Thursday, September 24, 1998
Igber runs into
By Pat Bigold
tough Saints
Star-BulletinThey are two objects hurtling toward each other with increasing momentum.
The problem is that one is a freight train and the other is a motorcycle.
St. Louis, winner of the last 12 Interscholastic League of Honolulu championships, and Iolani's Joe Igber, the third most productive running back in Hawaii prep history, are on a collision course tomorrow night at Aloha Stadium.
Both teams are 2-0 but the comparisons end there.
Last season, in which Igber broke Mosi Tatupu's all-time ILH single-season rushing record with 1,567 yards, he gained only 48 yards in a 51-7 first-round loss to St. Louis.
It was one of the few hiccups in an otherwise brilliant junior year for Igber.
As the teams meet tomorrow, Igber is 460 yards away from the all-time prep career rushing record of 3,404 yards set in 1990 by former Kahuku star Mark Atuaia.
At a pace of 244.5 yards per game in the ILH regular season, the record could go in two games.
But St. Louis' rush defense, which has allowed 11 yards in two games, will be focusing on the shifty, elusive 5-foot-7, 190-pound tailback.
"They kept him contained pretty well last year," said Iolani head coach Wendell Look.
"They don't over-pursue, they stay in their gaps and they're physically superior in size and athletic ability to our guys up front."
Therefore Look believes Igber's ability to function lies in the hands of his teammates.
"Up front and perimeter, we will need somebody on the St. Louis defenders so we can give Joe some space to maneuver."
If Igber can maneuver, he will give St. Louis all it can handle.
If not, Look said he will look to his passing game, led by junior quarterback Danny Chong.
"We expect our guys to create some basis where we can run the ball," he said.
"But our offense is based on what defense gives up."
St. Louis, which is ranked No. 14 in USA Today's "Super 25" poll, comes in with a six-game win streak that dates back to last year.
The Crusaders' run-and-shoot offense is sparked by the passing on Timmy Chang and the rushing of Noah Campbell, Damien Cole and Pesefea Fiaseu.
In the Oahu Interscholastic Association tomorrow, this season's prohibitive favorite, Kahuku (3-0), travels to Leilehua (0-2).
An indication of the Red Raiders' strength as a unit this year was given in last weekend's 35-34 win by Long Beach Poly win over Banning in California.
Long Beach Poly is the No. 2 team in USA Today's "Super 25" rankings.
Kahuku stomped Banning in preseason at home, 47-14.
The Red Raiders' ground offense has been overwhelming with 919 yards in three OIA games.
State career rushing record: 3,404 yards (Mark Atuaia, Kahuku, 1988-90) Joe Igber's run
for the recordILH career rushing record: 3,367 yards (Mosi Tatupu, Punahou, 1971-73)
Igber's career total: 2,949 yards
Yards to ILH mark: 418
Yards to state mark: 460 yards
First round ILH standings
W L T PF PA St. Louis 2 0 0 130 20 Iolani 2 0 0 74 53 Kamehameha 1 1 0 67 34 Pac-Five 1 1 0 50 54 Damien 0 2 0 0 111 Punahou 0 2 0 34 83Friday's gamesDamien vs. Punahou, 5 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Iolani, 7:45 p.m., Aloha Stadium.
Saturday's game
Pac-Five vs. Kamehameha at Iolani, 2 p.m.
OIA Red
W L T PF PA Kahuku 3 0 0 140 32 Waianae 2 1 0 81 69 Farrington 1 1 1 13 30 Waipahu 1 1 0 33 39 McKinley 1 1 0 36 45 Campbell 0 2 1 7 71 Leilehua 0 2 0 2 26OIA White
W L T PF PA Kailua 3 0 0 98 20 Mililani 2 1 0 70 43 Roosevelt 2 1 0 61 43 Castle 1 1 0 51 59 Moanalua 1 2 0 42 68 Kaiser 0 2 0 12 66 Nanakuli 0 2 0 25 60OIA Blue
W L T PF PA Kaimuki 3 0 0 95 25 Radford 3 0 0 77 19 Kalaheo 1 1 0 43 28 Aiea 1 1 0 27 26 Kalani 1 2 0 13 50 Waialua 0 2 0 0 76 Pearl City 0 3 0 20 51Friday's gamesMcKinley at Waianae, Kahuku at Leilehua, Farrington at Waipahu, Kaiser at Kailua, Roosevelt at Mililani, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday's games
Castle at Nanakuli, Kalani vs. Kalaheo at Kaiser, Kaimuki vs. Radford at Roosevelt, Aiea at Waialua, 7:30 p.m.
