Windward Prep Football Schedule To Kick Off With A Bang

Prep football fans won’t have to wait long for a marquee matchup to kick off the 2013 season.

With Kahuku and Saint Louis set to meet Aug. 17 in an interleague contest at Aloha Stadium, the coming season will begin with a bang. (The schools have met in the state championship game four times since 2000.)

The matchup is just one of the highlights of the schedule, which the OIA released recently.

MidWeek‘s Windward Islander takes a look at the 2013 schedules for Castle, Kahuku and Kailua. (Division II Kalaheo’s schedule will follow in a later issue.)

Castle High School

2012 record: 1-8 overall (1-5 in OIA Red East)

2013 schedule: Damien Aug. 16 (preseason game), Kailua Aug. 23, Farrington Aug. 31, McKinley Sept. 6 at Roosevelt High), at Kahuku Sept. 13, bye Sept. 20, at Moanalua Sept. 27, Kaimuki Oct. 4 at Kaiser High

Key stretch: Kailua, Farrington, McKinley

Must-see game: Kailua Must-see game II: Moanalua

Game to be on upset-alert for: Kaimuki

Breakdown of schedule: With their stadium getting a multimillion-dollar facelift, the Castle Knights hope to take advantage of the comforts of home after having to play all their games on the road last year. Having their first four games at home – including key contests with rival Kailua as well as powerhouse Farrington – Castle will get that opportunity early on. An added bonus is that the team will play only two road games – Kahuku and Moanalua, which will come on the heels of their bye week. On paper, the finale against Kaimuki, on a neutral field, also appears winnable.

Kahuku High School

2012 record: 12-0 overall (6-0 in OIA Red East; first place – OIA overall champion; Division I state champion)

2013 schedule: Saint Louis Aug. 17 at Aloha Stadium (interleague game), Kaimuki Aug. 23, bye Aug. 30, Moanalua Sept. 7, Castle Sept. 13, McKinley Sept. 20 at Roosevelt High, at Kailua Sept. 27, Farrington Oct. 3 at Aloha Stadium

Key stretch: McKinley, Kailua, Farrington

Must-see game: Farrington

Must-see game II: Saint Louis

Game to be on upset-alert for: Moanalua

Breakdown of schedule: Apparently the rich truly get richer. Indeed, with three of their games set to be played at neutral sites (two at Aloha Stadium and one at Roosevelt High School), Kahuku only will play one true road game in 2013, that being Kailua. The home slate features games versus Kaimuki, Moanalua and Castle, meanwhile, contests in which the Red Raiders figure to be heavy favorites.

Kailua High School

2012 record: 2-7 overall (2-4 in OIA Red East)

2013 schedule: at Campbell Aug. 16 (pre-season game), at Castle Aug. 23, at Moanalua Aug. 30, Farrington Sept. 7 at Roosevelt High, bye Sept. 13, Kaimuki Sept. 21, Kahuku Sept. 27, McKinley Oct. 5

Key stretch: Castle, Moanalua, Farrington

Must-see game: Castle Must-see game II: McKinley

Game to be on upset-alert for: Kaimuki

Breakdown of schedule: Kailua’s 2013 slate is demanding at the front end with three straight road games. A game versus Farrington on a neutral site follows before a bye week and a run of three straight home games to close out the Red East schedule. The good news is that all three road games look winnable. Having a bye week after Farrington – and prior to the home stand – may also prove to be a timely boost to the Surfriders’ prospects.