 1 Punahou (5-1) needs to beat No. 8 Kamehameha, 7:45 p.m. tomorrow at Aloha Stadium, to make next week's regular-season finale with Saint Louis (6-1) a winner-take-all for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I title.

Otherwise, the Buffanblu will have to beat the Crusaders twice to win the championship and state tournament berth.

Of course, it all depends on how the Warriors (4-3) respond after being eliminated from title contention with their 55-28 loss to the Crusaders last week.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.