Sabers’ traveling show
meets Mules at stadium

Schedule

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By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

For the Campbell football team, home is where you hang your helmet.

Issues concerning the school's field have turned the Sabers into a band of nomads playing all of their games away from their Ewa campus.

Four scheduled home games were moved, including tomorrow's homecoming game against Leilehua at Aloha Stadium.

"It's our last season, we want to play here, especially our homecoming," senior quarterback Jonah Canionero said. "But I guess the stadium is good enough."

Kickoff for the Oahu Interscholastic Association West Red Conference game is set for 7:30 p.m.

Campbell athletic director Duane Izumi said the field was not approved by the school's administration and the Department of Education. But he wouldn't comment on the situation other than to say that a meeting regarding the field is forthcoming and could bring about a resolution to the issue.

For now, the Sabers aren't dwelling on having to play all of their games on the road. Instead, they try to make themselves at home wherever they show up.

"It's nice to play on your field, but if you don't have it you can't cry about it," Campbell coach Tumoana Kenessey said. "You just have to pick up the pieces and focus on the game."

Said Canionero: "(Kenessey) told us he once had a team that didn't have a home field. They just treated every other field as their home field and they felt they had to protect their house. We just take the game as is, if we have to go away then we'll go away."

Campbell has embraced its role as the unruly guest this season and enters tomorrow's game at 3-1, tied with Waianae for first place in the OIA West Red.

The Sabers opened the season with a 47-18 loss to Kailua, but recovered to win three in a row and put themselves in contention for the conference title.

Canionero guides a revamped offense that averages a conference-best 404.8 yards per game.

Mapa Malupo is the West Red's leading rusher with 577 yards. He headlines a deep group of running backs that includes Shauncey-Blaine Saito, Anthony Dutro and Daniel Stanton.

Canionero can also throw to big-play receivers Prentiss Anderson and Ali'i Basham.

"They're loaded and they have a lot of talent," Leilehua coach Jake Kawamata said. "Offensively, we have to move the ball and keep their offense off the field, and I'm sure they're going to try to do the same to us."

While Campbell has firepower at the skill positions, Kenessey credits the offensive line for the offense's production this season. Campbell's scheme calls for linemen to simply delay defenders rather than dominating them.

"It's a game of angles," Kenessey said. "I don't have to blow you out of the hole like Kahuku does. We don't have those kinds of boys, we just want to get in your way."

Leilehua (3-2) has also put up impressive numbers on offense, ranking second in the conference with 347 yards per outing.

Jon Sanborn is second in the OIA West Red in rushing and forms a formidable ground tandem with Cedric Thomas.

The Mules are recovering from a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to Mililani last week, but Kawamata was encouraged by the play of quarterback Joshua Perez. The senior completed 10 of 18 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown.

"If teams put eight guys in the box, we know we are able to throw the ball," Kawamata said.

Leilehua's run at the conference title comes just a year after finishing 0-9, and the Mules' resurgence is just part of an unpredictable OIA season.

"They're very excited and the team pride has really grown," Kawamata said. " They're wearing their Leilehua football shirts with pride now."

This week's highlights:

Tomorrow

Pearl City at Nanakuli: The undefeated Chargers take on the Golden Hawks in a battle for first place in the OIA White Conference.

Nanakuli (3-1) has had two weeks to prepare for its homecoming game against Pearl City (4-0).

Farrington at Kahuku: After winning 26 in a row, the Red Raiders are suddenly trying to put the brakes on a two-game slide. Kahuku (3-1) will try to bounce back from last week's stunning loss to Roosevelt against a physical Farrington (2-3) squad led by running back Matt Bell.

Waimea vs. Kauai, at Vidinha Stadium: Kauai will try to find a way to slow down Waimea's Jordon Dizon, who has rushed for 447 yards and seven touchdowns in two games. Dizon ran for 222 yards and four scores in Waimea's 34-20 win over Kauai on Sept. 13.

Saturday

Castle vs. McKinley, at Roosevelt: The Tigers (3-1) are a failed two-point conversion away from being undefeated in the OIA East Red and can keep their title hopes alive with a win against the Knights.

However, Castle (2-2) has made a living out of knocking off more physically imposing opponents the past three seasons.

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Schedule Junior varsuty games start at 5 p.m. Varsity games to follow, unless noted. Tomorrow OIA East Red Farrington at Kahuku Kalaheo at Kailua OIA West Red Leilehua vs. Campbell, at Aloha Stadium Mililani at Aiea OIA White Kalani at Kaiser Kapolei at Moanalua Pearl City at Nanakuli Kaimuki at Waialua BIIF Hilo at Honokaa Waiakea at Konawaena KIF Waimea vs. Kauai, at Vidinha Stadium Saturday OIA East Red Castle vs. McKinley, at Roosevelt OIA West Red Radford at Waianae (Live on KUMU 1500-AM) BIIF Kohala at Hawaii Prep, 2 p.m. Kealakehe at Keaau

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