Familiar teams
in state semisFarrington, Baldwin, Saint Louis
and Kahuku vie for title game spots
High school football fans who expected down years from Saint Louis and Kahuku must be disappointed.
Here they are again in tomorrow night's semifinals, one win away from meeting in the championship game for the fourth time in the five-year history of the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships.
The other two Division I semifinalists have some history as well. Baldwin beat Farrington 3-0 in the Father Bray Classic in August.
Many Hawaii football observers pointed to Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Saint Louis (8-1) as being vulnerable this season, with a new 25-year-old coach and rumors the school was de-emphasizing football.
Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Kahuku (12-0), meanwhile, didn't even make it to the states a year ago and the scuttlebutt was that it was ready for a downward spiral.
Both teams are out to prove those nay-sayers wrong.
The Red Raiders must beat the OIA third-place Governors (7-4-1) -- a team they have already defeated twice this year -- for a return trip to the title game. In the other semifinal, the defending state champion Crusaders take on a challenge from the Maui Interscholastic League champion Bears (9-1). The doubleheader at Aloha Stadium starts at 5 p.m. with Farrington vs. Kahuku, followed by Baldwin vs. Saint Louis at 8.
In addition, two semifinal matchups in the inaugural Division II tournament are on tap tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. -- Lahainaluna (2-7-1) meets OIA White Conference champion Aiea (8-2) at Kamehameha's Kunuiakea Stadium, while ILH D-II champion Damien (4-5) plays Waimea (6-2) on Kauai at Vidinha Stadium.
First Hawaiian Bank
State Football Championships
Division I
Semifinals
Tomorrow
Farrington (7-4-1) vs. Kahuku (12-0), at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
Baldwin (10-1) vs. Saint Louis (8-1), at Aloha Stadium, 8 p.m.
Championship
Dec. 5
Semifinal winners, at Aloha Stadium, 8 p.m.
Division II
Semifinals
Tomorrow
Damien (4-5) vs. Waimea (6-2), at Vidinha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Lahainaluna (2-7-1)winner vs. Aiea (8-2), at Kamehameha's Kunuiakea Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Championship
Dec. 5
Semifinal winners, at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
DIVISION I
Baldwin vs. Saint LouisA Bears victory in their first semifinal appearance since 1999 would be monumental. No neighbor island team has made it to a state final.
"That '99 team had a lot more size," Bears coach Chad Kauha'aha'a said. "But we have a lot more team speed, no comparison.
"It's a great opportunity for our kids, coaches, the school and the MIL to be in this position, playing Saint Louis in the semifinals. We've got our hands full on both sides of the ball."
Kauha'aha'a is counting on all-purpose player J.J. Eno and running back Weylin Costa for some spark, but, more importantly, he thinks his defense's ability to put pressure on Saint Louis quarterback Kealii Perbera is the key to success. Linebacker Kaluku Maiava has been "wreaking havoc" on opponents' offenses all year, according to the coach.
New Saint Louis coach Darnell Arceneaux is trying to guide the Crusaders to their 16th Prep Bowl or state title since 1986.
The play of 6-foot-5 receiver Desmond Hanohano could be significant. He gained a record 307 receiving yards last week against Mililani. With the southpaw Perbera pulling his accurate trigger, the Crusaders could also get mileage from receivers Makaala Kuewa and Shaun Kauleinamoku, while running back B.J. Batts has breakaway ability.
Arceneaux and Kauha'aha'a were teammates briefly at the University of Utah.
The game should be an emotional one for Baldwin assistants Pohai Lee and Dave Carino, who played and coached at Saint Louis. They were intermediate coaches for many of the Crusaders suiting up tomorrow.
Farrington vs. Kahuku
The Governors showed the ability to hang with the Red Raiders for a little while in two earlier meetings before Kahuku pulled away with superior depth each time.
But Farrington knocked the Red Raiders out of the OIA playoffs a year ago and are aiming to upset them again.
"No doubt, it helps having beaten them last year," Governors coach Randall Okimoto said. "A lot of our players experienced it and know we can do it."
The Farrington passing game, led by quarterback Eti Atonio and receivers Alvin Faumui and Harrison Harris, complements the running and pass-catching ability of Matt Bell. Lineman Fonoti Fetaiagogo and defensive back Jerome Crisostomo are among the team's hard-hitting defenders.
"It's spooky playing a team for a third time after you've already beaten them in almost identical fashion twice before," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. "They already know what's not working, so they'll be trying something new that we haven't seen before."
The Red Raiders were without quarterback Waika Carvalho in last week's win over Kauai, and their offense had trouble getting started. But Carvalho is expected back and has two dangerous receivers in Spencer Hafoka and tight end Tevita Finau to throw to. Power running back Paea Vaimoui and the speedy Dustin Huddy got the majority of carries last week.
The Kahuku defense -- led by defensive back Al Afalava, linebacker Walker Vave and lineman Shosei Yamauchi -- hasn't shown any signs of wear. The unit has given up three total points in the last two playoff games.
DIVISION II
Damien vs. WaimeaThe Monarchs' wonderful ride continues with a plane trip to Kauai.
But playing Waimea (3-4 in previous state tournament games) is no easy chore.
"The kids are excited to be taking a trip to play," Damien co-head coach Dean Nakagawa said. "We know they have a good program and there's no way we can take them lightly because our kids don't know how to take other teams lightly. It's usually other teams taking us lightly.
"We're just trying to guard against distractions. We've told the kids that this is no slumber party and they're not tourists. All of their energies must be focused on the game."
The ball-control, solid defending Monarchs have left two higher-profile teams -- Iolani and Kapolei -- in the dust and want to continue the trend.
The Menehunes won 11 straight Kauai Interscholastic Federation titles, but lost out to Kauai this year. They've proved tough to beat at home (3-0 with two wins over Kailua and one over Castle) in four previous state tournament appearances, and they're coming off a bye last week.
"There is a lot of pride at stake in this community," Waimea coach Liko Pereira said. "And we want to make a statement that we're still a good team even though we didn't win the KIF championship."
Jordon Dizon, who missed a good portion of the season with injuries, is a go-to player for the Menehunes at running back and a standout at linebacker on defense.
Ranson DeCosta carries Damien's offensive load, while cousins Soane and Fehi Sevelo are two of the defensive keys.
Lahainaluna vs. Aiea
No one expected the Lunas to get this far, except perhaps the players themselves.
"This whole second half of the season, we've improved little by little and the kids are really starting to show confidence in each other," Lahainaluna coach Bobby Watson said.
If they upset Na Alii, it will be because of team-oriented play. "We're physical on defense, but there isn't any individual that's really going to stand out," Watson added.
"Aiea has a great team, a quarterback (Kali Kuia) who can throw and run, a huge offensive line and hard-running guys in the backfield."
Na Alii coach Wendell Say is hoping his team can carry the intensity over from its conference-clinching upset of Kapolei two weeks ago and after a bye last week.
"They (the Lunas) are young and hungry and everything for them now is icing on the cake," Say said. "They played against all of those tough Maui teams all year long, so desire for us is going to be very much of a factor."
Desire carried Aiea past Kapolei in what was otherwise an evenly played game. Slotback and kick returner Ben Ah Mook Sang is one of Na Alii's dangerous offensive weapons, and Lawrence Leovao and James Hadley are part of a steady, hard-hitting defensive unit.
Running back Nahiku Phillips and QB Mahi Medeiros carry some of the Lunas' offensive load.
