Kaua‘i takes on ‘Iolani today (2:30 p.m. at ‘Iolani School) for D-II championship game bid LIHU‘E — As the Kaua‘i Red Raiders ready themselves to take on the division’s top-seeded ‘Iolani Raiders today (2:30 p.m., ‘Iolani School, JAMZ 98.1), they
Kaua‘i takes on ‘Iolani today (2:30 p.m. at ‘Iolani School) for D-II championship game bid
LIHU‘E — As the Kaua‘i Red Raiders ready themselves to take on the division’s top-seeded ‘Iolani Raiders today (2:30 p.m., ‘Iolani School, JAMZ 98.1), they need only look at Friday night’s opener at Aloha Stadium for inspiration and belief.
The Wai‘anae Seariders held on for a 48-41 win over the No. 1 seeded Mililani Trojans in a wild game at Aloha Stadium. The opener of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA state football Division I doubleheader sent the Seariders into the upcoming title game against No. 2 seed Saint Louis.
Today, the Kaua‘i Red Raiders face their toughest challenge to this point with a road game against the top dog of Div. II, ‘Iolani. In a rematch of the 2009 Div. II state championship game, Kaua‘i hopes to avenge that 24-17 defeat, though it may be an even larger underdog than last season.
Kaua‘i made it to this point with an eighth straight Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation championship, followed up by a 17-13 victory over the Kalaheo Mustangs on Nov. 13 at Vidinha Stadium.
Quarterback Shea Shimabukuro, running back/wide receiver Darren Acoba and linebacker Travis Koga will lead a Red Raider squad that will be without the services of running back Jake Leake, who has been a steady force out of the backfield following the season-ending injury to starter Kele Hanohano.
Leake injured his left shoulder on a 53-yard kickoff return to open the second half against Kalaheo, a return that sparked Kaua‘i after it had managed just three points in the first half.
Look for full coverage of today’s Kaua‘i-‘Iolani game in Sunday’s edition of The Garden Island.
No. 8 ranked Wai‘anae and No. 3 Miliani traded touchdowns throughout the course of the game, but it was the Seariders’ defense that made the final play, holding the Trojans out of the end zone in the final minute.
Mililani drove all the way to the Wai‘anae 4-yard line, but a fourth-down pass to Ervan Jean-Pierre was stuffed by defensive back Joshua Naki, who made the tackle inside the 5, sending the Wai‘anae sideline into a frenzy and putting an end Mililani’s season.
The evening’s second game appeared it would be less competitive as Saint Louis ran out to a quick
21-0 lead, but had to hold off a late Leilehua charge to get the title game bid.
Friday’s Div. II semifinal was also a thriller as Kaimuki gutted out a 28-27 overtime victory over No. 2 seed Lahainaluna.
Kaimuki tied the score at 21-21 with 15 seconds remaining in regulation after a 1-yard quarterback sneak, then took a 28-21 lead in overtime after Chester Su‘a’s 3-yard touchdown run. Lahainaluna scored on its first play of OT, but after a false start killed a two-point conversion attempt, the Lunas’ 25-yard extra point kick went wide left.
