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Prep Beat
Powerhouses St. Louis and Kahuku survived scares, but four other teams previously unbeaten in their leagues lost in an eventful weekend of Hawaii high school football. Kahuku, Waianae
gear up for
first-place conflictBy Dave Reardon
Star-BulletinKohala, Lahainaluna, McKinley and Mililani fell, respectively, to Hilo, Maui, Castle and Waianae.
In the only upset, Castle beat McKinley, 24-21, to take over first in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's White Division.
What it all amounts to is probably a shakeup in the middle and bottom of the Hawaii Sports Network rankings -- and more importantly, playoff positioning as the season nears its midpoint.
The really big game this weekend is Kahuku (4-0) vs. Waianae (3-0).
The Red Raiders and Seariders have won every OIA championship since 1991 -- and Friday's Red Division game at Aloha Stadium could be a preview to this year's title game.
"The boys and the coaches are excited," Waianae coach Daniel Matsumoto said. "We've been telling them, 'Don't look ahead, don't look ahead,' but now it's here."
Last year, the Seariders beat the Red Raiders, 43-7, in the regular season. But Waianae was knocked out of the OIA and state tournaments before Kahuku could get a shot at revenge.
Kahuku won last year's OIA title and finished second in the state.
The Red Raiders didn't look great Saturday night at the stadium in the season's first TV game. But they made big plays when needed in downing Farrington, 26-14.
Defensive lineman Jonathan Mapu returned a fumble 89 yards for the decisive score, as the Governors appeared to be driving for a late go-ahead touchdown.
This week, Mapu (6-3, 260, sr.) and his defensive mates try to shackle Waianae running backs Peter Sarono and Lono Manners.
Sarono caught two touchdown passes and ran back a kickoff for a TD against Kahuku last year. He's scored in all three Searider games.
Manners has rushed for four touchdowns in two games.
Waianae held the OIA's top rusher, Mililani's Brian Daniels, to eight yards in a 19-7 victory Friday. But Matsumoto doesn't expect to limit Kahuku to seven points again -- even with the Wizard of Waianae, Larry Ginoza, coordinating his defense.
"They can score so many ways," Matsumoto said of Kahuku. "Their special teams are mean. And they always try to catch you with the bomb. They're real aggressive."
Fourteen different players have scored for the Red Raiders this season. The top threat is running back Muliwai Pula, who has at least one TD in all four Kahuku games.
In the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, Punahou took a shocking 21-0 first-quarter lead against St. Louis on Friday at Aloha Stadium. But the Crusaders' defense stiffened, and Bobby George came off the bench to fire four second half touchdown passes. St. Louis won, 49-28, and will probably remain in the Top 10 in four national polls.
Kamehameha, also 3-0 after beating Damien, 55-8, on Friday, appears to be on a collision course with St. Louis.
But the Warriors can't look past the Buffanblu, whom they play Saturday at Aloha Stadium in the featured game of an ILH tripleheader.
This is how the Star-Bulletin voted in this week's Hawaii Sports Network high school football poll. See Wednesday's Star-Bulletin for the Prep Report, which includes features, athletes of the week, standings and statistics. Star-Bulletin Top 10
Prep football poll
1. St. Louis -- 5-0
2. Waianae -- 4-0
3. Waimea -- 3-0
4. Kamehameha -- 4-0
5. Kahuku -- 4-1
6. Maui -- 5-0
7. Castle -- 4-0
8. Mililani -- 2-2
9. McKinley -- 4-1
10. Hilo -- 3-1