Leilehua gets another
By Pat Bigold
shot at Waianae
Star-BulletinLeilehua head football coach Cass Ishitani has had all season to think about the one that got away Sept. 5 in Waianae. Ahead 17-13 with the clock ticking away, the Mules lost, 20-17, on a 76-yard Kana Kawai-to-Glenn Kawaiaea touchdown pass with just over a minute left.
The loss bedeviled Ishitani even more because the Mules capitalized on two Waianae turnovers for touchdowns that pointed them toward an upset.
Leilehua will get a chance to avenge the loss Friday night when the Mules (6-1-1) meet the defending league champion Seariders (7-1) in the semifinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs at Aloha Stadium.
In tomorrow night's other semifinal at the stadium, Campbell (7-1), last year's other league finalist, will face White Conference champion Kahuku (8-0).
Kawai, the undersized but slippery Waianae quarterback, has burned people all season with his unpredictability.
Although Waianae is a run-it-up-the-gut team, Kawai will make you pay if you key on the running game. He passed for two touchdowns and 163 yards in the Leilehua game and averaged well over 100 in the six-game Red Conference season.
"You have to contain him," Ishitani said.
"We can not bite on his play-action. We can't give him time. If we lose our responsibility, we're in trouble."
Ishitani is also concerned about the Seariders' knack for pounding the ball up the middle, which opens the door for fleet-footed back Kamuela Black on the outside.
Black scored seven touchdowns on outside runs during the regular season and had 133 yards and a touchdown in the 49-22 victory over Mililani last week.
The Seariders had 477 yards in total offense.
Waianae head coach Leo Taaca worries about the Red Conference-leading Leilehua defense. Particularly 6-foot-3, 285-pound Lauvale Sape, one of the state's most dominating linemen.
"You've got to contain Lauvale Sape because he's a force, and he has great technique," said Taaca, who is aware of the role Sape played in handing Campbell its only loss of the season.
"Their offense is really good, too, with those two backs -- John West and Cameron Watson. West is healthy again. And their quarterback, Joey Raquino, is a very experienced quarterback -- he's their man."
Leilehua got as far as the quarterfinals last year, losing, 14-6, to Waipahu.
Kahuku wasn't in the playoffs last year, but won, 46-26, against Waipahu of the Red Conference last week.
"Kahuku can do a lot of things," Sabres' head coach Darren Hernandez said. "We won't be fooled to think all they can do is run. We know they can throw.
"We're concerned about their blitz, too. They come at you from every angle."
Hernandez said he's noticed that Kahuku's passing game is effective because of its smash-mouth running game.
Talamoni Talamoni, who began the season as the third-string running back, but is starting due to injuries, scored three touchdowns and rushed for 147 yards last week.
"There is no secret to our success," said Hernandez, whose team defeated McKinley, 14-0, in a tough quarterfinal. "We play tough defense, opportunistic special teams, and we have an effective offense."
The Sabers had 12 sacks last week against the Tigers, with 6-5, 295-pound nose tackle Mark Muasau leading the way with five.
Campbell allowed fewer points than any Red Conference team during the regular season -- 60.
Rodney Tavui, who threw for 262 yards and two scores last week, has paced a Campbell offense plagued by injuries at running backs.
Rugged and powerful Jason Albritton, the inside threat, aggravated a knee injury last week and is 50-50. Isaiah Maikui, the Sabers' top rusher, has been out since the last game of the conference season.
"We miss his explosiveness," Hernandez said of Maikui. "But if we click on all cylinders, we can score a lot."