Thursday, August 27, 1998
Waianae,
By Pat Bigold
Kamehameha
meet tonight
Star-BulletinWaianae hopes to reignite its trademark defensive rush while Kamehameha tries to solve a quarterback dilemma as the teams meet tonight at Aloha Stadium.
It's the first of 13 preseason prep football games this weekend involving Oahu teams.
Tomorrow night at the stadium, two California teams will take on contenders from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and the Oahu Interscholastic Association.
Torrey Pines (Calif.) will put its wing-T offense up against OIA Campbell's big defense in a 5:35 p.m. game at the stadium.
In the nightcap, Punahou of the ILH will meet San Clemente (Calif.) in a game that should provide plenty of aerial combat.
Yet another California team, Banning High, will travel out to Kahuku to face the Red Raiders' rugged option attack.
It is the first time that these teams have faced each other since 1991 in the Shawn Akina Classic.
Tonight, Waianae head coach Leo Taaca will take a close look at how well his defensive rush has adjusted to the graduation of White Sosene, Stanford Evaimalo and Kainoa Evangelista.
The quarterback pressure provided by this trio was critical to Waianae's last two OIA title runs.
But Red Conference all-star Winston Keliikipi is back at linebacker for the Seariders.
Duane Miller (three touchdowns last weekend against Pac-Five) leads Waianae's wave-after-wave running attack.
Warriors head coach Kanani Souza has at least a couple of concerns.
One is how the offensive line he's breaking in will stand up to the kind of intense physical challenge Waianae is known to offer.
"We want to see how they can hold," said Souza, who has only one truly seasoned veteran prepared to play against Waianae.
That is Blaize Seto-Mook, who has converted from tight end to offensive tackle.
Another Kamehameha concern is, who will start at quarterback when the Warriors open ILH play against Iolani Sept. 12.
Both Ekolu Smith and Dennis (Ikaika) DuPont performed well in last weekend's victory against Farrington.
"I hope one makes it easy for me," said Souza.
But Kamehameha is set at running back with Chad Mahoe, who had three touchdowns and 110 total yards in rushes and receptions against the Governors.
Banning's matchup with host Kahuku will promise plenty of hard hitting.
Banning is described as quick and physical.
"Our kids are pumped up," said second-year Banning head coach Chris Guttierez. "I told them we're playing one of the best football programs in the state of Hawaii."
Guttierez said he tried unsuccessfully in December to line up a game with St. Louis but was delighted to find a match with a team expected to be a favorite in the OIA's Red Conference.
Banning was 6-1 last season in earning a co-championship in the Southern Pacific Conference. Their schedule includes Long Beach Poly, a team that is ranked No. 2 in USA Today's preseason poll.
Guttierez said Banning has traditionally used a veer offense, but this season he will mix spread with veer.
Kahuku's third-year head coach Siuaki Livai has a rock-solid offensive line of seasoned players, led by his son, Siuaki Livai, Jr. (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) at right tackle.
The older Livai said he has three good contenders for the starting quarterback job. They are senior Wayne Fonoimoana, junior Vai Funaki and JV graduate Orlando Wong, a junior.
Kahuku defeated Morse High, a perennial San Diego power, last weekend.
Prep preseason
Today
Kamehameha vs. Waianae, 8 p.m. varsity, 5:30 p.m. JV, Aloha Stadium.
Campbell vs. Torrey Pines (Calif.), 5:35 p.m., Punahou vs. San Clemente (Calif.) 8 p.m. Aloha Stadium
Banning (Calif.) at Kahuku, Aiea at Moanalua, Kalaheo at Castle, Kaimuki at Kailua, Kalani at Kaiser, Damien at Leilehua, McKinley at Roosevelt, Waiakea at Mililani, Samoana at Radford, Nanakuli at Waialua, all 7:30 p.m.
Father Bray Classic: Waipahu vs. King Kekaulike (Maui), 2:30 p.m., Pac-Five vs. Farrington, 4:45 p.m., Iolani vs. Baldwin, 7:30 p.m., Aloha Stadium.
Hawaii Prep at Pearl City, 7:30 p.m.
