Back in August, the approaching KIF season had the potential to be a memorable one. The story lines were there. The Kaua‘i Red Raiders were seeking a ninth- straight title under a new coach. The Kapa‘a Warriors, who were on
Back in August, the approaching KIF season had the potential to be a memorable one. The story lines were there. The Kaua‘i Red Raiders were seeking a ninth- straight title under a new coach. The Kapa‘a Warriors, who were on the brink of unseating the Raiders last season, were out to show that last year was no fluke. The Waimea Menehune, now with a couple years of experience under head coach Keali‘i Aguiar, were hungry to prove they’d no longer stand being the third wheel of the conference.
In sports, reality rarely exceeds hype. People routinely label things bigger than they are, pulling at strings that — more often than not — aren’t there. This KIF season had plenty of hype. It was supposed to be good. Well it wasn’t just good. It was great.
Kapa‘a and Waimea both had opportunities to win the title outright. Both failed.
When the win less Red Raiders emerged Tuesday with the win against first place Kapa‘a in the one-quarter showdown, it made today possible. For the first time in over a decade, two teams finished the regular season with an equal record.
We will have playoff football here on Kaua‘i this afternoon, and for both teams, the 2011 season will never be forgotten. Tonight, the Warriors and Menehune will meet for the fourth time this season. The outcome will determine how each team will remember the year: either with triumph or heartache.
Don’t believe the hype? We’re past that. The reality has been better.
Here’s how both teams are looking heading into this afternoon’s showdown.
Menehune look to take full advantage of second chance
The Waimea Menehune were one of the last to hear that they had new life.
When the Kaua‘i Red Raiders miraculously came from behind Tuesday night, beating the Kapa‘a Warriors and forcing a one-game playoff between the Menehune and Warriors for the KIF title, the Menehune weren’t in the stands to witness it. They were on their practice field on the Westside, preparing just in case they got the call.
When it came, head coach Keali‘i Aguiar answered it, but then got right back to work.
“We’re very fortunate to be in this position,” Aguiar said. “I told the boys there isn’t ever going to be a season where we get to play in two championship games in the regular season. The Kapa‘a homecoming game was a championship game for us. We’re lucky that Kaua‘i pulled it out.
In the last meeting between the two schools, the Menehune could have won the KIF outright with a win. But the Warriors pulled out a 27-17 win and controlled their own destiny. All the Warriors had to do was rattle off two wins against the win less Red Raiders.
That didn’t matter to the Menehune. Aguiar said he kept his team positive and they stayed on the practice field. They knew the chances at redemption weren’t in their favor, but if the opportunity presented itself, the Menehune would be ready.
“We didn’t allow our guys to think anything negative,” he said. “When we got the call, we were out on our practice field doing our thing.”
Given a second chance at the title, the Menehune are sure to come out of the gates firing. With a week of rest, Waimea has had time to recuperate from the rigor of the regular season and prep for the Warriors.
But just because it’s the championship game, don’t expect the Menehune to divert away from what got them here.
Waimea has succeed this year with the combination of discipline and holding onto the football.
“The way we approach this game is same as we do any other,” Aguiar said. “We’re not flashy. We’re not razzle-dazzle. We keep it simple and do what we’ve been doing since August.”
Back before the season began, many wouldn’t have thought the Menehune could be in this position. They’ve thrived being the underdog, and after the 27-17 loss to the Warriors two weeks ago, many thought the Menehune were left in the dust.
But Aguiar’s team is back and with a shot at new life. The coach knows his boys will be fired up, but just as they have all season, he knows they have to keep their emotions in check.
“I don’t think you can let the hype of the game get to us. That’s going to cause mental errors and mistakes,” he said. “It’s business. (Kapa‘a’s) excited. We’re excited. We’ll have to see come Saturday.”
Warriors don’t plan on letting title slip through fingers again
THE Kapa‘a Warriors were a quarter away from the KIF championship Tuesday evening. Heading into that day’s continuation of the postponed Sept. 17 game against Kaua‘i, all the Warriors needed to do was hold on to their 7-6 lead for 12 minutes to win their first title in over 20 years.
The Warriors couldn’t do it. But don’t expect them to dwell on it.
Kapa‘a head coach Keli‘i Morgado said his team was disappointed by the eventual 16-13 loss to the Red Raiders, but come today’s game, his team will be ready to play.
“Wednesday we got right back to work,” Morgado said. “We’re actually OK with playing Saturday. We’ll be prepared.”
Since the end of last season the Warriors have plenty of experience playing in big games. They had the winner-take-all championship game against the Red Raiders near the end of last season, two must-wins this season and yet another this afternoon. Morgado said his team’s experience in these “win-or-go home” situations might give the Warriors an edge.
“Speaking for ourselves, last year’s game against Kaua‘i was very intense and with the emotions of the coaches and players, you wish things could have been done better,” he said. “The environment helped make those mistakes. We’ve been there and are about as accustomed to it as can be.”
Accustomed is a word that best describes how the Warriors and Menehune feel about each other. This will be the fourth meeting of the season, with the Warriors taking two of three in the season series. That success earlier in the year gives the Warriors an extra boost of confidence, even with the Menehune coming off a proverbial bye-week.
In the last meeting, a 27-17 win by Kapa‘a, the Warriors brought in some new packages, including using quarterback John Das at wide receiver, while Daniel Reis stepped in under center. When playing a team four times in one season, Morgado said changing things up occasionally forces the opposition to plan for different looks.
“It keeps them busy,” he said. “It gives them a lot to adjust to and that’s what you want to do.”
Morgado said his team knows the Menehune are going to come out charging this afternoon, especially given the opportunity for new life.
The Warriors are aware of what’s at stake. The pressure and attention of a whole island will be on them this evening in a game Morgado said is one of the biggest in the KIF since the late 90s.
“From our fans standpoint, it can be the greatest season in 14 years,” he said, “or a huge disappointment. The greatest win or the biggest loss.”
