A Play-by-play Update On West Oahu’s Playoff Teams

Wednesday - October 15, 2008
By Jack Danilewicz
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Waipahu interior lineman Caleb Puletasi gets physical during practice. Photo by Nathalie Walker, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

For the prep football teams on the West side, the “one-and-done” mentality can’t help but make its way into each team’s collective consciousness.Indeed,as the OIA playoffs play out over the next few weeks, every team will face the prospect of elimination - at least in its first post-season encounter - as they hope to earn the ultimate reward: a berth in the upcoming state championships.

Pairings for the Division I OIA playoffs were to be finalized over the weekend, with the DII seedings to be set on Oct. 25.A “two-minute drill"for each playoff qualifier from the West follows.

Campbell High Sabers

The Resume: The Sabers took a 5-1 record into their OIA White showdown versus Kalaheo last Friday night. Both teams entered the game with only one league loss and the conference regular-season crown on the line. Campbell finishes its regular season Friday night with a trip to Kaiser High.


Signature wins: Over Aiea (40-7 on Aug. 29) and Moanalua (30-21 on Sept. 12).

Breaking down the Sabers: As expected, Campbell has made a smooth transition into the runand-shoot offense brought in by first-year head coach Amosa Amosa. Above all, Saber quarterback Lalo Respicio has blossomed in the system after spending the first three years of his prep career in a run-oriented system at Nanakuli. He enters the post-season having completed 71 of 109 passes for 1400 yards in leading Campbell to four of its six victories. (He missed the Radford game with an illness, and the Sabers won a game versus Kalani on a forfeit.) More importantly, Respicio has thrown for 17 scores while being intercepted only twice in that span.

Campbell’s offense is averaging 30.4 points per game, best in the OIA White, and how well it fares against opposing defenses should go a long way in determining their post-season fate. The Sabers are at their best when controlling the tempo with their efficient offense.

Defensively, the Sabers have also been stout, yielding just over two touchdowns per game behind a physical front of Christian Keli’i, Isaac Agiga, Aizea Anderson and Odanaus Mataio. Linebackers Leo Soa and Isaac Torres also have been key components, while the Saber secondary includes play-makers in both Kevin Faller and Nicholis Daniels.

Player to watch: All-around talent Samson Anguay, who scored 11 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2007 and had scored seven more this year entering last Friday’s showdown with Kalaheo. Six of his 13 receptions this season have gone for touchdowns.

Make plans for the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Tournament if the Sabers’ offense can continue to average better than four touchdowns per outing.

Kapolei High Hurricanes

The Resume: The Hurricanes finished the regular season at 4-2 in OIA Red West play, which placed them in a tie for second with Leilehua entering last weekend, when Kapolei enjoyed its bye week.

Signature wins: Over Mililani (20-17 in overtime) on Oct.3,when the Hurricanes defeated the Trojans for the first time in the program’s brief history. Kapolei also recorded a win over Waipahu (26-20) in the first-ever meeting between the schools Sept. 19.

Breaking down the Hurricanes: The Hurricanes have been an upand-down outfit for most of 2008 in large part because of key injuries earlier in the season to two-way linemen Luke Spencer and Chad Lopati.Kapolei’s season-ending win over Mililani is a huge confidence boost for the Hurricanes, who also had to go into overtime versus Waipahu Sept. 26.

With a healthy Spencer and Lopati back in the lineup, Kapolei’s playoff hopes figure to rest with their play up front. Also in rotation is Stan Hasiak, who is currently rated second among local college prospects by the recruiting service Rivals.com. Lopati and defensive back/fullback Cyril Ontai II rate fifth and eighth, respectively, making Kapolei the only program in the state with three players in the top 15.Two-way performers Ontai II and Simione Vehikite are among the team’s steadiest players. Physical on the defensive side, the pair also have logged the majority of carries offensively, at running back, while quarterback Noah Pascua is a dual-threat behind center from his quarterback spot.


Make plans for the state football tournament if the Hurricane defense continues to give up the rushing yards grudgingly, and they don’t hurt themselves with self-inflicted wounds on special teams.

Waipahu High Marauders

The Resume: The Marauders took a 3-2 league record into last weekend’s regular-season Red West finale versus defending DI state champion Leilehua.

Signature wins: At Waianae (28-15) on Oct. 3. The Seariders remain one of the OIA’s toughest road games under longtime coach Dan Matsumoto. Waipahu also defeated Pac-Five 42-7 in inter-league play Aug. 23.

Breaking down the Marauders: Waipahu’s strength continues to be its offensive line play in executing the one-back, spread-option. Up front, they feature Gafatasi Veu, Bronson Henriques, Craig Masaniai, Chester Manalo and Lafoga Tulafale. Troy Matautia has remained a steady play-maker, having switched to full back after playing behind center as a junior. His 675 yards on the ground through Week 7 was tops in the state, and his nine rushing touchdowns tied him for first in the state with Damien’s Brenan Furtado.Matautia remains very much a passing threat despite his new position, as proven in Waipahu’s aforementioned win over Waianae when he threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Josh Lacar in the most memorable play of the Marauders’ 2008 season to date.

While the Marauders’ spread-option offense has allowed them to control the clock and the game in most instances, Waipahu’s 3-4 defense is built for tough games with a hard-hitting, physical unit that is highlighted by interior lineman Cabel Puletasi, nose guard Nathan Bartley, linebacker Nick Tagaloa and defensive backs Kaimi Haina and Anthony Veu.Waipahu is giving up 15.8 points per game on the defensive side.

Make plans for the state football tournament if the Marauders continue to excel in the trenches and control the ball, offensively. Waipahu’s ability to play physical should serve well in the post.

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