GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Running back Mike Kopra is the heart of the Hawaii Prep offense.

Similar schools converge
in state semifinals

With Hawaii Prep and Iolani, there are more than just similarities.

Sure, they're both smaller private schools with a history of athletic prowess in their respective leagues. Ka Makani and Raider athletes are used to rather comforting descriptions like disciplined and smart, as well as the backhanded compliments like small, but tough.

All of that won't matter when the two teams meet tomorrow in the Division II semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships.

Kickoff for HPA and Iolani is set for 7:30 p.m. at Kamehameha Schools' Kunuiakea Stadium. In the other semifinal, Kauai battles Campbell today, 7:30 p.m., at Moanalua Stadium.

It's not enough that HPA and Iolani are similar, even down to the school colors of red and black. HPA teacher Meghan Schroers is the daughter of Iolani athletic director Carl Schroers.

Iolani seniors Micah and Milo Kalama are cousins of HPA running backs coach Lincoln Kalama. The biggest connection may be Bern Brostek, HPA's offensive line coach.

Brostek starred at Iolani in the '80s before playing for the University of Washington and the Los Angeles and St. Louis Rams.

And then, there's the ultimate what if. Iolani quarterback Kiran Kepo'o, one of the top passers in the state, grew up in Kona. His family moved to Oahu before he reached high school because his dad, Ken, wanted his children to attend Iolani. If they had remained on the Big Island, chances are that Kiran would have ended up at -- well, there's only one football-playing private school on the island.

Kepo'o as a Ka Makani? Oh well.

Here's a look at this weekend's D-II matchups:

No. 10 Hawaii Prep (11-2)
vs. No. 7 Iolani (8-2)

» On paper: Ka Makani became the first team in almost 40 years to go through the Big Island Interscholastic Federation unbeaten. Of course, 40 years ago, Hilo was so dominant the Vikings actually played in the Maui Interscholastic League for three seasons and won an MIL title once.

Still, HPA's 10-0 run through the BIIF was not only historic, it was phenomenal. With a team comprised of battle-tested seniors and a plethora of underclassmen better suited for junior varsity -- there is no JV football in the BIIF -- HPA proved to be the best at the basics.

Everyone knows running back Mike Kopra will get the ball, and still he churns out more than 200 yards a game, as he did in HPA's 41-16 win over Waipahu last week.

"They execute real well. Their offensive line is coached really well," Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "Kopra always runs downhill, and he has good vision. They're very disciplined."

HPA, though, didn't have the benefit of a bye week like Iolani did.

"We're a little sore and banged up after playing Waipahu," HPA coach Tom Goodspeed said. "But we'll be ready."

The Raiders had four ailing players -- Larry Maluotonga, Mark May, Mike Hirokawa and Milo Kalama -- who benefited from the week of rest. The team also got a couple of days off last week, and again this week, to rejuvenate on the field and in the classroom.

» The skinny: The highlight of Iolani's season came in a 36-31 upset of then-first-place Saint Louis. The low came with a 28-25 loss at Punahou, costing the Raiders a chance to play for the ILH championship.

In that defeat of Saint Louis, the Raiders surrendered 533 total yards, mostly on the ground.

Because they come from the BIIF, Ka Makani have not seen much in the way of prolific passing attacks. This could be a slight problem against Kepo'o and his posse of talented receivers.

Going into the Waipahu game, Goodspeed was worried about stopping a prolific option attack. Though HPA hadn't seen the option all season, the BIIF is chock full of run-first offenses.

Iolani will be another first for HPA, which hasn't seen a prolific run-and-shoot team all year. Well, unless you count one of Japan's top programs, Kwansei, which has more of a West Coast offense with some double-slot sets.

With eight two-way players, HPA has legitimate concerns.

"My feeling is we need to keep their offense off the field," Goodspeed said. "They remind me a lot of Kwansei, which didn't quite have the running game that Iolani does."

Iolani, unlike most run-and-shoot outfits, has a running game to clamor for. Hirokawa, who is healing up from injury, has been productive thanks to Iolani's mix of run-blocking schemes.

"They run tackle counters, sweeps, traps very deceptively," Goodspeed said. "I don't think they're a run-and-shoot team where receivers read coverages and adjust. But if we come out with the same defense every time, they'll hurt us. Their quarterback doesn't just go to one guy, and their running back is shifty."

Iolani's defense will attempt to be the first team in three months to stop HPA's persistent ground game.

"They get off the blocks and hustle to the ball. They're very well-coached. Their defense isn't big, but they're fast and quick," Goodspeed said, noting defensive lineman Samson Shigetomi and linebacker Jon Takamura.

"We have to keep their linebackers guessing."

Iolani will have to be relentless.

"We swarm to the ball, so that will help us," Look said. "One guy will not bring Kopra down."

That's where HPA's offensive line becomes key. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim is contemplating a scholarship offer from Hawaii, and as a group, HPA's offensive line may be one of the most underrated in the state.

"Bern's level of expectation is way up there, and that's all he knows," Goodspeed said.

"They're a lot like Damien: a good running team with a good running back," Look said. "HPA is more of a pro-set offense. They're a little smaller (than Damien), but technically, they're very good. Their offensive linemen were finishing guys off 10, 15 yards down the field."

For Iolani, which went to HPA last year and won a preseason game, overconfidence is not an option.

"The team that we played last year and the one out there this year, those are two totally different teams," Look said of HPA. "They're tough kids. For seven or eight of them to go both ways and play that well, that says a lot about their character."

A second trip to Oahu in as many weeks won't hamper HPA

"They're unflappable. Whether they've been scored on, or turned the ball over, they're unflappable," Goodspeed said.

» X factor: HPA quarterback Billy Case, a converted wide receiver, will be tested. Whether Iolani allows Case to find tight end Andrew Queen is a big question mark.

Kauai (6-3)
vs. Campbell (8-2)

» On paper: The ultimate debate in offensive philosophy should rage tomorrow. Kauai likes to throw out of its four-receiver set, while Campbell has prospered in its Delaware Wing-T offense.

Though the two styles are disparate, both teams are somewhat familiar with what they'll see. Campbell saw double-slot offenses when it played Kaiser and Kalani.

Kauai got plenty of fly motion, wing formation from Kapa'a. "Waimea traps quicker than anyone inside and outside," Kauai coach Keli'i Morgado said.

The game also pits two outstanding quarterbacks. Kauai's Kekoa Crowell, one of the state's top passers, is being courted by Colorado. Campbell's Shaye Asoau threw 10 touchdowns without an interception during the regular season, and in one short year, mastered the Sabers' throwback offense.

Kauai lost offensive lineman Kevin Kelekona to a knee injury in the win over Pac-Three last week. Kelekona was a backup to Skye Viernes, who will be returning from an injury of his own.

» The skinny: Campbell coach Tumoana Kenessey took a close look at the Red Raiders and came away impressed. "Run-and-shoot teams always have quick-strike capability. It's difficult for our scout team to replicate," he said.

"Twenty-one (Kevin Cadiente) is the go-to receiver, and 85 (Jett Jasper) and 80 (Lucky Andres) have great hands and great speed," Kenessey said.

"Crowell is tall. He's a very good quarterback, kind of like Shannon Wise (of Kaiser). He's mobile and he can throw the deep ball."

The Sabers won't be easily discouraged. "We've been through some tight games. They've learned to deal with adversity, like when we came back against Waipahu," Kenessey noted.

Campbell would like to leave an impact defensively and take away Kauai's timing. "My kids are physical. Campbell-area kids always like to hit," Kenessey said. "My kids want to play, so that's good."

The forecast has Kenessey smiling.

"We'll pray for rain. The weatherman says there'll be rain, so hopefully, it'll storm," he said.

Campbell hasn't needed precipitation to generate mass amounts of rushing yardage.

"They're tenacious ballcarriers," Morgado said. "Their line, the offensive and defensive tackles, are much bigger than us. They like to get outside. The offensive tackles like to down block toward the center."

» X factor: Preparation. "Our kids have been very studious, studying keys," Morgado said. "Campbell is kind of like HPA, with a single back.

"They use a fly like Lahainaluna, where they'll pull both guards and a fullback leads."

Getting an early lead helps Kauai, but protecting it with a run-and-shoot offense could be tough.

"If they're in the lead, we're in trouble," Morgado said. "The majority of their runners average 6, 7 yards per run."

Morgado, who played at Punahou, hopes the Sabers overlook his Red Raiders.

"Growing up playing football on Oahu, in the ILH, I know it can happen," he said. "If not for HPA, Lahainaluna and us moving on, it could've been more of a factor."