Friday, August 17, 2001
[ PREP FOOTBALL ]
Kahuku kicks off The celebrations on the North Shore are finally over and the Kahuku Red Raiders return to the business of football tonight by hosting Skyline High School of Salt Lake City.
season with
Skyline rematch
The revenge game is just one
of many this weekend as
prep football gets goingBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe preseason contest between the defending Oahu Interscholastic Association and state champion Red Raiders and the Eagles kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the Kahuku High School field. The game highlights a full weekend of preseason high school football.
The heat of summer workouts have melted away the buzz of last December's state championship victory, and the Red Raiders will concentrate on avenging last year's 24-21 loss to the Eagles in Utah. Skyline scored the winning touchdown with less than 20 seconds left in the game. And memories of the loss, as well as state pride, have fueled the Red Raiders' preparations for their season opener.
"It's our most important game of the season," said Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai. "We might never have a chance to redeem ourselves against these guys.
"We're putting this out there like it's the state championship game," he added. "I don't think any team that schedules a mainland team should take it lightly. There's more at stake than just a game. We're going to try very hard to boost the reputation of Hawaii football."
While Kahuku went on to upset St. Louis for the state championship last season, Skyline saw its streak of consecutive Utah 5-A state championships end at five with a loss to Northridge High.
Kahuku returns most of its top offensive performers, led by quarterback Inoke Funaki and running back Mulivai Pula. Defensive lineman Jonathan Mapu is regarded as one of the nation's top prospects.
The Hawaii-Utah exchange program continues tomorrow as Kailua travels to the Beehive State to face 3-A power Snow Canyon. Kamehameha will take on Timpview, which went 11-1 in Class 4-A last year, Aug. 24 at Aloha Stadium.
This weekend also marks the beginning of Cal Lee's final season as St. Louis' head coach. The Crusaders travel to Nanakuli to face the Golden Hawks tonight.
The annual Father Bray Classic quadrupleheader will be held tomorrow at Aloha Stadium. McKinley takes on Radford at 11 a.m. Pac-Five faces Farrington at 2:15 p.m. Waipahu plays Leilehua at 5 p.m. And Iolani and Kaimuki meet in the feature game at 7:30 p.m.
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