White Conference teams
By Pat Bigold
could steal show in
OIA playoffs
Star-BulletinAs the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs roll into the quarterfinals tomorrow and Friday at Aloha Stadium, a pair of White Conference teams could grab the spotlight.
Roosevelt, the 13th-seeded team, which pulled off a stunning 16-12 upset of third-seeded McKinley last weekend, is riding an express train called "momentum" as it heads toward its showdown with unbeaten conference champion Kailua.
"Our kids are finally starting to believe in themselves," Rough Riders head coach Les Parilla said.
But it's a matchup no one would have paid much attention to if the Rough Riders weren't fresh off beating a team that could have made it to the OIA final.
Kailua amassed 432 yards to the Rough Riders' 132 in a 45-6 trouncing Sept. 4 at Roosevelt Stadium.
Kailua gained 316 yards on the ground to 22 for Roosevelt.
"Their backs are quick hitting the holes and they block well," Parilla said.
Kailua again will go with four running backs, but Rocky Alo and Keone Browne will probably bear the brunt of the work.
The pair totaled 30 carries for 165 yards in last week's playoff-opening 12-0 victory over Kalaheo.
Surfriders head coach Darren Johnson said he is concerned about the opportunistic Roosevelt defense led by 6-foot-3, 315-pound junior lineman Ronald Tauala. And Waiokeola Stanley, who tackled McKinley quarterback Darin Garcia in the end zone for a critical safety last weekend.
"If our kids can eliminate penalties and play disciplined football, then we should be OK," Johnson said.
In another quarterfinal, the Waipahu-Farrington matchup promises to be a barnburner, just by virtue of tradition.
The Governors came away with a hard-fought 18-13 victory in the regular season, but the Marauders' passing game has been impressive of late.
Quarterback Nefu Mageo, who passed for six touchdowns in a 54-26 victory over Mililani, has no interceptions in his last three games.
"They have the high-powered passing offense, and they almost pulled it out the last time we played them," Farrington head coach Skippa Diaz said.
Waipahu head coach Sam Delos Reyes said he thinks Farrington's option game has improved.
"That quarterback (Nicholas Tiqui) has established himself as a runner," Delos Reyes said. ''And they throw the ball effectively when they have to."
Delos Reyes said bad decisions were the main reason for his Red Conference loss to the Governors.
"We had some bad quarterback reads and Farrington did a good job of capitalizing on our mistakes," he said.
"There is a great rivalry going on between Farrington and Waipahu that goes all the way back to when I was playing under Tom Kiyosaki and Waipahu was coached by Masa Yonamine -- about 1959-1961. And the rivalry has not dwindled at all."
One of the modern highlights was a 1994 OIA playoff game in which Farrington rallied from an 18-0 deficit in the second half to win, 19-18.
"I had just about given up the ghost in that one," Diaz said.
In games that could turn a bit lopsided, defending OIA champion Waianae takes on Castle, and unbeaten and nationally ranked Kahuku faces unbeaten Blue Conference champion Kaimuki.
Siuaki Livai's Red Raiders are No. 18 in USA Today's ''Super 25" poll. But he said he's not looking past anyone in these playoffs.
"I think Kaimuki is a well-coached team and they have some very positive things going for them," Livai said.
The Bulldogs hammered Leilehua of the Red Conference, 33-7, in their playoff opener last week.
Kaimuki quarterback Tyrone Tausaga is one of Kaimuki's positives these days. He ran for two touchdowns, returned a fumble for another score and threw a touchdown pass last week.
Also, Kahuku whipped Aiea, 53-7, last week.
Waianae, which clobbered Moanalua, 41-3, last weekend, plays a Castle team fresh off a tiebreaker victory over the Red Conference's Campbell.
(All games at Aloha Stadium) OIA playoffs
Tomorrow
Kahuku vs. Kaimuki, 5:05 p.m.
Roosevelt vs. Kailua, 7:35 p.m.
Waianae vs. Castle, 5:05 p.m.
Farrington vs. Waipahu, 7:35 p.m.
(All games at Aloha Stadium) ILH games
Pac-Five vs. Damien, 2 p.m.
St. Louis vs. Punahou, 4:45 p.m.
Kamehameha vs. Iolani, 7:30 p.m.