HONOLULU — Hawaii High School Athletic Association officials had been talking about the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank HHSAA Football Championships-Division II being played on Oahu, said Bill Arakaki, Kauai Area Complex superintendent. “We want the game on Kauai,
HONOLULU — Hawaii High School Athletic Association officials had been talking about the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank HHSAA Football Championships-Division II being played on Oahu, said Bill Arakaki, Kauai Area Complex superintendent.
“We want the game on Kauai, if Kapaa gets the seeding it’s been working for,” Arakaki said Saturday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation cheer competition at the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea. “Traditionally, the teams involved in the semifinals play on Oahu, but if Kapaa, the KIF champions, gets what it was working for, we want the game played here.”
On Sunday morning, Arakaki’s wishes came true as Kapaa earned the No. 1 seed of the FHB HHSAA Football State Championships-Division II.
This was a goal Kapaa coaches had worked for from the pre-season days, according to Freddy Levinthol, one of the Warrior sideline coaches. That was more recently confirmed by Coach Philip Rapozo in a Hawaii Prep interview.
Starting from Aug. 8 when Kapaa faced Nanakuli in an away game, the Warriors amassed 260 points while allowing just 12 points through the season which ended Oct. 24 when Kapaa shut down Waimea 36-0 in a home game.
The 12 points were scored by Kapaa opponents during the pre-season when Nanakuli put up 2 points and Lahainaluna was able to get 10 points in its 14-10 loss to Kapaa, Aug. 28.
With the top seed, Kapaa may have to face Lahainaluna again.
The Lunas, from the Maui Interscholastic League, enter the four-team state championship field by opening against Kaimuki in a home game on Saturday. The winner of that matchup will travel to Vidinha Stadium to face off against the top-seeded Warriors in a 3 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 14.
On the other side of the Division II bracket, Konawaena, from the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, opens play Saturday against Damien in a 7 p.m. game in Kona on the Big Island. The winner of that game will face No. 2 seed Radford at Roosevelt High School starting at 5 p.m. on Nov. 14.
Championship for the FHB HHSAA Football State Championships-Division II will kick off at 4:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium on Oahu on Nov. 20.
Kahuku earns the top seed for Division I with Saint Louis getting the No. 2 seed in the bracket which includes Baldwin, Waianae, Hilo and Mililani high schools.
