[ HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ]
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Interleague football
a success for the OIA
and ILH so far
Last weekend's high school doubleheader
at Aloha Stadium drew 6,602 fans
Until this fall, debating the merits of interleague play concerned Major League Baseball only.
Now, it's a subject open for discussion among the Hawaii high school football community.
Despite an imbalance, so far, on the scoreboard in games between Oahu Interscholastic Association and Interscholastic League of Honolulu teams, the format appears to be working.
In some ways, it's a roaring success. For instance, it's doubtful 6,602 fans would have watched the Aloha Stadium doubleheader last Saturday this early in the season if it didn't involve four of the state's top programs.
It's likely more people would have turned out for that Kahuku-Saint Louis and Kailua-Kamehameha twin-bill if the term "preseason" wasn't attached to it. Reportedly, some fans thought it was a scrimmage and not what it actually was -- a real, non-league game that counts toward a team's overall record but not in the league standings.
The Oahu leagues agreed to the interleague format last spring. Unlike nonleague games arranged by individual schools, the three-week interleague schedule was set up by the leagues.
The only visible blemish to the OIA vs. ILH games is the tilt toward the ILH teams, which have won eight of nine games pitting teams from the leagues this season, including five of six last week, considered the first weekend of interleague action.
Coach Delbert Tengan of Saint Louis -- the only ILH team to fall in the first weekend of interleague play -- is surprised about the tally.
"What it means is that it's going to be tougher for us," Tengan said. "Iolani beat two good, solid OIA teams in McKinley and Farrington, while Pac-Five beat Kaimuki and McKinley. And Punahou beat Farrington handily. It's definitely going to be a tough year in our league."
Punahou coach Kale Ane downplayed the significance of the eight ILH wins.
"Most of the games were pretty exciting," Ane said. "And it looked like there were a lot more spectators. There have been a lot of really good matchups that I think are really nice from a fan's perspective. Kailua played Kamehameha close and I think Waianae vs. Kamehameha this weekend will be a good game."
Mililani coach James Millwood, whose top-tier OIA team squares off against Punahou on Saturday, isn't shocked that the ILH has been dominant thus far.
"The ILH teams are all strong right now," Millwood said. "And some OIA teams are off to a slow start. I know some OIA teams are missing a lot of players because of probation problems, so I expect some of those teams to get stronger."
Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez is less surprised than Millwood about the interleague outcomes.
"Historically, the ILH has dominated -- year-in and year-out," said Hernandez, whose Hurricanes challenge Saint Louis at Aloha Stadium on Friday. "I hoped our league would have put up a better fight. It's still in the early stages of the season, but right now the ILH is more prepared and has put out a better product than their OIA counterparts."
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