OIA Conference Kicks Off This Weekend For Area Teams
For West Oahu’s prep football teams, the 2012 season is officially in full swing with the beginning of OIA Conference play this weekend. A look at the matchups follows.
Aiea at Campbell — 6 p.m. Saturday. One of the area’s greatest rivalries will be renewed in a game that could also have huge implications in the Red West race. Both teams displayed plenty of offense in week one, as Aiea hung 53 on Kaimuki, while Campbell tallied 34 in a win over Kaiser. How well each team’s defenses perform in this one will likely impact on how the game
plays out. Campbell yielded only 11 yards on the ground to Kaiser, while Aiea’s defense has picked up where it left off the past two years when it established itself as one of the state’s premier defenses.
Campbell’s offensive leaders include quarterback Justin Tago-Sue, running back Paul-Andrew Rhoden and a deep wide receiver corps that features Brannon Bantolina, Jayve Bantolina, Tristan Pebria and Kainoa Perry.
For Aiea, Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti has been equally impressive in the early-going of 2012, having thrown for three scores in the win over Kaimuki. Running backs Jalen Medeiros, Jarrel Chaviera and Mana Kaahanui balance out its offensive attack. Campbell edged Aiea 22- 18 in last year’s game.
Kapolei at Waipahu — 6 p.m. Saturday. Kapolei got its season off to a rousing start with a work- manlike 28-7 road win at Pearl City in week one, thanks in large part to its offensive balance. The offense rolled up 248 yards on the ground and another 248 in the air. Indeed, four different running backs — Jacob Kukahiko, Mitchell Moses, Dylan Keomaka and Mana Reis — averaged better than 5.5 yards per carry in that game. Quarterback Aizon Kahana also managed the offense with precision, rushing for an average of 4.1 yards per attempt himself and hitting on 12 of 22 passes for 216 yards and a score. Perhaps most impressive was the Hurricanes’ run defense, as they limited Pearl City to minus-5 yards on the ground.
Waipahu dropped a hard- fought 26-13 decision to ILH team Pac-Five in week one, despite a solid per- formance by quarterback Kaimi Paredes, who rushed for 5.3 yards per attempt in addition to throwing for 63 yards and a score. This is the second of four straight home games for the Marauders, who were to host defending Division II state champion Iolani last weekend.
Pearl City at Kaiser — 7 p.m. Friday. The Chargers hung tough in week one against Division I Kapolei and had a bye week to help prepare for this contest at Kaiser, which will serve as their OIA White conference opener. Although this is only the first step in league play for Pearl City, the game is huge, given the rest of the schedule. With Pearl City having defeated every remaining opponent on their slate a year ago, there’s an opportunity for a nice run if it can take care of business on the road this week.
Pearl City’s offensive weapons include quarter-back Travis Joe, running back David Laranol and “big-play” receivers in Daicorri Briscoe and Isaac Amorin. Kaiser’s attack is paced by quarterback Makana Lyman and run- ning back Kai Gonda.
