Mamiya leads No. 1 Saints against No. 3 Buffanblu
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
The suspense can end tonight or continue tomorrow in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division.
With only one playoff berth left — the West fifth seed — it's win or pack it up for the Campbell Sabers.
Campbell must beat Leilehua tonight just for a chance at a playoff berth. Even if the Sabers win, they need Wai'anae to beat Kapolei tomorrow to eliminate 'Aiea.
Otherwise, all other Red playoff berths are secured with only seeding order to be determined by the outcomes of this weekend's games.
In the White, the top four seeds have been set. While 'Anuenue, Nanakuli and Kaiser could match Pearl City (4-2), the Chargers beat all three to win head-to-head tiebreakers.
NO 1. SAINT LOUIS VS. NO. 3 PUNAHOU
WHEN: 7:45 tonight at Aloha Stadium.
RECORDS: Saint Louis (6-0 overall, 3-0 ILH), Punahou (4-1, 2-1).
LAST WEEK: Saint Louis beat 'Iolani, 49-34; Punahou beat Pac-Five, 44-28.
NOTABLE: The last time they met, the Crusaders won, 28-14, when Saints QB Micah Mamiya passed for three TDs and ran for another.
"We have to stop the run, which makes their passing game even more dangerous," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "It really comes down to controlling Mamiya, as much as possible. We have to manage him, I guess."
Last week, Mamiya passed for four TDs and ran for another. He actually had a 70-yard TD run nullified by a penalty, only to come back to throw an 80-yard TD pass on the next play.
The Crusaders had good performances by two different type of running backs. Keani Nishigaya, the speedster, had 88 yards on12 carries, while Vonn Feao, the power guy, had 94 on 12 rushes.
Meanwhile, Punahou is expected to rotate quarterbacks as it has all season. Cayman Shutter and Kimo Makaula each threw a TD pass against Saint Louis last time around. One went to Manti Te'o and the other to Dalton Hilliard, both running backs. But look out for wide receiver Robbie Toma, who leads the Buffanblu with seven TD catches. Sorely missed is 6-foot-4 receiver Kameron Steinhoff (spleen).
The Crusaders have to be wary of Makaula, the more mobile of the two QBs; they had trouble containing 'Iolani QB Kela Marciel. They will need to pressure the quarterbacks, but teams have been double-teaming Saints tackle Ryan Eastman.
"He's a person you have to account for," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said. "It's tough to block him one-on-one, so teams have been doing that (double-teaming). We'll counter that by moving him around. We'll put him inside as well as outside."
A Punahou win will pull the teams into a tie for the Division I lead.
'IOLANI VS. DAMIEN
WHEN: 5 p.m. today at Aloha Stadium.
RECORDS: 'Iolani (3-3, 2-1), Damien (2-3-1, 1-2).
LAST WEEK: 'Iolani lost to Saint Louis, 49-34; Damien lost to Kamehameha, 31-6.
NOTABLE: The Raiders beat the Monarchs, 46-19, the first time around. Damien running back Kama Bailey rushed for 291 yards and TDs of 72 and 41 yards, so it's obvious what the key is for the Raiders, who had trouble with another speedy back in Nishigaya last week against Saint Louis.
The onus is on Damien to minimize the damage 'Iolani quarterback Marciel can do. Marciel spells double trouble with his ability to scramble and pass.
If there isn't enough star sightings on the field, actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa will be roaming the Damien sidelines as a team guest, according to a school spokesman.
CAMPBELL AT NO. 10 LEILEHUA
WHEN: JV 5 p.m., varsity to follow today.
RECORDS: Campbell (2-3-1, 2-3), Leilehua (4-3, 3-2).
NOTABLE: The Sabers need to win and that only gives them a 24-hour reprieve until the outcome of the Kapolei at Wai'anae game tomorrow. Otherwise, idle 'Aiea clinches the fifth West berth.
The Mules will have to contain Sabers running back Samson Anguay, an explosive runner who can turn things around quickly with a long run.
The Sabers will have their hands full stopping quarterback Kaipo Kea and running back Rico Newman.
NO. 9 KAPOLEI AT NO. 8 WAI'ANAE
WHEN: 4 p.m. JV, varsity to follow tomorrow.
RECORDS: Kapolei (5-2, 3-2), Wai'anae (5-2, 3-2).
NOTABLE: The top three from each division gets a bye and the winner of this game will finish anywhere from first to third.
The Seariders will be without quarterback/slotback Ben McQuown, one of the most dangerous runners in the division. McQuown is attending a baseball showcase in Arizona this weekend.
"He wanted to stay, but I told him to go because it's a good opportunity," Wai'anae coach Dan Matsumoto said.
In his last game, McQuown played slot and had two 80-yard TD runs in a 30-20 loss to 'Aiea.
Kapolei has two threats at quarterback in Mason Koa and Noah Pascua. When Pascua is the QB, Koa is still dangerous because he plays wide receiver.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.