[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
Title game features rivalry
Saint Louis hopes to end a two-game
losing streak to Kahuku
As a player for Saint Louis, Darnell Arceneaux never had to rely on his coaches to get himself to the right mind-set before stepping onto the field to play Kahuku.
Tonight when he leads the Crusaders into the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Division I Championship against the Red Raiders as their first-year coach, he doesn't figure to have to dig deep into the motivational manual.
State Football Championships
Today at Aloha StadiumDivision I
>> Saint Louis (9-1) vs. Kahuku (13-0), 8 p.m.Division II
>> Damien (5-5) vs. Aiea (9-2), 5 p.m.
"You don't have to talk much about it or motivate," Arceneaux said of playing Kahuku. "You know it's going to be a war. There have been shoot-outs -- there was a game my senior year when we won by one point; there have been a couple of blowouts. It goes back to (former Saint Louis coach) Cal Lee and (former Kahuku coach) Doug Semones. It's a rivalry out of respect. It's just awesome."
As a quarterback for the Crusaders, Arceneaux led Saint Louis to Prep Bowl victories over Kahuku from 1993 to '95. The Crusaders won the next three Prep Bowls, giving them 13 in a row, and followed with a victory over Kahuku in the inaugural state championship in 1999. But the best rivalries can never be one-sided. The Crusaders had won six meetings in a row against Kahuku before the Red Raiders got the breakthrough win they needed in the 2000 state championship game. The following year, Kahuku came back and beat the Crusaders again in the title game, prompting even more interest in the series.
"The last two times we played them, we couldn't pull it through," Saint Louis senior defensive end Tavita Thompson said. "They're a great program, and we're a great program, so it's great to see us come together. It's the end of the year. We're playing our best, and it looks like Kahuku is playing their best, so it's going to be a great challenge."
Said Kahuku quarterback Waika Carvalho: "We think we're the best, and they think they're the best. We want to prove that we're the best team. It's a big-time rivalry. Kahuku and Saint Louis is the best game Hawaii can see."
A number of factors have helped the rivalry develop, including the simple fact that a championship has always been on the line when the teams have met.
"It's more of a private school vs. public school deal," said Saint Louis defensive coordinator Eddie Klaneski.
Said Kahuku defensive lineman Makana Nicodemus: "It's the country boys vs. the city boys."
"It's all of that -- private vs. public, town vs. country ... powerhouse vs. powerhouse," added Red Raider center Jeremy Perry. "This game is big."
For Kahuku's part, the Red Raiders thrive on the opportunity to play a team from the competitive Interscholastic League of Honolulu. While a handful of matchups between the Oahu Interscholastic Association and ILH took place in the preseason, meetings between the two leagues are rare.
"It makes it more exciting to play them because we don't meet during the (regular) season, since we're public and they're private," said Kahuku linebacker Walker Vave. "It's nice to challenge each other. That's what makes it a great rivalry."
Dominance in their respective leagues has come by way of contrasting styles, which always makes for an interesting matchup when the teams meet. Saint Louis has usually been interested in passing to set up the run, while the Red Raiders are usually the opposite, relying on a ground game to open up the pass.
"Different styles, but similar in that we both have a winning tradition," Arceneaux said. "There must be something in the water out there, because those (Kahuku) guys get bigger and bigger every year. They're even more athletic now than before. Maybe that's a tribute to (Kahuku coach) Siuaki (Livai) and his strength and conditioning program out there."
Kahuku Red Raiders
Offense
Defense
1 Waika Carvalho QB 28 Cy Naki RB 32 Paea Vaimoui RB 4 Frank Bracewell WR 11 Spencer Hafoka WR 86 Tevita Finau TE 63 Tseuneo Mailo OL 69 Quintin Beaver OL 71 Maveu Heimuli OL 79 Ernest Reid OL 62 Jeremy Perry OL
91 BJ Beatty DL 97 Joseph Faifili DL 49 Makana Nicodemus DL 99 Shosei Yamauchi DL 50 Kimball Niumatalolo LB 55 Max Fairclough LB 42 Walker Vave LB 5 Jacob Lefau DB 23 Tori Taulogo DB 9 Al Afalava DB 20 Afa Garrigan DB Saint Louis Crusaders
Offense
14 Kealii Perbera QB 30 B.J. Batts RB 2 Johnny Gentry SB 3 Shaun Kauleinamoku SB 83 Makaala Kuewa WR 85 Desmond Hanohano WR 55 Isaiah Dela Pena OL 61 Belford Felise OL 69 Bronson Abrigo OL 70 Jordan Rogers OL 73 Makana Mardonada OL Defense 44 Tyson Alualu DL 58 Elijah Iaea DL 63 Oren Long DL 92 Tavita Thompson DL 94 Arthur Tupuola DL 48 Afa Cobb-Adams LB 50 Dylan Moss LB 5 Benjamin Soliven DB 25 Keao Monteilh DB 46 Nuipitane Nahalea DB 47 Pono Vierra DB Aiea Na Alii
Offense
Defense
15 Kali Kuia QB 8 Raymond Tauala RB 2 Jonathan Burgos SB 21 Ben Ah Mook Sang SB 6 Alden DeMello SE 80 Jabez Armodia SE 53 Tony Augafa OL 73 Ricky Foumai OL 64 Sterling Ohia OL 70 Richardo Quiniola OL 54 Joseph Miller OL
93 Josh Lau DL 77 Justin Medeiros DL 99 Rocky Savaiigaea DL 62 Joseph Mauga DL 29 Reynard Reynolds LB 45 Lawrence Leovao LB 31 Aveni Leung-Wai LB 7 C.J. Tausaga DB 5 R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane DB 16 James Hadley DB 32 David Hann DB Damien Monarchs
Offense
Defense
10 Tevita Williams QB 22 Va'a Faualo RB 5 Ranson DeCosta RB 2 Andrew Canoy WR 20 Landen Dela Cruz SB 45 David Tuiasosopo TE 51 Ray Aquino OL 71 Matt Coleman OL 72 Eddie Williams OL 75 Garyk Ontai OL 77 Keoni Steinhoff OL
4 Soane Sevelo DL 43 Lolomana Mikaele DL 80 Robert McDermott DL 90 Michael Sipili DL 8 Howard Yun LB 44 Fehi Sevelo LB 50 Brennan Dela Cruz LB 3 Elijah Souza DB 16 Kyle Mehelua DB 21 Kealoha Pilares DB 28 Cory Mullen DB
