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Saturday, September 23, 2000
Basically, It doesn't matter how many fancy plays the Waianae Seariders add to their playbook.
Waianae defeats
Kahuku
The Seariders improve to 4-0 after the Red Raiders
commit seven turnoversMililani hangs on against Aiea
By Dave Reardon
Star-BulletinIn a game against a big, physical opponent like the Kahuku Red Raiders it always comes down to basics.
That means winning the turnover battle, not making penalties and running the ball effectively when they must.
Did we mention playing stonewall defense at key points?
No. 4-ranked Waianae did all that in knocking off No. 2 Kahuku, 12-7, as 4,976 watched last night at Aloha Stadium.
The Seariders are now the only unbeaten team in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Red Division at 4-0. The defending OIA champion Red Raiders fell to 4-1.
YESTERDAY'S PREP
FOOTBALL SCORESOIA
Waianae 12, Kahuku 7
KIF
BIIF
Kahuku outgained Waianae 326 yards to 73. And 15 of Inoke Funaki's 268 yards passing went for a first-quarter TD pass to Saia Hafoka.
The Red Raiders' defense truly did its part, especially early -- it stopped Waianae twice deep in Kahuku territory in the first quarter and didn't allow a first down until the second quarter.
"We studied them really good ... double extra time watching film," Kahuku defensive lineman Chris Kemoe'atu said.
But Kahuku's ability to move the ball was negated by seven turnovers -- including four interceptions, three by Kekoa Reyes -- and the pressure became too much for the Red Raider defense.
"We depend on passing the ball. You live with it, sometimes you die with it," Kahuku coach Siuvaki Livai said. "We got into the red zone so many times, but we came up empty."
Both Searider scores came after Red Raider turnovers.
Late in the first half, Waianae linebacker Brian Lave forced a Kahuku fumble at midfield, and defensive lineman Lia Atuatasi picked it up and ran to the Red Raider 28.
The Seariders, starting the drive with 1:18 left, threw on four of the seven plays of the scoring drive, including an 8-yard TD pass to Graen Enriquez from Brandon Lopes with 12 seconds left.
Waianae's go-ahead score was more traditional in style.
Defensive lineman Rommel Reed recovered a Kahuku fumble at the Red Raider 5-yard line with 2:05 to play in the third quarter.
Although Waianae had rushed for only 17 yards to that point, the Seariders decided to try to pound the ball in.
They went with a wishbone formation, and some reinforcements from the defense helped the wish come true.
"We put in our heavy team," Searider coach Danny Matsumoto said.
That meant Atuatasi (5-10, 270) at tackle, Perry Alafoe (6-1, 280) and Keaka Kamai (5-10, 200) at tight end and Kolani Brown (5-11, 220) at fullback.
With some of the biggest and strongest from the defense augmenting Waianae's already-big offensive line, even Kahuku's tough defense couldn't deny backs Lono Manners and Peter Sarono the 5 yards.
It took three downs, with Sarono punching it in from the 1.
The Searider defense took over from there, as the Red Raiders turned the ball over on downs in Waianae territory twice in the fourth quarter, and Reyes made his third pick with 2:39 left.
"Kahuku's offense is good, but our D-line put it together. They made their quarterback make decisions faster than he should have," Reyes said.
Reyes also made potential touchdown-saving tackles on a kickoff and a punt.
"He's one of those players you like to have on the field as much as possible," Matsumoto said.
"A lot of it was mental mistakes tonight--things we should have correct by now," said James Kammerer, who caught four passes for 77 yards. "Luckily we still have time to correct them. This was a great test. It is any time you get to play a great team like Waianae."
The Seariders' final four opponents were 4-12 after last night. But Reyes said Waianae needs to maintain the kind of intensity that saw it commit only five penalties for 33 yards last night.
"Any team in the Red can beat any team in the Red," the grandson of former Waianae quarterback Omega Reyes said. "We can lose to the lowest team if we don't play as a team."
Kahuku (4-1, 4-2) 7 0 0 0--7 Waianae (4-0, 5-0) 0 6 6 0--12 Scoring summary
Kah--Saia Hafoka 15 pass from Inoke Funaki (Solomon Lee kick)
Wain--Graen Enriquez 8 pass from Brandon Lopes (kick failed)
Wain--Peter Sarono 1 run (pass failed)Individual statistics
Rushing--Kah: Earvin Atuaia 3-(-2), A.J. Smith 9-15, Funaki 9-13, Ferron Fonoimoana 1-1, Muluwai Pula 4-24, Marcus Salanoa 2-7. Wain: Lono Manners18-45, Sarono 17-21, Lopes 3-(-19).
Passing--Kah: Funaki 13-33-3 for 268 yards, Fonoimoana 0-2-1 for 0 yards. Wain: Jonah Nunuha 1-10-1 for 11 yards, Lopes 4-10-0 for 26 yards.
Receiving--Kah: Hafoka 6-126, James Kammerer 4-77, Pula 3-65. Wain: Darryl Correa 1-11, Enriquez 3-20, Shawn Bebeau 1-6.
Junior varsity: Waianae 13, Kahuku 12