VIDEO: Kahuku state preview
VIDEO: Kamehameha state preview

On Nov. 30, 1979, Boyd Yap sealed his place in Hawai'i football lore when he rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns to lead Kaiser to a stunning 27-7 upset of Kamehameha in the O'ahu Prep Bowl — then regarded as the "mythical" state championship.

Friday night, Beau Yap will try to help Kamehameha win the official Division I state title when the Warriors (11-1) take on Kahuku (12-0) at Aloha Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7:30.

"This is his deal, but no question, it's a special time for both of us," said Boyd, a former three-time Advertiser All-State player for Kamehameha and Kaiser who now coaches the Warriors' running backs. "These opportunities don't come around often, so for our family, it's something we'll never forget."

Beau, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive end, won't be putting on the kind of spectacular offensive show his dad did on that memorable night 30 years ago, but he hopes to have the same kind of impact on the other side of the ball. Beau already had a big night in last Friday's 40-0 semifinal victory over Leilehua, posting two sacks for 21 yards in helping Kamehameha shut out the Mules' dangerous offense led by All-State quarterback Andrew Manley.

"This has been the biggest week of my life," Beau said. "It's the first season I ever won a championship, and (Friday's game) means a lot."

STORYBOOK CAREER

If the Warriors win Friday night, it will be Boyd's first state title with Kamehameha as well.

As a junior, he was the Warriors' starting tailback in the Prep Bowl against Wai'anae but Kamehameha lost, 14-6, before a still-record crowd of 32,812 at Aloha Stadium.

The following summer, he transferred to Kaiser and later rushed for more than 1,000 yards to lead the Cougars to their first O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship.

"It was quite a run, and I have a lot of fun memories playing under (current University of Hawai'i assistant coaches) Ron and Cal Lee," Boyd said. "(Current Saint Louis offensive coordinator) Vinny Passas was there, too."

Ironically, winning the OIA title meant a Prep Bowl matchup against Interscholastic League of Honolulu champ Kamehameha, which featured Boyd's good friends and former teammates.

"They had a great team, with guys like Kaulana Park, John Haina, Waipa Parker, Nathan Dudoit, Malcolm Lutu ...," Boyd said. "It wasn't an easy thing playing against them. But after the coin toss, it was just football."

Boyd helped Kaiser take a 7-0 lead with a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, then scored on 1-yard plunges in the third and fourth quarters. In between, he dazzled the Aloha Stadium crowd of 26,619 with his trademark cuts and darts between defenders, threw two halfback option passes for 24 yards, punted twice for over 40 yards, recovered a fumble and even made a tackle that prevented a Warriors touchdown after an interception.

After the game, Boyd was greeted by hugs and lei from both sides of the stadium.

"He doesn't really like to talk about it," Beau said. "But growing up, I heard all the stories from my uncles. Everybody says he put on a show."

A DIFFERENT PATH

Boyd returned to Kamehameha in the second semester of his senior year and graduated in 1980. His wife, Kehau, is a 1982 Kamehameha graduate.

So when Beau was accepted to the Kapälama campus as an eighth-grader, "we were ecstatic," Boyd said.

But by that time, it was clear Beau would take a different football path.

He began Pop Warner football as a running back for the Mänoa Paniolos, but after two years he outgrew his position and switched to offensive guard and middle linebacker.

And by his freshman year, Beau became a defensive end.

"(Playing) running back would have been cool, but I like that I can play defense and do different things (Boyd) never did," Beau said.

Boyd said the switch to defense "was a blessing."

"It made him realize real quick that it's not about him, it's about the team," Boyd said.

Warriors head coach David Stant said Beau approaches defense like an offensive player, using quickness and skill as much as strength and power.

"He has a great work ethic, he doesn't question anything we ask him to do," Stant said. "And if he doesn't understand something, he's not afraid to ask. That's why he's so good."

Beau and his fellow Warrior defenders have allowed less than 200 yards per game, and they combined for nine sacks on Manley, including six in the first half alone.

"We all play as one unit, and we bring people from all over the place," Beau said.

On offense, Boyd's coaching has helped running back Ryan Ho rush for 1,392 yards and 18 touchdowns.

"He brings a lot to our staff," Stant said of Boyd, "especially his passion."

Beau said Boyd "loves Kamehameha," and in a separate interview without being asked, Boyd said the same thing goes for Beau.

So 30 years to the week after Boyd's glorious state championship victory over his alma mater, he and his son are united in trying to win one for the Blue and White.

"Family is No. 1, so this is something they'll cherish the rest of their lives," Stant said. "That's forever."

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com