This is
Waianae’s season

But Campbell wants to prove
this is its year in tomorrow's
OIA final

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Waianae supporters are no longer reeling from Campbell's 22-21 come-from-behind victory at Raymond Torii Field on Oct. 10.

The Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs are a different season and the defending OIA champion Seariders (8-1) have regained dangerous momentum since that setback.

Run-oriented Waianae will meet Campbell and its stingy defense tomorrow night at Aloha Stadium in a long-anticipated OIA championship rematch.

It's been said that you have to go through Waianae to win the OIA championship. Well, Campbell (8-1) has already been through there.

"And I know they'll be gunning for revenge," Campbell head coach Darren Hernandez said.

Hernandez, a history teacher, knows that history tends to repeat itself. He doesn't want to see a repeat of last year's 23-3 loss to Waianae in the OIA championship.

The Sabers had to go with hobbled quarterback Kaleopa Kaleopa, whose lack of mobility made him easy prey for Waianae's front three of Stanford Evaimalo, Kainoa Evangelista and all-stater White Sosene. The three are seniors this year.

The win at Torii this year proved the Sabers have matured and are no longer mesmerized by Waianae, which has won 14 OIA titles in 27 years.

It was especially gratifying for Hernandez.

"We hope to someday be as good as the Seariders," he said after last year's title game.

Campbell rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit at Torii, and won in the final 48 seconds.

Rodney Tavui, the conference's third-leading passer, scored on a 20-yard run and hooked up with Ezekiel Kelii on the two-point conversion for the upset.

"Our defense stopped them and gave our offense a chance in the second half," said Hernandez, whose team has never won a league crown.

The defense, led by 6-foot-5, 295-pound nose tackle Mark Muasau and 6-1, 245-pound inside linebacker Robby Takara, carried Campbell through the regular season.

The Sabers' defense was second in the conference behind Leilehua in yardage allowed and No. 1 in points allowed.

"Campbell's defense is the thing to worry about," Seariders head coach Leo Taaca said. "You have to be able to run the ball and pass the ball when they least expect."

Waianae, hampered by injuries to key players like Sosene, was fifth in the conference in defense.

But Sosene, who did not play in the 22-21 loss, is back.

The Seariders and Sabers were 1-2 in offense in the conference, although there was a wide gap between them. Waianae averaged 395 yards a game, compared to 229 for Campbell, which was hit by injuries on offense.

For much of the season, the Sabers were without reliable receiver Mark Acidera, their top scorer in 1996. Bruising running back Jason Albritton also has been injured, as has Isaiah Maikui, the team's top rusher with 287 yards and five touchdowns.

Who concerns Hernandez the most?

"Kana Kawai -- he's something else," Hernandez said of Waianae's elusive quarterback, who can burn a defense with his arm (eight touchdown passes in the conference) or his legs.

"Leo (Taaca) told me his nickname in Waianae is 'bar soap' because he's like a bar of soap," Hernandez said. "I remember Jack Ioane (6-2, 285-pound linebacker) almost had him for two big sacks, but he got away. The kid is Houdini."

After the loss to the Sabers, Waianae beat Waipahu in the regular-season finale. It then defeated Kailua, Mililani and Leilehua in the playoffs.

Campbell, which hasn't lost since Leilehua surprised the Sabers in Wahiawa in their next-to-last conference game, has a five-game winning streak.

In the playoffs, Campbell defeated perennial White Conference powers McKinley and Kahuku.

---

Bill Kwon