Sidelines
Poly pumped
for prep Super BowlIT comes constantly, but mostly it comes in those moments when practice drags, when concentration lacks, when legs jiggle and muscles wobble and will fades. It hits them hardest then. The word pierces them then, jolts them awake, rips its way through the air then hangs there for all to hear.
"I know Kahuku doesn't want to lose in front of their own fans!"
Kahuku. Kahuku. Kahuku.
The Long Beach Poly football team throws itself into one more sprint. One more hard lift.
Matt Kahai lived all over growing up. His dad's Army career took them everywhere. But some of his most formative years were those spent rediscovering his roots in Ewa Beach, "growing up with all my Hawaiian family."
He discovered football, too, playing for the Ewa Beach Cardinals and dreaming of more.
"I thought I was going to live in Hawaii for the rest of my life," he said.
But then his father left the military and Matt went on to high school in Long Beach, where he was born. He was supposed to attend another school, but Matt wanted to play football at Long Beach Poly, one of the most storied high school programs in the country.
He'd found a new dream.
Five days a week, Long Beach Poly talks about Kahuku, and De La Salle, and the Sept. 21 high school doubleheader showcase at Aloha Stadium. St. Louis against De La Salle, the defending No. 1 team in the country which Poly played last year in an epic California showdown. And Poly against Kahuku, the Hawaii state champs.
"It's sort of like the De La Salle game last year," the one that drew national attention, a book, an NFL Films crew, Kahai said. "This one might be even bigger."
Kahai is a JV defensive back, just a sophomore. Playing for Poly is "kinda like an honor," he said.
"We just ... go. Go 100 percent every time. They'll just keep on pushing it a little higher and higher and higher." All it takes is one word.
In the weight room, on the field, in meetings they are reminded (Poly's game film studies include last year's Hawaii state championship game). Kahuku. Kahuku. Kahuku.
Kahai can't wait. He's hoping to get back to see family, to watch the big game. Maybe more.
"If I do make the (varsity), then there's my ticket," he said.
Every day Poly players are reminded of this high school super bowl, and every day Kahai and his teammates throw themselves into one more sprint, one more hard lift.
"I bet they're working harder than us thousands of miles away!" coach Raul Lara yells at his troops.
Sweating through the summer with the No. 3 team in the country, Kahai said, "The dream's almost coming true."
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com