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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 10, 2008

Five-way tie atop OIA Red West possible after weekend games

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Wai'anae quarterback Keoni Napierala-Rose will lead his team against Mililani tonight. It is the OIA's final regular-season weekend.

ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser

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The way this season is going, history might be made in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West this weekend.

While No. 4 Leilehua and No. 8 Wai'anae sit in the driver's seats for the top two seeds in the division for the OIA tournament, that could easily change if the two lose their games this final regular-season weekend.

The Seariders (4-1) will host Mililani (3-2) tonight and the Mules (4-1) will travel to Waipahu (3-2) tomorrow. Kapolei (4-2) ended its regular season last week.

If the Trojans and Marauders win, there will be an unprecedented five-way tie for first. Each will be regarded as division champion per OIA rules.

For seeding purposes, the first tie-breaker is head-to-head among the tied teams. Incredibly, all would be 2-2 against each other. League football coordinator Harold Tanaka said a coin toss will be used to break the ties. The odd team in the toss will get the top seed. Records of the four tied teams will be compared. If the records against each other is still the same, another coin toss will be implemented. The pattern continues until everything is settled.

The East is settled when it comes to the top seed. Kahuku (5-0) clinched it when Kailua (2-4) beat Castle (3-2) Saturday.

But there could be a three-way tie for second that would result in a coin toss.

If Castle beats Kahuku and Kaimuki (3-2) beats Farrington (4-1), Castle, Kaimuki and Farrington would tie for third. Each beat one, but not the other. The odd team in the coin toss would be second. The head-to-head result of the remaining two teams determines third and fourth.

Only one East berth hasn't been settled. If McKinley (1-4) beats Roosevelt (0-5), the Tigers get the fifth berth because of its win against Kailua earlier this season. The Surfriders need the Rough Riders to play spoilers.

In the White, Kalaheo (6-1) clinched a playoff berth, but can clinch the division's top seed with a win against Campbell (5-1) tomorrow at Kailua High.

Only the top four teams in the White advance to the playoffs with the top two gaining Division II state berths.

The Sabers can clinch a playoff berth with a win.

Radford (5-1) will clinch a playoff berth with its forfeit win against Kalani.

BIIF

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation starts second-round play today.

Kealakehe (4-0) won the first round in Division I. If it wins the second round, it clinches the league's Division I title and state tournament berth.

Konawaena (3-1) won the first round in Division II, despite a three-way tie with Kohala (3-1) and Hawai'i Prep (3-1). Since each beat one, but not the other, the league's second tie-breaker, points differential involving the games of the three teams, was implemented. The Wildcats had the best differential, in part to a 40-6 win against Kohala.

NO. 5 'IOLANI VS. NO. 6 KAMEHAMEHA

WHERE: Kuniakea Athletic Stadium

WHEN: 7 p.m. tomorrow

WHAT: Having beaten previously top-ranked Saint Louis last week, the element of surprise is gone for the Raiders in this Interscholastic League of Honolulu contest.

But this series has belonged to the Warriors (4-3 overall, 1-2 ILH). The Raiders (7-1, 5-0) last beat the Warriors in 1998 (34-24).

There are historical implications here. If the Division II Raiders win, it keeps their chances of having a better record than the Division I leader alive. If 'Iolani has an equal or better record than the Division I champion, a playoff determines the overall ILH champion. Still, 'Iolani would only qualify for the Division II state tournament.

This will be the second week in a row the Raiders will face a more physical team with depth. Otherwise, the game is a nice matchup of athleticism at the skill positions.

Raiders' quarterback Jarrett Arakawa spreads the wealth to four different receivers. Kela Marciel is fourth on the team in receptions, but leads in receiving yardage (420). Running back Kellen Imada (650 yards) provides balance on the ground.

The Warriors have a strong offensive to open holes for running back Ryan Ho (773 yards, 10 TDs). Receivers Pi'i Minns and Maika Mataele can turn out big plays on passes from Edmund Kamano Jr.

MILILANI VS. NO. 8 WAI'ANAE

WHERE: Raymond Torii Stadium

WHEN: JV 4:30 p.m., varsity 7:30 p.m. (OC 16) today

WHAT: The Seariders (4-3, 4-1 OIA Red West) need to win to clinch the division's top seed and secure a first-round bye. They squandered that opportunity in a 28-15 loss to Waipahu last week.

Wai'anae's defense against the rush had been dominant until the Marauders exploited it for 183 yards on the ground. It was the first time the Seariders' defense allowed triple-digit rushing yards this year.

The Seariders rely on running back Danny Kekoanui, the team's leading rusher (685 yards, nine TDs) and receiver (162 yards, 1 TD).

Meanwhile, the Trojans (3-4, 3-2) handled the Marauders, 20-7, earlier in the season.

NO. 4 LEILEHUA VS. WAIPAHU

WHERE: Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex

WHEN: JV 4 p.m., varsity to follow, tomorrow.

WHAT: If the Mules (6-1, 4-1) win, they get one of the top two seeds, pending the outcome of the Wai'anae-Mililani game.

The Mules haven't allowed more than two TDs in a game until they lost to Wai'anae, 27-21, two weeks ago. But they face a team coming off a big win against the Seariders.

Waipahu runs 90 percent of the time and it does it well behind running back Troy Matautia, who leads Division I rushers with 967 yards. The former quarterback also has thrown for two TDs, the same as QB Joshua Lacar, also an excellent rusher with 386 yards for a 11.0 per carry average.

The Mules have the leading passer in Division I in Andrew Manley (1,697 yards, 12 TDs).

CAMPBELL VS. KALAHEO

WHERE: Kailua High

WHEN: JV 5 p.m., varsity to follow, tomorrow

WHAT: Kalaheo (7-1, 6-1) is the highest scoring team in the division with 252 points. Campbell (6-1, 5-1) is next at 194.

Both are led by very athletic quarterbacks. Kalaheo's Phil Tauai is a threat to run (517 yards, 10 TDs) and pass (803 yards, 4 TDs). Campbell's Lalo Respicio (1,400 yards, 17 TDs) is the only QB in the state with an over 200 passing efficiency.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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