Sports Update

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Saturday, October 11, 1997

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Rainbows in need of win
against the tough Bulldogs

They needed to win a league game they weren't expected to win.

For too long, members of the University of Hawaii football team have played down to their expectations whenever a Western Athletic Conference team is around.

Beat Rose Bowl-bound Oregon at home in 1994, stun the University of California on the road the following week, and then go out and lose every conference encounter they play that season. That has been the book on the 'Bows.

Since 1994, Hawaii is 6-5-1 against nonconference opponents and a woeful 3-24 in league play. One of those trio of WAC wins was over Fresno State in 1995. But since then, the Rainbows have lost 13 of their last 14 conference affairs. Not exactly a stirring statistic entering Saturday night's league matchup at wet and wild Aloha Stadium.

"We need to come out and play a competitive football game for four quarters," UH head coach Fred vonAppen said. "We've lost some confidence as a football team, and we need to come out and do something to get it back."

That may be a tall order considering how well the Bulldogs have played of late. Fresno State was reborn after being bounced all over the field in a 35-0 loss at Oklahoma State. The Bulldogs came back to lose a heartbreaker in overtime at Oregon, but surprised Utah in their WAC opener nine days ago with a new defensive look that caught the Utes with their shinguards down.

Wahine surge to beat
SMU in three games

DALLAS -- Deep in the heart of Texas, the University of Hawaii women's volleyball team dug deep to break an early tie. The Wahine then broke away for a straight-set sweep in downing WAC opponent Southern Methodist, 15-10, 15-7, 15-3, in 80 minutes at Moody Coliseum Friday night.

"Blocking has been our strength and it was hard to get a rhythm going against such an unorthodox team," said Hawaii coach Dave Shoji after the Wahine improved to 12-4 overall, 4-0 in WAC. "There were a lot of sideouts in that first game.

"We had a sluggish start but once we won Game 1, we settled down and played pretty well."

It was 10-10 in Game 1 when Hawaii scored five unanswered points, two on an ace serve and a kill by senior Therese Crawford (10) kills, and two of Kelli Cordray's 9 kills.

SMU took a 6-3 lead in Game 2 but Wahine freshman Jessica Sudduth served five straight points and Hawaii never trailed again. The Wahine ran their regular-season conference winning streak to 39 heading into the match with Texas Christian at 2 p.m. Saturday, Hawaii time.

St. Louis overwhelms
Kamehameha, 34-14

Playing with a fractured left wrist in a cast, St. Louis slotback Craig Stutzmann scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to ice a 34-14 victory over Kamehameha before 5,983 fans at Aloha Stadium Friday night to give the Crusaders the first-round Interscholastic League of Honolulu title.

The Warriors, who came into the game second to 11-time defending ILH champion St. Louis in both offense and defense, fell to 3-2.

Stutzmann, who suffered the fracture last weekend against Damien, made five catches for 86 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown reception from ILH-leading passer Jason Gesser with 6:18 left in the third quarter to give the nationally ranked Crusaders a two-touchdown cushion.

Campbell scores in last minute
to edge Waianae, 22-21

Quarterback Rodney Tavui scored with 48 seconds left on a 20-yard run to lift Campbell to a 22-21 win over defending Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference champion Waianae Friday night at the Seariders' field.

The Sabers' win left both teams at 4-1, tied for first.

Next week, the Sabers host Farrington while Waianae hosts Waipahu. A loss by either the Sabers of the Seariders will give the other the conference title.

The Seariders roared out to a 21-0 lead in the first half on a 17-yard run by Kamuela Black, a 27-yard run by quarterback Kana Kawai and a 25-yard Kawai-to-Glenn Kawaiaea pass.

But Campbell shut out the Waianae offense in the second half as Tavui passed 10 yards to Ezekiel Kelii and 25 yards to M.G. Namocot for two touchdowns before rushing for the winner.

Other games:

Farrington 13, Castle 10: At Castle, The Governors improved to 2-2-1 in the Red Conference as Skippa Diaz recorded his 100th win as head coach. T.J. Akusitino got the game-winner on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Farrington defense overwhelmed the Knights with 12 quarterback sacks. Allen Mauia and Albert Mika were in on four, while Kale Williamson, Talalelei Fatu and Benton Faamasili were in on three, and Mark Lotomau was in on two.

McKinley 17, Kaiser 12: At Kaiser, the Cougars (3-3) had a 64-yard punt return by Gino Gavieres called back with one minute left for clipping and the Tigers (5-0) held on to win. If Kahuku (4-0) can win tonight's home game against Kailua (1-3), the Red Raiders and Tigers will face each other in a battle of unbeaten teams on Friday night at Kahuku.

Aiea 39, Radford 7: At Radford, Pagopago Neemia scored four touchdowns for Na Alii (2-3) and the Aiea defense made five interceptions against the Rams (0-5) in a White Conference game. Neemia carried 29 times for 244 yards. Aiea had a total of 317 yards rushing.

Mililani 28, Waialua 6: At Waialua, the Trojans raised their record to 4-1 as Jose Serate scored on runs of 41 and 45 yards and Ty Takamoto scored on 8- and 1-yard runs in a Blue Conference game. Serate rushed 10 times for 138 yards. Waialua quarterback Joseph Gutierrez completed 11 of 26 passes for 219 yards. He was intercepted twice.