So many highlights, it almost hurts to think about what if.
The Pride of Kalihi, Gov Nation, simply bleeding a wee bit of maroon. Seventh-ranked Farrington can only wonder after a 31-28 loss at No. 6 Mililani that was full of as many fits and stops as it was glorious, clutch plays.
For Randall Okimoto, Farrington’s first loss after two wins in the OIA Red came down to execution under pressure, or the lack thereof.
“For me, the turning point was when we took that big sack,” he said
The Govs had started at their 8-yard line after a Mililani punt. They had some momentum, but then came an illegal block for a personal foul, and then on third-and-22, LB James McLaughlin sacked Bishop Rapoza. The nine-yard loss pushed them back to their own 5-yard line.
After a punt went out of bounds, Mililani took over at the Farrington 30-yard line. The Trojans scored four plays later on a read-option keeper by Dillon Gabriel.
“Maybe we should’ve run the ball,” Okimoto said, lamenting the sack.
That turn of events, giving Mililani a 21-14 lead, was compounded moments later with a Farrington three-and-out. That led to a crucial 29-yard field goal by Mililani’s Damien Santiago. that opened the lead to 10, and the Govs never got closer than a three-point deficit the rest of the way.
Giving up not one, but two read-option touchdown runs by Gabriel in the fourth quarter (3 and 27 yards) were also plays that made the difference, Okimoto said.
“I wish our guys would be able to play like how they are at practice. When adversity hits, technique goes out the window on that quarterback keeper,” he said. “The same thing on offense. We need to put it all together, offense and defense, at the same time.”
When the defense shined, it was brilliant. Farrington’s secondary came up with three picks, including a 60-yard return to paydirt by Isaiah Taumua.
Rapoza had a scintillating fourth quarter through the air. After alternating at QB with Justin Uahinui in the first half, he got most of the snaps after halftime and finished 15-for-26 with 185 yards and three TDs. His main target, Kingston Moses-Sanchez, finished with nine grabs for 85 yards. Even after Moses-Sanchez suffered an injury and was carried off the field late in the game, Rapoza was in tune with his other playmakers.
The elevated play of Mosi Alaivanu-Afe, who had two TD plays in the second half, along with clutch receptions by two-way players T.J. Tautolo and Iosefo Ah Ching in the final minutes, kept the Governors close and a statewide TV audience wondering if a miracle finish was coming. But it wasn’t to be.
Struggles in the kicking game — two missed PATs and punts of 25 and 21 yards in the late going — may have been partially due to fatigue. The Govs don’t have a full-time kicking specialist this season.
So close, yet so far.
“…when adversity hits, technique goes out the window…” I don’t think Govs Coach should have said that. It should be disciplined football and assignment football not lack of technique. If it’s technique then it looks like he’s blaming his staff because that should have been worked on in the summer and pre-season. Technique has nothing to do with it. He has so much talent on the team. Maybe he should use his “Coaches Pass” and stand up and admit that he as a Coach screwed up on preparing for Mililani. Hats off to Mililani for excellent play calling at the appropriate times!
Way to do work nephew #10 I see you! RR4L
Coach Okimoto is a good coach. I hear there is a Facebook push to get him ousted at Farrington.
Social Media! Boo!
It’s ridiculous if there is a Facebook page to get Coach Okimoto ousted as Farrington’s football coach. Every year he does best what he got and the kids play hard, tough, clean, and, yes, disciplined football and as a former employee working in one of the schools in the Kalihi area, I am proud of many of my kids playing hard and tenacious under Coach Okimoto. If people think FHS can win an OIA championship, think again, because its difficult under adverse conditions and with what he has to work with and I can almost guarantee if a new coach comes in, things might be worse….I do not, I repeat, do not know Coach Okimoto but I do know how much he cares for his players and last nite’s game was hard to take in defeat but the Govs played with heart and it was a great game between two schools but, unfortunately, one school had to lose. No, if there is a Facebook petition to oust Okimoto, I find that purely stupid and ignorant on the parent or fan that initiated that post. Nothing more and nothing less.
It’s straight up coaching, nothing else. Farrington had teams that could have won OIA ie: Apelu Sooalo’s yr… how many field goals they had him kick to win the game? When they had a kicker but went with Apelu instead…. Tyler Taumua’s jr year wen dey beat Kahuku regular season and was totally predictable in the title game. …. last night Mililani expose their D when Olomua goes out and Kila comes in, Farrington D softens up on the run defense assuming pass opening up run lanes for Kila….. not once but quit a few times Farrington got caught laxed on the run….. that’s no excuse, “He does best with what he got” Farrington always got ballers, every year either Kahuku or Farrington put out the biggest oline and a top 5 RB…. no excuse.
Football is 4 quarters. The Govs suffer from the same problem Waianae suffers from, FITNESS. Get the Fitness level up and things will change. Okimoto can’t run plays if the team can’t run. Plain and simple.
Speaking of coaches Hao is out as Kahukus OC, I hope DJ is hired on!
If they stuck to the elephant like formation they would have won. They just need to use their big boys better than trying to be like Mililani and Leilehua and be true to themselves. No worry Gmen, you will meet Mililani again this year. Good luck all of you. RRFL
I like Randall. I’ve met him personally and I think he’s a great person and a great teacher in the DOE. But right now, the game has passed him by and he is squandering talent. This isn’t waialua where we would get excited for winning two games in a season. This is Farrington. If Randall can’t get us over the hump, maybe there is someone else who can! Just say NOkimoto!
I wonder what HPW rankings will look like this week. SL got Waianae idle at 4, Mililani and Farrington switch spots. Curious to see especially based off the criteria that’s used for the rankings. After one of the voters that was quoted in a previous article said “When I rank teams, I try to rank them based on the results of what has taken place on the field”. So let’s see where Waianae ends up after the Farrington Mililani game last nite….. even though Farrington was handed 2tds by the refs… but that’s none of my buisness *wink……
1. Kahuku (shutout #4 Waianae)
2. St. Louis (idle)
3. Punahou (idle)
4. Mililani. (Upsets Farrington)
5. Farrington (lose to Mililani but Scored on both sides of the ball and force 3int.)
6. Waianae (based on what has taken place on the field, you decide)
Many years in the top ten why because they have the players to do it they are what makes a team look good coachs are just there to give them the mentality to succeed and believe in what there doing will get them there also there knowledge gives there team different views. Kahuku had so much head coachs and staff it was just a wealth of knowledge over the years so is milililani they won championships why the coachs and also there players at the time now new rules no recruiting but (with this open division they should look into it again it gives the ILH a big advantage) they still there getting bye because York always trys different things that works. What I have seen these recent years that teams had getting into the championship was one speedy QBS who can pass as well as scramble if need be to get the first down. offensive schemes to change the looks and strategy like recently Kahuku uses the elephant or jumbo formation given from Tata who was on Stanfords staff whos uses it in the pac 12 to win games. (Coach Okimoto should look into unbalanced formations run and pass I think it would help he has the beef) which Kahuku uses with great effect. They also use the i formatiom from milililani which milton used with great effect why because it works if you have a QB who can also run. When Waianae was stopping there jumbo package they used it to get into the end zone. The spread was it before with Cal lee who used it to win many championships and also they had the players there 3rd string could pass for there first which I believe is a advantage Kahuku uses it with great advantage there depth in there positions is unreal like the private schools fresh legs to tire your opponent waianae defense was just getting worn down until the tires fell off in fact they were in the game when braddah man decided to run on 4th down on there 30 one important key (field position )if you cannot get yards on the other team at least try to make them earn every yard by giving them more yards to run it back the other way but I digress. Getting back using a spread that was meant to give smaller teams a chance but being you have star players with depth it was a winning combination back then prep bowl after prep bowl now just about everybody with a small team does it to give them a chance. But the Bottom line is the same physical superiority cancels all theory at the end you got the beef your chances of winning are greatly improved but it doesnt stop there its also the different ideas and knowledge that leads a Big team like that now days into our Championships bottom line.
mililani didn’t upset farrington, alpha. farrington was ranked lower. and we will continue to be ranked lower until we have a head coaching change.
say NO to NOkimoto
I always watch Farrington football games since my playing days back in the 90s. It’s hard to watch sometimes. We so close but sometimes we just cannot get over the hump. NOkimoto is right. Randall is my boy but maybe we need some change with the coaching.
Trying to get rid of Coach Randall now when there stadium is just about to be completed and named after the Late great Skippa Diaz who Randall was his running back at the time that won there only Championship you kidding me. I heard a story once that Randall had the opportunity to go to a ILH school right before they won but decided to stay with his brothers at home there is is history and pride here. You don’t just throw it away because you not winning games crazy if that’s the case I know of alot of teams that would need major over hauls. Maybe it’s not the coach maybe it’s other people wanting his Job who knows could be from his own staff or related maybe that’s where the change needs to take place. I would give a shout out to the original coaches who were players of that Championship team to come back Farrington your alma mater needs you they are the ones that deserve to be on the field when it’s completed and that makes the most sense.
@ anywaaaays!!Is it true about Hao being out?
I never like say anything but thank god other people think the same thing as me. Coach Okimoto, thank you for everything you have done for our community and our kids. You did one heck of a job. But maybe it’s time for you to move on.
@unity…… history and pride???How about administration politics? Farrington has had teams that could have won OIA and states during Okimoto’s reign. History and Pride??? Your talking fairy tales, hold on to Okimoto only cause he was on the only championship team they had, be the head coach when Coach Diaz stadium opens just because he played for him?….. here a lesson on history and pride…. Kahuku and St Louis, 2 of the winningest programs in the state. St louis under call Lee unbeatable during prep Bowl Era, Cal Lee departs and the program falls to avg. After how many coaches later st louis reunites with cal lee and now they are relevant again winning ilh and a shot at states. Kahuku they don’t except losing at all, they’ve replaced every Coach after a losing season even if that Coach won OIA and states…. That’s history and pride, The Administration knowing the schools history in winning championships and having enough pride to tell a coach Win or Go Home!!!!
@Alpha Well good St.Louis and Kahuku can duke it out every year and the winner can be named supreme ruler and us guys can watch and learn the politics for just winning games!!!
@”UNITY=STRENGHT”
” I would give a shout out to the original coaches who were players of that Championship team to come back Farrington your alma mater needs you they are the ones that deserve to be on the field…” – who are you kidding? Those Coaches or any other Coaches don’t want to Coach with Randall. He’s a tyrant! He’s not open to suggestions or looks to other ways on how he can better himself and improve or make corrections for his team. It’s his way or none. That’s why he’ll never win a championship!