[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
Balanced Crusaders still No. 1
If the Interscholastic League of Honolulu is a high-wire tightrope, the Saint Louis Crusaders are balancing perfectly.
Moments after a crucial 33-27 win over defending league champion Punahou, coach Delbert Tengan was not quite overjoyed. In fact, he was already thinking ahead.
"We have a tough Kamehameha team next week," he said after Saint Louis improved to 4-0 in conference play. Punahou and Kamehameha, both 2-2 in league play, need a minor miracle to catch the Crusaders.
Saint Louis, which has been consistent and sometimes dominant in offense, defense and special teams, is balanced in so many ways. Nobody at Kalaepohaku is looking past the Warriors, not to a league crown or even a state championship.
The Crusaders last won the state title in 2003.
"We have to take it one game at a time," defensive lineman Solomona Aigamaua said.
Air time pending:
The Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference playoffs kick off this weekend, but the dates are up in the air.
Oceanic Cable, which operates OC-16, may televise both first-round games. Aiea will visit Castle and Kapolei meets Kailua at Mililani High School.
The Aiea-Castle game is set for Friday. The game could be televised live from Castle, which would be a first.
The date of the Kapolei-Kailua game has not been determined yet.
"OC 16 will let us know by (this) morning," OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka said yesterday afternoon. "TV is dictating this."
The top three seeds in each division have byes this week.