Mules Won’t See Home Turf In September, But Rarin’ To Go

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Leilehua quarterback Kenan Sadanaga watches the play carefully as the offense and defense duke it out during a recent practice. Photo by Leah Friel, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The groundwork for prep football is laid in late July during the grueling off-season workouts away from the public eye. With fall practice officially under way this week, the Central Oahu Islander examines the 2010 season for Leilehua and Waialua (page 9).

Mules schedule: Waipahu (preseason) Aug. 13, Kamehameha-Kapalama Aug. 21, Kapolei Aug. 27, at Campbell Sept. 3, at Aiea Sept. 17, at Radford Sept. 24, Waianae Oct. 2 and Mililani Oct. 9.

Breaking it down: While the slate seems unbalanced, it has more positives than negatives. First, the bad news. Three straight road games (Campbell, Aiea and Radford) with a bye week between the first and second contests means the Mules will be away from their home field the entire month of September. On the positive side, they play Kapolei, Kamehameha, Waianae and Mililani - their toughest four opponents on paper, at least - all at home, including the latter two games to finish the year.

Upset-alert games: At Aiea Sept. 17. This game comes on the heels of a bye week for the Mules, creating the potential for game day rust, since it follows a 13-day layoff. Also, with Aiea having been in the OIA’s White Conference the previous two years, the teams figure to be less versed on each other’s schemes and personnel. Which school this favors remains to be seen.

Game of the year: Mililani at home Oct. 9. If tickets were on sale now for this matchup, it would be sold out. The Trojans used this game as a springboard to their own breakthrough season a year ago, handing Leilehua its only loss in the Red West. With the game set for the season finale, the Red West crown could be on the line, not to mention a more favorable seeding in the OIA playoffs the next week. That’s without considering the rivalry and revenge factor. Should this game mirror past ones, the Mules will be glad to play it at home.

Game of the year II: Versus Kamehameha at home Aug. 21. It may only be week one, and it may not be an OIA game, but the Mules will be happy to get first crack at the defending Division I state champion Warriors, who eliminated Leilehua 40-0 in the state semifinals last November. The Mules’ roster includes several players who endured that game and who are eager to make amends. A win here would set the tone for the season and elevate the Mules to the status of state title contender.

W Worst-case scenario in the OIA: The Mules open the season to find defending state champion Kamehameha already in mid-season form and lose a rare game at home to go 0-1. Hopes are renewed with a close win over Kapolei in the Mules’ Red West opener, but an upset loss at Campbell the following week sends them into its bye week 1-1 in league play. Road wins at Aiea and Radford nicely position them for the post-season as well as a league crown with two games to go, but they drop them both, to Waianae and Mililani, respectively, to finish 3-3 in the Red West. A third seed from the West, Leilehua follows an off week with a win over Farrington in the OIA playoffs, but is upset by Castle in the semifinals. A win in the third place game earns it one of three state tournament bids, and the Mules travel to Maui to defeat Baldwin for the second straight year. Leilehua’s season ends the next weekend, however, in a semifinal loss to Kahuku at Aloha Stadium. The Mules finish 5-5 on the season.

Best-case scenario: The Mules show they’re up for real right out of the gate with a big first half en route to a close win over defending state champion Kamehameha.

With momentum on their side, the Mules go on to work-manlike wins over Kapolei at home and at both Campbell and Aiea to move to 3-0 in the Red West. After a come-from-behind win at Radford, they are in their best form in weeks five and six. They defeat Waianae in the most physical game of the year to move to 5-0 and avenge the loss to Mililani (from 2009) with a late touchdown drive to beat the Trojans in a high-scoring affair and finish 6-0. Seeded first in the West, the Mules record wins in both the quarterfinals and semifinals to advance to a much-anticipated matchup with Kahuku in the title game. In the final, Mules defense comes up big and leads the team to its first OIA title since 2007. When seedings for the DI state tournament are announced, Leilehua earns the No. 1 spot and a bye. In the semifinals, the Mules meet Kahuku again and win yet again in another low-scoring affair. In the title game, Leilehua leads Saint Louis from beginning to end in a 24-16 win to complete a perfect 13-0 season.