McKinley, Castle
after postseason spot
It's not always this simple: Win and you're in.
Weekend schedule
All games 7:30 unless otherwise noted
Tomorrow
ILH
Punahou at Iolani, 3:15 p.m.
OIA Red
Waianae at Campbell
Kahuku at Kailua
Farrington vs. Kaimuki, at Roosevelt
Mililani at Leilehua
Waipahu vs. Pearl City, at Mililani
OIA White
Aiea at Moanalua
Kapolei at Radford
Waialua vs. Kalani, at Kaiser Stadium
BIIF
Ka'u vs. Waiakea, at Wong Stadium, 7 p.m.
Kealakehe vs. Kohala, at Kamehameha Park, 7 p.m.
KIF
Kapaa vs. Kauai, at Vidinha Stadium
MIL
King Kekaulike vs. Baldwin, at War Memorial Stadium
Saturday
ILH
At Aloha Stadium
Saint Louis vs. Damien, 4:45 p.m.
Kamehameha vs. Pac-Five
OIA Red
Castle vs. McKinley, at Roosevelt, 6:30 p.m.
OIA White
Kaiser vs. Kalaheo, at Kailua, 6:30 p.m.
BIIF
Keaau at Konawaena
Honokaa at Hawaii Prep, 2 p.m.
MIL
Pac-Three vs. Lahainaluna, at War Memorial Stadium
That's what's in store for Castle and McKinley on Saturday night in a rematch of last year's most dramatic football game.
The victor heads to the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red playoffs.
The defending league champion Knights (5-2, 4-2) can also get in with a loss if Farrington loses to Kaimuki tomorrow, but the Tigers (4-3, 3-3) will be eliminated unless they are victorious.
A year ago in the state semifinals, Castle upended McKinley 27-21 in three overtimes.
"I hate to bring that game up to the kids," Tigers coach William Moeava said. "I try to get them to forget about it, but it's stuck in their minds. The kids were amazing in that game, even though the outcome wasn't in our favor."
McKinley has had an up-and-down year, disappointing in some ways.
"We were expecting to win some that we lost," Moeava said. "But we're fortunate to be in this position, especially in this tough Red Conference, and it's all in our hands."
Quarterback Abel Werner is the type of player who can help the Tigers forget their mediocre regular season and lead them to renewed life in the playoffs.
Wide receiver Iakopo Taumua is Werner's main target, while Quinton Sayers has added some depth at running back. Sayers has been getting a lot of carries lately, while Michael Vasconcellos was the main man in the running game earlier in the season.
The Knights are coming off a loss to Kahuku and are hungry to get back on the right track, especially with so much on the line.
"Castle is dangerous and they're fighting for their playoff lives, so I don't expect this to be an easy game," Moeava said.
Receiver Ikaika Ho and quarterback Bryce Kalauokaaea are the main offensive weapons for the Knights, who are also counting heavily on their defense and special teams to get them through the big regular-season finale.
Hard-hitting linebackers such as Blaze Soares and Antone Watanabe, kicker Ethan Gonsalves and slotback Jarred Suzui are among the Castle players who want to keep Werner and his teammates from advancing while keeping the dream of another trip to the Division I state championship game alive.
"We went from fighting for first place last week to fighting for a playoff spot this week," Knights coach Nelson Maeda said. "I hope we're smiling at the end like last year."
White title on line: The OIA White regular-season title is up for grabs among three teams, and two of them duke it out tomorrow night.
Kapolei is trying to close out the regular season unbeaten to wrap up the conference's top seed in the four-team playoff that will determine a berth in the first Division II state tournament.
But the Hurricanes (7-0, 6-0) visit the gritty Radford Rams (5-2, 5-1), who plan to stake their claim on first place.
If the Rams win, Aiea (5-2, 5-1) can also tie for first with a win at Moanalua.
If a three-way tie occurs, a coin flip would determine the seedings.
"Playing Kapolei with a chance at tying for first place has lit another fire under us," Radford coach Fred Salanoa said.
Salanoa, whose team has given up an average of less than 10 points per game in six league contests, is hoping for a defensive struggle.
"We want to keep our defense off the field and control the ball and the clock, little by little."
The Hurricanes' defense has yielded an average of just over 10 points per game, and they also have many potent weapons on offense.
"Their quarterback (Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada) has unbelievable speed and sometimes they put him at wide receiver and just bomb it to him. And their running back (John Dela Rama) is awesome, too," Salanoa said.
Other notable games: OIA Red East champion Kahuku (7-0, 6-0) has one huge test left before the playoffs -- at Kailua (5-1-1, 4-1-1) tomorrow night. Both teams are already in the playoffs.
Two OIA Red West games tomorrow night have playoff significance. Leilehua is fighting for a berth, but hosts undefeated arch rival Mililani (7-0, 6-0). Waianae (3-4, 3-3) is also scratching for a spot and desperately needs a win at Campbell (1-6, 1-5).
On Saturday, the last OIA White playoff qualifier will rise from the dust of the Kaiser (3-4, 3-3) vs. Kalaheo (3-4, 3-3) game.
