Teams Back In Play After Storm Threat Cancels Prep Games
The threatening weather that undermined prep football’s momentum in week one — with cancellations across the board — seems a distant memory now as Kahuku, Kailua and Kalaheo have returned to action.
(Note that Castle has the week off and will next play Aug. 29 at Waipahu.)
A look at the matchups for this weekend is below.
Waipahu at Kahuku, 8:30 p.m. Friday
Sadly, the Red Raiders dropped a marquee home game from their schedule, as threatening storms two weeks ago canceled their game with West power Campbell. But this will still be the second home game in as many weeks for Kahuku, which began with new coach Lee Leslie last weekend against Kapolei.
The team will be wise not to take this game with Waipahu lightly, as the Marauders were a far better team a year ago than their 2-6 record in the old OIA Red West showed.
Waipahu’s best defense needs to be its offense, as it must control the ball with long drives to keep Kahuku’s own offense off of the field. The Red Raiders play McKinley next weekend at Roosevelt before back-to-back road dates against Castle and Kaiser.
Kalani versus Kalaheo, 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Kailua High
Kalani has won the last two games in the series between the schools, including a 34-17 win in August 2013. In fact, that game last season helped propel the Falcons to a breakthrough season that saw them go 6-4 overall — their best record in more than two decades. Kalani was to play at Waialua last weekend in its 2014 opener.
Kalaheo, meanwhile, is hoping for better results this fall following a three-win season in 2013. The Mustangs had a tough opener last weekend at Nanakuli, but the schedule ahead looks favorable against Waialua, Anuenue and Roosevelt (teams that had a combined 4-23 in 2013), so there’s a chance for a nice run prior to the Sept. 26 matchup against Radford. The Mustangs will be looking to slow down the Falcons’ run-and-shoot offense after surrendering an average of 38 points in the last two meetings between the schools.
Kailua at Mililani, 6:30 p.m. Saturday
Perhaps no team has a more challenging early schedule than Kailua, which opened its season against Leilehua at Aloha Stadium over the weekend. Now, the Surfriders and first-year head coach Joseph Wong turn their attention to this game against defending OIA Red champion (and Division I state runner-up) Mililani. With three of its last five games to be played at home, a win here on the road would be a huge boost to Kailua’s season.
The Trojans’ strength figures to be on the offensive side, where nine starters from last year return, led by quarterback McKenzie Milton. A junior, Milton threw for 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2013.
The Mililani defense, meanwhile, is completely rebuilding following the departure of several standouts from a year ago. The Trojans were to play Saint Louis last weekend.
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