When men in the trenches discuss competition, words are concise.
Even blunt. St. Francis and Kaimuki have known that they would be destined to meet on the football field, two unbeaten teams heading into an interleague clash at Skippa Diaz Stadium on Saturday.
“I expect a win,” Saints left guard and defensive tackle Siotame Haunga (6-2, 306) said.
“They’re a great team, but I just want their 100 percent, and we’ll give them our 100 percent,” said Kaimuki left tackle/defensive tackle Sama Paama, a 6-4, 355-pound senior. “We’ll be ready. We’ve got a lot of young players, but we’ve got some ballers, too.”
The Saints enter the game with a 4-0 mark in ILH D-II play (5-0 overall). The Bulldogs are 4-0 in OIA D-II play (4-1 overall).
It’ll be a reunion of sorts. Haunga and teammate Faaope Laloulu, a 6-7, 350-pound junior, were part of the Hawaii Select squad of trench men who traveled to the Ultimate Linemen event in Concord, Calif., in the summer. That crew placed first against a field of blue-chip talent. Kaimuki sent a team of its own and took third. Haunga and Laloulu were selected to the all-tournament team, as were Kaimuki’s Paama, Hunter Mulu and Ricky Wells Jr.
“They’re all closer than they might admit,” said Bulldogs coach David Tautofi, who also coached the group who went to Concord. “Tame’s confident because he knows what he brings. He’s legit. He’s one of the top five O-linemen in the state.”
Though the Saints have catapulted into offensive juggernaut territory, their defense has permitted just 46 points. A big contributor on that side of the ball is mobile lineman Sione Lolohea, a 6-3, 220-pound junior.
“He’s going to cause havoc,” Haunga promised.
Kaimuki and St. Francis have never met, but Saints coach Kip Akana is familiar with the Bulldogs.
“We’ve never played a game with them before, but we’ve got a lot of respect for Coach Tautofi and his squad. We have a good working relationship with them. They’re skilled and big and well coached. We text weekly, but we talked about the possibility of us having a big game. It’s a high-stakes game,” Akana said.
Tautofi knows this matchup could factor into potential state-tourney pairings.
“We’ve got D-I caliber players on both sides of the ball for each team. The thing that makes this more crucial for us is a chance for a higher seeding if we can make it to states. Getting a first or second seed is important if we can get there. Lahainaluna is defending state champs, so it’s almost a given they’ll get the top seed,” Tautofi said.
“I don’t see it having a direct effect on seeding. As far as St. Francis football is concerned, we just want our first seat at the table,” said Akana, referring to the Saints’ heartbreaking playoff losses to Damien in recent years.
The two programs had a memorable, if unofficial, battle in July 2017, a scrimmage at Kaimuki’s field that featured many of the same superb athletes who will suit up for Saturday’s clash. One of those explosive athletes who made an impression a year ago was Saints running back Jonan Aina-Chaves. He was already at 723 yards and eight touchdowns on 72 carries in four games before sitting out Saturday’s win over Pac-Five with an ankle injury. Aina-Chaves will return to action against Kaimuki.
His brother, Jonah Aina-Chaves, was the starting quarterback to start the season. Bubba Akana, the two-year starter, returned from a baseball trip and has guided the offense since. Akana has passed for 670 yards with four TDs and four interceptions.
Though the Saints lost some key weapons to graduation, junior Shepherd Kekahuna has stepped up on both sides of the football. He got St. Francis on the scoreboard with a 92-yard pick-6 last week against Pac-Five, then added a 98-yard TD run.
Kekahuna, who also plays defensive back, is the team’s leading pass catcher (15 receptions, 363 yards, 3 TDs). The return of Aina-Chaves to the RB spot also gives Akana a valuable target (12 receptions, 140 yards, TD).
Kaimuki relishes its underdog status.
“Football is conditioning. Conditioning is Kaimuki football,” Paama said.
The Kaimuki roster is up to a robust 27 players now, practically an army for the ‘Dogs. Junior Jonah Fa’asoa passed for more than 300 yards in a loss to Sierra Vista, a team that featured last year’s Kaimuki QB, Jordan Solomon. Since Solomon’s transfer, Fa‘asoa has emerged as a field general while learning the ropes. He has 863 yards and seven TDs through the air with four interceptions.
Jonah Stephens leads the rushing attack with 357 yards and five TDs. Elijah Lemalu leads a talented receiver corps with 14 catches for 233 yards and two TDs.
BEST OF THE REST
No. 1 Saint Louis at Kapolei, 7:30 p.m. Friday
The Hurricanes might be a bit more optimistic after seeing nationally ranked Saint Louis (No. 10 in the MaxPreps rankings) struggle past Punahou 35-28 last weekend. On the other hand, the ‘Canes failed to score against a sturdy Farrington defense last week in a 13-0 loss. The dilemma for Kapolei is at quarterback, where sophomore Noa Bailey had many shining moments, but has stiff competition from Christian Rapis, who began the season as the starter before sitting with an injury.
The Crusaders saw their share of inconsistency at QB with first-year starter Jayden de Laura for the first time in the Punahou game. A slew of interceptions by Punahou’s veteran defense showed some of de Laura’s youth, but offensive coordinator Ron Lee has a long history of building championship passers.
The biggest difference for Saint Louis is usually on defense. DT Faatui Tuitele didn’t take the field full-time until 9:01 was left in the second quarter with Punahou ahead 21-14. The game changed immediately as the 6-4, 299-pound senior dominated from the edge. Punahou’s next nine possessions resulted in three punts, three interceptions, a missed FG attempt, a turnover on downs and a TD. The TD came while Tuitele sat.
Kapolei and Saint Louis have played just once, in 2004, a 35-6 preseason win by the Crusaders at Aloha Stadium.
No. 3 Punahou (3-2, 3-2 ILH Open) at No. 5 Campbell (4-1, 1-1 OIA Open), Saturday, 6:30 p.m. —
Not even Saint Louis’ lockdown defense could contain Punahou’s offense. In all five games so far, the Buffanblu have scored at least 28 points, and that includes 28 on Kahuku.
But the offense hasn’t been fully in sync at times. One of last week’s TDs was on a blocked punt. The ground attack has been inconsistent against the top defenses.
Hugh Brady (1,497 passing yards, 15 TDs, six INTs) has been surging higher, hitting his targets through small spaces. Tamatoa Falatea has racked up 36 receptions for 556 yards and four TDs, while Koa Eldredge’s versatility on the route tree has produced 24 grabs for 475 yards and six TDs.
Punahou is at its most efficient, though, when Vincent Terrell (308 rushing yards, three TDs) and Sitiveni Kaufusi (113 yards, TD) and the offensive line establish control between the hashmarks.
Campbell suffered its first loss, a 52-14 defeat at the hands of Mililani, last week. The two-QB approach, with Krenston Kaipo and Kaniala Kalaola, wasn’t enough to get the Sabers offense going. Sky Lactaoen (454 rushing yards, four TDs) is on pace for a 1,000-yard season if the Sabers reach the playoffs.
TItus Mokiao-Atimalala (27 receptions, 564 yards, six TDs) is also on pace for the 1,000-yard milestone.
Campbell and Punahou have played just twice. Campbell won 14-0 at Alexander Field in 2011, and 33-25 at Aloha Stadium in ’96.
No. 9 Farrington (2-4, 1-2 OIA Open) at No. 6 Kamehameha (2-3, 1-3 ILH Open), Friday, 7:30 p.m. —
For the second year in a row, the Governors stunned Kapolei at Skippa Diaz Stadium. Can they make it two Top 10 wins in a row? That’s something Farrington hasn’t done since 2016.
Kamehameha won last season in the debut of Farrington’s new facility, 34-15, and also defeated the Govs 38-3 in 2013. Farrington last beat Kamehameha in 2011, a 26-21 preseason victory.
The Govs have found their identity with sound defense and a balanced offense. Their road trip two weeks ago, even in defeat, was a boost for first-year head coach Daniel Sanchez’s program. They led Carson 20-10 before falling 24-20, and that seems to have rejuvenated the Govs.
Last week’s 13-0 win over Kapolei was the first time the Hurricanes were shut out since 2014.
The Warriors are coming off a 24-7 loss to Kahuku. Like Farrington, Kamehameha played Kapolei (a 21-7 win) and Carson (a 17-6 win). Skyler Ramos continues to lead the receiver corps (25 catches, 307 yards, three TDs), while Reino Bush (276 yards, TD) and Allen Serrao (239 yards) split rushing duties.
Damien (3-2, 3-1 ILH D-I) at No. 9 Moanalua (4-0, 4-0 OIA D-I), Friday, 7:30 p.m. —
The high-flying aerial offense of Moanalua took a back seat to its defensive unit. Tupu Alualu led a swarming attack that surprised Leilehua last week in a 23-10 win. Na Menehune limited Leilehua’s James McGary to 12 yards in eight attempts.
The Monarchs have not topped 19 points on offense since Aug. 18. QB Jake Holtz was masterful at times against ‘Iolani last week, but the Monarchs rely on a balanced diet and would like to get RB Aperamo Sulu (350 yards, four TDs) untracked.
Damien allowed 226 rushing yards by ‘Iolani RB Kaua Nishigaya last week, but Moanalua has been all about the passing game. Na Menehune’s leading rusher for the season is Makana Spencer (10 carries, 72 yards, one TD). Moanalua’s pass/run ratio is 65/35 (160 pass attempts, 87 rushes).
