[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
After further review,
Kapolei keeps its win
Even a technicality could not end the state's longest losing streak in football.
A day after declaring its intention to forfeit a 60-0 win over Kalani, Kapolei found that the current Oahu Interscholastic Association by-laws would force it to be fined and have the game count. The forfeit would have stopped Kalani's losing streak at 20, but now it returns to 24 and counting. But that was how the Falcons were looking at it the whole time.
"Basically, I don't think it mattered much to our kids because they are looking for an outright win," Kalani coach Greg Taguchi said. "It's unfortunate. Whatever happened, the players didn't make the mistake, the adults did."
The Hurricanes announced they would forfeit the Aug. 29 game after self-reporting a clerical error Thursday, but found that a new rule passed in the past year would allow the game to count.
"Last year there was a change to the by-law that I wasn't aware of," Kapolei athletic director Elden Esmeralda said. "One of the ADs alerted me to it."
When the school submitted its football eligibility list to the OIA, the name of a Kapolei player was inadvertently omitted. The student played briefly against the Falcons but hasn't played since.
Esmeralda took responsibility for the mistake Thursday, and did the same yesterday.
"Again, it was my error," Esmeralda said. "Probably in my overzealousness I made a mistake, but we always want to try to do the right thing and live up to the school's philosophy of caring, dignity and integrity."
Added Kapolei principal Al Nagasaka: "We didn't want the kids to have to suffer the consequences for an adult mistake. Fortunately, we were able to correct that. It worked out very well."
Kapolei's players shook off the controversy enough to win their fifth game of the season -- 14-7 over Kaiser -- last night.
"It makes all the difference in the world that these young men, because of something totally out of their control, won't be penalized for a clerical error," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said before last night's game. "We made the mistake and we owned up to it and luckily, we're okay. We're excited and very happy."
Kalani had a bye and will play Aiea next week.
Jack Danilewicz contributed to this report.
