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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Leilehua receiver's recovery a 'miracle'


By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kamana Akagi

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Leilehua receiver Kamana Akagi, who sustained a concussion and was unconscious for a while after a collision in Friday's O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red football championship, has been cleared by his physicians to continue playing football.

Mules' coach Nolan Tokuda said Akagi was released from the hospital early Saturday morning and showed up for the 9 a.m. practice. Tokuda told him to rest instead.

"It's kind of like a miracle," Tokuda said. "Usually concussions take weeks, sometimes months (to recover)."

Still, Tokuda said Akagi, the state's second leading receiver in Division I with 983 yards and 10 TDs, will be brought along slowly. He will have to pass a battery of tests from the school's athletic trainers, Tokuda said.

In the fourth quarter, Akagi was coming across the middle for a pass from Andrew Manley. The pass was low and Akagi and Kahuku defensive back Trayson Medeiros collided. When the play ended, Akagi remained motionless on the field. The game was delayed about 15 to 20 minutes until an ambulance arrived.

Tokuda said he received calls of prayers from the Kahuku, Moanalua, Waipahu and 'Aiea programs, as well as from OC 16 announcers Kanoa Leahey and Dave Vinton, and KITV channel 4 sports reporter Rob DeMello.

"Even No. 9 (Medeiros) called," Tokuda said. "He was really sincere. He wanted to see how (Akagi) was doing."

Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said Medeiros was distraught after the play.

"During the timeout, he was crying," Torres said of Medeiros. "I was on my knees trying to console him, telling him his intention wasn't to hurt the kid. He was worried. It's not a good feeling when you think it could've been a paralysis. He was concerned about the boy."

Kahuku and Leilehua are headed for the First Hawaiian Bank Division I state tournament, which starts Nov. 20 for the Mules. The Red Raiders, who won the Red title, 24-20, against the Mules, draw a first-round bye.

OVERTURNED

Farrington won its appeal over the ejection of linebacker Seth Ilae in Saturday's third-place game against Castle. Ilae and Castle's Garrett Paderes had been ejected.

Farrington athletic director Harold Tanaka said video presented in the appeal revealed no punches were thrown in the incident that led to personal fouls against each team, meaning the ejections were not warranted. That means Ilae is eligible to play in next week's state tournament opener against Honoka'a.