GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mike Kealoha and the Kailua Surfriders hope to put aside their past difficulty in previous non-Oahu state first-round games when they play Baldwin tomorrow on Maui.
Kailua looks
to buck trend
History hasn't been kind to the Kailua football team when it travels to a neighbor island to play a state-tournament game.
The Surfriders are 1-2 in previous non-Oahu state first-round games. They were vanquished by Waimea on Kauai in 1999 and 2002, but beat Waiakea on the Big Island in 2001.
Coach Darren Johnson and his Kailua squad find themselves in the very familiar position of taking a trip. This time, the Surfriders (8-2-1) are going to Maui for a 7:30 p.m. encounter tomorrow against Baldwin (9-1) at War Memorial Stadium to kick off the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships.
Two of the other Division I quarterfinal games are tomorrow at Aloha Stadium -- Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Kauai (5-3) takes on Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Kahuku (11-0) at 5 p.m., while OIA fourth-place Mililani (9-2) challenges Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Saint Louis (7-1) at 8 p.m.
In the other D-I quarterfinal tomorrow, OIA third-place Farrington (6-4-1) visits Big Isle champion Hilo (8-2) at 7:30 at Keaau High School.
Two first-round Division II games are also scheduled this weekend.
This is the fifth year of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association-run state tournament, but the first time with more than one division.
"It's amazing how fast time passes," HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya said. "I remember the first state championship in 1999 like it was yesterday. We've come a long way and we're starting a new chapter with the inaugural Division II tournament. It still seems new and fresh and not old and tired."
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Division I
Kailua vs. Baldwin
The teams' 17 combined wins represent the most out of any of the Division I quarterfinals.And when you consider that neither team went down easy in any of its losses, it's quite possible that this matchup pitting the OIA runner-up against the Maui Interscholastic League champion has the best chance to go down to the wire.
"The gentlemen and the coaches on this team are ready to make the next step," Kailua coach Darren Johnson said. "We think our prospects of doing it (advancing) are better this year."
Baldwin coach Chad Kauhaahaa isn't expecting any surprises from the Surfriders.
"We see a lot of running teams on Maui, but not like Kailua," Kauhaahaa said. "Their O-line can really move around and do a good job pulling and getting outside."
Kekoa Su'a and Damien Torres have done the brunt of the running for the Surfriders this season and are likely to get most of the calls again tomorrow.
Running back Weylin Costa and quarterback Ray Antolin are the Bears' big offensive guns.
They'll be running into the Kailua defense, which is coming off a stupendous performance in a 6-0 last-minute loss to Kahuku in the OIA title game.
Sione Tuifua, Zach Meredith and Kalae Meagher are three of the Surfriders' many hard hitters.
Mililani vs. Saint Louis
The Trojans are working for the upset, but the defending state champion Crusaders have history on their side, having won 15 of the last 17 state or Prep Bowl titles.Saint Louis is vastly improved since its ILH-opening loss to Kamehameha.
"This is a great three weeks of playoff football ahead for the state," Crusaders coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "I'm excited, the kids are excited and the whole state is excited. We know that it's one loss and you're done, so we're prepared for this game."
It's been a longer layoff than Arceneaux would have liked. The Crusaders haven't played since wrapping up the ILH title on Nov. 1 with a win over Kamehameha.
Mililani has suffered two playoff losses in a row after starting 9-0.
Containing Saint Louis' vaunted passing game -- which is led by quarterback Kealii Perbera and receivers Shaun Kauleinamoku, Desmond Hanohano and Makaala Kuewa -- is the Trojans' biggest assignment of the season. They also have to figure out a way to stop elusive running back B.J. Batts.
Running backs Jordan Apduhan and Carlo Raneses and receiver Darren Smith are among Mililani's potent offensive weapons.
"We're looking forward to the challenge against such a great program," Trojans coach James Millwood said. "We'll be trying to raise our level of play."
Kauai vs. Kahuku
The Red Raiders will win, but which version?The Red Raiders from the North Shore of Oahu have many horses, and that alone should make it difficult for the Red Raiders from Lihue, Kauai, to pull off the upset.
Kahuku is deep on both sides of the ball, with quarterback Waika Carvalho, tight end Tevita Finau, running backs Dustin Huddy and Hyrum Moors and receiver Spencer Hafoka spearheading the offense and linemen Shosei Yamauchi and Makana Nicodemus, linebackers Walker Vave and Kimball Niumatalolo, and defensive back Toriano Taulogo charging up the defense.
"We're (teams from the Garden Isle) always underdogs, so that's nothing new," Kauai coach Kelii Morgado said. "The kids are aware of Kahuku's reputation, and it's kind of a mental barrier. But we're telling the kids it's all a matter of belief."
Quarterback Kekoa Crowell, running back Weston Victorino and receiver Garen Itamura are a few of Kauai's offensive standouts, while Aren Racca is one of the defensive leaders.
Farrington vs. Hilo
Governors coach Randall Okimoto is proud of his players and staff already for placing higher in the OIA (third) than they did last year (fourth).The program can make a huge stride by beating the Vikings and advancing to the state semifinals for the first time.
Productive running back Matt Bell powers the Farrington offense, while defensive back Jerome Crisostomo and lineman Fetaiagogo Fonoti are among the defensive leaders.
Hilo's Royden Nabarro, who rushed for a BIIF-record 1,845 yards this year, is a 5-foot-6, 152-pound mighty mite.
"This is a big game for us as a team and probably just as big for our league," Vikings coach Albert Kawelu said.
Division II
Kapolei vs. Damien
Quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and Kapolei (9-1) lost late to Aiea last week, and coach Darren Hernandez is itching to get his team back to its winning ways.But he isn't underestimating Damien (3-5). The Monarchs are usually an ILH doormat, but they played steady football all year and won their first Division II league crown.
"Kapolei is big on the offensive and defensive lines and they have a lot of skill guys, so we'll have to put our best foot forward," Damien co-head coach Dean Nakagawa said.
The best foot belongs to Ranson DeCosta, the tough running back who made it hard for ILH foes to bring him down.
"They're a solid team," Hernandez said about the Monarchs. "We scrimmaged them and they got after us. Ranson is a player who has shown me a lot, and they really bring intensity on defense."
Warren Simanu, Drake Kula and Roland Mason are a few of Kapolei's defensive stalwarts. The Sevelo cousins -- Soane and Fehi -- carry the Damien defense.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Aiea High School.
Hawaii Prep vs. Lahainaluna
The Lunas (1-7-1) have the worst record of any participant in the tournament's five-year history, but Ka Makani (7-4) coach Tom Goodspeed respects their ability."They have a proud history and a good coaching staff," Goodspeed said. "You can't look at their record, because they've got tradition and they're on their home turf."
Michael Kopra is Hawaii Prep's dangerous running back, and he also excels at linebacker. They also get offensive mileage from quarterback Mauae Purdy.
Goodspeed is hoping the clutch play of his experienced offensive and defensive lines continues. Quarterback Mahi Medeiros and wide receiver Nahe Akoi are two of the Lunas' key offensive players.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.
