Sabers vs. Tigers:
The RematchThis time they meet in the quarters
By Pat Bigold
of the OIA playoffs
Star-BulletinIt was the most emotional game of last year's Oahu Interscholastic Association football playoffs. When the Campbell Sabers and McKinley Tigers played in a semifinal matchup on Nov. 7, 1996 at Aloha Stadium, they were promising upstarts bent on breaking into uncharted territory: the league championship game.
The Sabers were second in the Red Conference and the Tigers fourth in the White Conference. McKinley squandered a 9-0 halftime lead and lost, 20-15.
Now they're ready for the rematch, but this time in the quarterfinals of the playoffs, which were expanded from 12 to 16 teams.
The Red Conference's top-seeded Sabers (5-1) and the White Conference's second-seeded Tigers (5-1), no longer upstarts but legitimate contenders for the OIA crown, meet Friday at 5:05 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. The winner could face White Conference champion Kahuku (6-0).
"It's unfortunate that McKinley and Kahuku have to be in the same bracket," said Tigers coach David Tanuvasa, the 1996 Star-Bulletin All-State Coach of the Year.
Two-time OIA Red Conference coach of the year Darren Hernandez agrees. But he looks forward to facing Tanuvasa, a friend he said is like his twin.
"We're pretty similar in size (6-0, 295), we're both bald, and we both look like we could walk into any bar in the world and get respect," Hernandez said with a laugh.
With five starters injured and three others disciplined, Campbell got off to a slow start against Pearl City in its playoff opener at home Friday, but won 19-6 over the Blue Conference Chargers. Hernandez said he was unhappy with his team's seven turnovers (five fumbles and two interceptions).
In its playoff opener Saturday, McKinley had 385 yards in total offense in a 28-6 victory at Castle of the Red Conference.
It was a big game for McKinley running back Jonathan Mostella, who had 135 yards and two touchdowns, and for the defense, which recovered two fumbles and made three interceptions.
Where's the beef? It's on the Campbell and McKinley lines where 6-foot-5, 295-pound tackle Mark Muasau will lead the Sabers' defensive front against 6-5, 315-pound Francisco Tipoti and 6-3, 260-pound Aukeso Tuilemotu.
"McKinley can run inside, outside, they can pass, they can rush the passer, they can cover receivers," Hernandez said. ''We can't afford any sleepwalking in the first half like last year because that will be our death knell."
Tanuvasa opts for tenacity.
"The key for us is to control the ball and cut down on our mistakes," he said.
A big advantage for McKinley is that Charley Napolu, last year's starting quarterback, is back.
"He's gone through the shock of last year and he's gained from the experience," Tanuvasa said.
Clifford Russell, the Sabers' all-state running back who scored on an 83-yard touchdown pass against the Tigers, has graduated. But wide receiver Mark Acidera, who had two scoring catches in the 1996 game, is back.
Campbell star quarterback Kaleopa Kaleopa has been succeeded by 6-1, 230-pound Rodney Tavui.
In other quarterfinal games at the stadium, Leilehua (5-1-1) meets Farrington (3-3-1) in a Red Conference matchup Friday at 8:05 p.m.; Kahuku plays the Red Conference's Waipahu (4-3) at 8:05 p.m. tomorrow; and defending OIA champion and 1997 Red Conference runner-up Waianae (6-1) will meet Blue Conference champion Mililani (6-1) at 5:05 p.m. tomorrow. The semifinals will be played Nov. 6 and Nov. 7.
Waianae head coach Leo Taaca is not looking past Mililani.
"They have a guy (Jose Serate) who scored more touchdowns than anybody else in the OIA and you have to worry about him," Taaca said. "Plus, Mililani has a very good defense."
Question marks for the Seariders this week: Starting quarterback Kana Kawai and running back West Keliikipi, who were both hurt in last week's win against Kailua.