ILH-OIA tilts highlight
prep football openers

Three games of note this weekend
pit Oahu public schools vs. private schools

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By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.com

High school preseason All games 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted Tomorrow Aiea at Mililani Damien at Nanakuli El Camino (Calif.) vs. Kauai at Vidinha Stadium Kahuku vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium Kalaheo at Pearl City Kapolei at Waianae Kohala at Keaau Pac-Three at Honokaa Punahou at Kailua Roosevelt at Campbell Saint Louis at Kaiser Waipahu at Castle Saturday Kapaa at Waialua Kealakehe at Kamehameha Konawaena vs. Maui at War Memorial Stadium Leilehua at Radford Moanalua vs. Waiakea at Wong Stadium Waimea at Hawaii Prep, 2 p.m. Father Bray Classic At Aloha Stadium Kaimuki vs. Pac-Five, 3:30 p.m. Baldwin vs. Farrington, 5:45 p.m. McKinley vs. Iolani, 8 p.m.

Preseason football games never carry the "blockbuster" tag, but that doesn't mean Hawaii high school football fans won't be getting some intriguing matchups this weekend.

Outcomes of three contests in particular could turn out to be solid indicators of how the upcoming regular season will play out.

A whopper is brewing on the windward side as Punahou visits Kailua tomorrow night.

Just because the Buffanblu have come up short in recent years in their bid to join Saint Louis and Kamehameha as an elite Interscholastic League of Honolulu team doesn't mean they're not going to keep trying. A victory over Kailua would give them a great start.

"Two contending teams," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "It's a big challenge for us to play a well-established team. They have great size and speed and are very athletic. It's a good test."

The Surfriders have had some fantastic seasons the past few years, but have had to deal with disappointing postseason losses. Last year, despite being favored, Kailua lost to Castle in the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship game and then to Waimea in the state quarterfinals.

"Punahou is loaded," Surfriders coach Darren Johnson said. "They've got some really good wide receivers, kids that run track and catch the ball. It will be a test for our young secondary."

How quickly Punahou quarterback John Morris adjusts to his new starting role could be a key to the Buffanblu's success.

Running back Kekoa Sua is one of Kailua's biggest offensive weapons, and he'll follow another beefy Surfriders line led by Kea Crowell. Defensive back and wide receiver Mike Kealoha will do something a Kailua player hasn't done in a long time -- start both ways.

The Punahou vs. Kailua varsity game follows the 5 p.m. Waialua vs. Kailua junior varsity game.

Here's a look at two other marquee games -- Saint Louis at Kaiser and McKinley vs. Iolani -- on tap for this weekend:

Saint Louis at Kaiser: The winningest football program in the state will get its first test under rookie head coach Darnell Arceneaux as the Crusaders take on the Cougars at Kaiser Stadium tomorrow.

Kaiser, a middle-of-the pack OIA White Conference team last year, is looking forward to the huge challenge against the defending state champions, according to head coach David Maeva.

"We'd like nothing more than to bless brother Darnell and his staff with their first loss," said a chuckling Maeva, who is good friends with Arceneaux and some of his assistant coaches.

Interestingly, four former Crusaders are on the Kaiser roster, including starting quarterback Steve Pratt and backup quarterback Shannon Wise, who plays various roles.

The Kaiser coach isn't fooled about the reality of what some perceive as a mismatch.

"The kids are excited to be playing the state champs," Maeva said. "Saint Louis is as good as usual and we're a Division II team for a reason. We're small in numbers and size."

Still, questions are circulating around the state about the Crusaders. Will they be as successful under the 25-year-old Arceneaux as they were under the legendary Cal Lee and his stop-gap successor Delbert Tengan?

"I've faced these same questions my whole life at every level of football," said Arceneaux, a former Saint Louis and University of Utah quarterback who just finished his final season with the Hawaiian Islanders of arenafootball2. "I'm always on the hot seat, so I've learned not to listen to people who doubt and just take the good with the bad."

All-state running back B.J. Batts is one of Saint Louis' dangerous offensive weapons. Defensively, the Crusaders are led by linebackers Dylan Moss and Chester Williams.

The Saint Louis at Kaiser varsity game follows the Farrington at Kaiser JV game, which starts at 5 p.m.

McKinley vs. Iolani: This is the 8 p.m. showcase game of the annual Father Bray Classic hosted by the Raiders at Aloha Stadium on Saturday.

Iolani is being tabbed as a legitimate contender for the newly created Division II state tournament, and McKinley is coming off a highly successful season that ended with a heartbreaking triple-overtime loss to Castle in the state semifinals.

The Tigers have the versatile and exciting Abel Werner back as quarterback. The Raiders have the hard-running and shifty Raynold Stowers returning at running back.

"McKinley has a lot of returnees from last year's team that was one of the top teams in the state," Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "Werner is one of the top quarterbacks in the state, and size-wise and talent-wise, they're far superior to us, so it will be good preparation for the upcoming season."

It will be the first game for the Tigers under new head coach William Moeava.