Mainland game next
for No. 3 Iolani

The Iolani Raiders are taking flight this week.

Coming off a resounding 42-27 win over Castle, the Raiders retained their No. 3 ranking in today's Star-Bulletin Football Top 10 poll.

What's on their minds, however, is a trip to the Northwest. Iolani will play a mainland game for the first time, coach Wendell Look said. The Raiders scheduled the trip because of a two-week break in the original schedule.

Iolani (3-0 nonconference) will play Capital of Olympia, Wash. The game will be played in Tacoma.

"We haven't really talked about (the trip). I've been planning for it, they've been fund raising. We wanted to concentrate on each game and not lose focus," Look said.

After returning from Washington, the Raiders get a bye as the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season opens. They'll finally start league play against Damien on Sept. 24.

For now, the Raiders are going to enjoy the fruits of their labor as they fly to the mainland. Hours of recycling cans and bottles, washing cars and holding garage sales -- plus other school fund raisers -- have literally paid off.

"I think the kids learned how to work for their money," Look said.

The Raiders will likely be outsized when they face Capital, but it is a problem that has been handled well. Despite a young group up front, the Raiders' run-and-shoot offense has been explosive. Quarterback Kiran Kepo'o threw for more than 300 yards in less than three quarters against a quick Castle defense.

"Both of our lines is where the game starts for us. They're 5-foot-8, 5-7, but they play hard. They play smart," Look said.