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Farrington eager to
rebound from rout
A win for Castle would set up
a first-place battle with defending
champion Kahuku
This is not an optimal week for a football team to play against Farrington.
The Governors are coming off a 41-0 loss to Kahuku last week and are out to redeem themselves.
"We're catching Farrington at a time when it's not the best time to catch them," said Castle coach Nelson Maeda, whose Knights take on Farrington tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.
"Kahuku is levels above every team, so what happened to Farrington last week is not a true reflection of what kind of a team they are. They're very physical people, probably more physical than Kaimuki ... and Kaimuki was very physical against us last week (a 34-12 Castle victory)."
If the Knights (3-0 Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East, 4-1 overall) can get past the Governors (1-1, 1-3), first place would be on the line the following week against the defending state champion Red Raiders (3-0, 4-1).
But Maeda is still trying to piece together a starting lineup. Quarterback Bryce Kalauokaaea and defensive back Allen Losbog are likely out for the season, while backup quarterbacks Louis Mansanas Jr. and Travis Nakayama, lineman Travis Paaga, slotback Scott Keiter-Charles and all-state linebacker Blaze Soares are among those who have missed time because of nagging injuries.
Soares is somebody Governors coach Randall Okimoto knows can be a menace to his offense.
"You always have to watch out for Blaze, No. 13 on Castle's defense," Okimoto said. "He always causes problems for us. And as far as their offense goes, they don't get a lot of yards usually, but they make big plays for touchdowns a lot."
Okimoto notices an attitude change since the loss to Kahuku.
"From what I've seen by the way the kids are practicing this week, they didn't like losing like that at all," Okimoto said. "It shows in the way they're working out after practice, too -- on their own. We'll see if it means anything Friday night."
Okimoto saw many "correctable mistakes" after watching the film from the Kahuku game.
Quarterback Eti Atonio, wide receiver Alex Mendoza, defensive lineman John Sagapolutele and linebacker Fetaiagogo Fonoti are among Farrington's team leaders.
Other big games: Damien (0-1, 2-2) tries to bounce back against Pac-Five (0-0, 3-1) on Saturday at Aloha Stadium. The Monarchs outrushed Iolani last week, but lost 28-25. The three teams are battling for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's only berth into the state Division II tournament.
The Wolfpack-Monarchs game is the opener of a doubleheader that features Saint Louis (0-0, 2-1) vs. Kamehameha (1-0, 3-0-1) in the ILH Division I nightcap.
Waianae and Nanakuli play their west-side rivalry game tomorrow at the Golden Hawks' home field.
It's homecoming for Nanakuli. But it's also a homecoming of sorts for Darius Fuller, a Waianae junior running back who played on Nanakuli's state champion Pop Warner team in 2001.
According to his mom, Debbie, Fuller wore his Nanakuli jersey at practice this week to psych up his teammates.
Fuller is good friends with many of the Golden Hawks players, including seniors Newton Palakiko, John Henry Palakiko and Daniel Kaawa. They played together at the Pop Warner nationals in Orlando, Fla.
The Seariders (1-1, 2-2) and Golden Hawks (1-2, 2-3) are in the middle of the OIA Red West Conference pack and are fighting for a playoff spot.
Leilehua (2-0 Red West, 4-0 overall), one of the biggest surprise teams of the year, visits defending Division II state champion Aiea (1-2, 2-3), also tomorrow. Na Alii can't afford another loss.
The Mules, who host a competitive Kapolei (1-1, 1-3) squad next week, are working on trying to make it to their Oct. 8 game at defending Red West champion Mililani (3-0, 5-0) with an unbeaten record intact.
Lancers name hoops coach: Sacred Hearts Academy promoted Alan Matsui to head varsity girls basketball coach, according to athletic director Wade Okamura.
Matsui has been with the Lancers for four years. He guided the junior varsity team to a second-place finish in ILH D-II last year. For the three previous years, he was a varsity assistant to Glenn Higuchi, who stepped down for personal reasons.
High school football
Tomorrow
OIA Red East
Castle vs. Farrington, at Aloha Stadium, 7 p.m.
Kailua vs. McKinley, at Roosevelt field, 7:30 p.m.
Roosevelt vs. Kaimuki, at Kaiser Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
OIA Red West
Kapolei vs. Pearl City, at Mililani field, 7 p.m.
Waianae at Nanakuli, 7:30 p.m.
Leilehua at Aiea, 7:30 p.m.
OIA White
Kaiser at Moanalua, 7:30 p.m.
MIL
Baldwin vs. Maui, at War Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
KIF
Waimea vs. Kapaa, at Vidinha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
BIIF
Keaau at Hilo, 7:15 p.m.
Ka'u at Honokaa, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday
ILH
Pac-Five vs. Damien, 4:45 p.m.
Saint Louis vs. Kamehameha, 7:30 p.m.
OIA White
Radford vs. Kalani, at Kaiser Stadium, 6:30 p.m.
MIL
King Kekaulike at Lahainaluna, 4 p.m.
Pac-Three at Kamehameha-Maui, 7:30 p.m.
BIIF
Kohala at Hawaii Prep, 2 p.m.
Kealakehe at Kamehameha-Hawaii, 1 p.m.
Waiakea at Konawaena, 7:15 p.m.
