For the 11th consecutive season, and 15th time in the last 16 years, the OIA top-tier football championship will go to either Kahuku or Mililani.
If last year’s tussle is any indication, the game might go down to the wire. If it does, it will be a rarity.
The big game in the public schools had been largely decided in blowouts since 2010, with the closest margin of victory being 13 twice before last year’s 35-31 Kahuku victory. Before that, the game was almost always a down-to-the-wire affair and with the new Open Division we might be going back to the old days in that respect.
The Red Raiders can win their fourth straight league crown, a streak matched by many schools but never beaten. The Red Raiders were the last to do it, grabbing titles from 2003-06 under Siuaki Livai and Reggie Torres.
Kahuku mentor Sterling Carvalho can become the 10th Kahuku coach to bring an OIA championship home, joining Makoa Freitas, Vavae Tata, Torres, Livai, Doug Semones, Famika Anae, Harold Silva, Art Stranske and Mits Fujishige.
Mililani’s Rod York can capture his fourth OIA championship in eight years.
Here is a look at all of the OIA championships over the years:
| Year | Winner | Pts | Loser | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Kahuku | 35 | Mililani | 31 |
| The Red Raiders went ahead for good with 1:34 to play on Sol-Jay Maiava's 28-yard touchdown pass to Kaonohi Kaniho. Maiava throws for 248 yards to Dillon Gabriel's 297 in the back-and-forth affair. | ||||
| 2016 | Kahuku | 44 | Farrington | 8 |
| Quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two more scores and the game was called early after an injury to a Govs player. | ||||
| 2015 | Kahuku | 20 | Mililani | 7 |
| Safety Keala Santiago had three interceptions and the Red Raiders ended the Trojans' streak of 53 straight games scoring at least 10 points. | ||||
| 2014 | Mililani | 20 | Kahuku | 7 |
| Quarterback McKenzie Milton threw two touchdown passes after Kahuku QB Tuli Wily-Matagi left the game with a concussion. Neither team scored in the second half. | ||||
| 2013 | Mililani | 37 | Farrington | 6 |
| Sophomore QB McKenzie Milton scores touchdowns on a 52-yard run, 23-yard catch and a 24-yard pass, and Vavae Malepeai carries 11 times for 90 yards and a TD. | ||||
| 2012 | Kahuku | 50 | Mililani | 13 |
| The Red Raiders force five turnovers in the first quarter and Aofaga Wily rushes for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. | ||||
| 2011 | Kahuku | 23 | Farrington | 0 |
| Defensive back Bronson Beatty has two second-half interceptions and Toiva Tufaga has two sacks as Farrington gained only 33 rushing yards on 32 attempts. | ||||
| 2010 | Mililani | Kahuku | ||
| Mililani given the crown when Kahuku forfeits for using an ineligible player. | ||||
| 2009 | Kahuku | 24 | Leilehua | 20 |
| Hauoli Jamora collects five sacks and Punga Vea takes a reverse 44 yards for the winning score with 5:06 left. | ||||
| 2008 | Kahuku | 22 | Farrington | 19 |
| St. John Lessary kicks a 22-yard field goal in the second overtime. | ||||
| 2007 | Leilehua | 12 | Waianae | 3 |
| Andrew Manley throws for two TDs in his third career start. | ||||
| 2006 | Kahuku | 7 | Waianae | 0 |
| Junior Mataafa scores from 25 yards out late in the second half. | ||||
| 2005 | Kahuku | 26 | Aiea | 16 |
| Malosi Te’o runs for 248 yards and three long touchdowns. | ||||
| 2004 | Kahuku | 36 | Mililani | 13 |
| Micah Strickland runs for two TDs. | ||||
| 2003 | Kahuku | 6 | Kailua | 0 |
| Waika Carvalho hits Tevita Finau with a 6-yard TD pass with 20 seconds left. | ||||
| 2002 | Castle | 25 | Kailua | 0 |
| The Knights score two TDs on special teams and one on defense. | ||||
| 2001 | Kailua | vs. | Kahuku | N/A |
| Championships canceled because of 9/11. | ||||
| 2000 | Kahuku | 32 | Waianae | 13 |
| Red Raiders’ offensive line paves the way for 530 total yards. | ||||
| 1999 | Kahuku | 7 | Kailua | 0 |
| Orlando Wong scores on a 19-yard run in the third quarter of a defensive battle. | ||||
| 1998 | Kahuku | 20 | Waianae | 0 |
| Andreas Manumaleuna runs for 125 yards and a touchdown. | ||||
| 1997 | Waianae | 22 | Campbell | 13 |
| Seariders QB Kana Kawai efficient despite injury. | ||||
| 1996 | Waianae | 23 | Campbell | 3 |
| Seariders defense survive inspired performance by Campbell QB Kaleopa Kaleopa. | ||||
| 1995 | Kahuku | 33 | Waianae | 20 |
| Jason Keo rushes for 269 yards and two TDs as the Red Raiders put up 524 rushing yards. | ||||
| 1994 | Kahuku | 21 | Farrington | 7 |
| Vai Notoa rushes for 144 yards and two TDs. | ||||
| 1993 | Kahuku | 7 | Waianae | 0 |
| Ben Tanuvasa scores on a 22-yard run in the third quarter. | ||||
| 1992 | Waianae | 27 | Kahuku | 0 |
| Seariders force three fumbles and have four stops in the red zone. | ||||
| 1991 | Waianae | 27 | Kailua | 6 |
| Glenn Freitas scores three rushing touchdowns and passes for one. | ||||
| 1990 | Farrington | 15 | Waianae | 7 |
| Randall Okimoto rushes for 222 yards and two TDs. | ||||
| 1989 | Kahuku | 10 | Castle | 3 |
| Mark Atuaia rushes for 100 yards and Daryl Stant throws for 104 in the defensive battle. | ||||
| 1988 | Waianae | 14 | Farrington | 7 |
| David Tafiti rushes for 202 yards. | ||||
| 1987 | Waianae | 24 | Kailua | 23 |
| Sam Bailey hits Scott McLeod from 48 yards with 34 seconds left | ||||
| 1986 | Waianae | 14 | Kahuku | 13 |
| Keith Vendetta returns an interception 25 yards for a TD in the third quarter. | ||||
| 1985 | Waianae | 17 | Castle | 16 |
| Michael Wolfe breaks up a 2-point conversion attempt with no time left. | ||||
| 1984 | Leilehua | 18 | Kahuku | 7 |
| Daniel Saragosa throws three TD passes. | ||||
| 1983 | Nanakuli | 28 | Kalaheo | 26 |
| Alapati Sula scores from five yards out with 51 seconds left. | ||||
| 1982 | Waianae | 17 | Kahuku | 0 |
| Seariders hold Lakei Hemuli to 67 yards. | ||||
| 1981 | Radford | 14 | Castle | 6 |
| Rams win four days after coach John Velasco’s funeral. | ||||
| 1980 | Waianae | 20 | Kaiser | 19 |
| Seariders beat defending champ without top running back, linebacker and defensive back | ||||
| 1979 | Kaiser | 20 | Waianae | 13 |
| Cougars stop four pass plays from 14-yard line with 1 minute left. | ||||
| 1978 | Waianae | 35 | Kaiser | 28 |
| Watson Mahaulu forces Troy Enos to fumble in final minute, Tolu Siliga recovers. | ||||
| 1977 | Waianae | 13 | Kailua | 6 |
| James Holt runs 50 yards to the 1-yard line with less than a minute left, Kenneth Paderes punches it in. | ||||
| 1976 | Radford | 14 | Castle | 0 |
| Homer Jones runs for 2 TDs in the first half. | ||||
| 1975 | Waianae | 7 | Kailua | 0 |
| Eliu Wilson scores from 1-yard out with a minute left | ||||
| 1974 | Leilehua | 13 | Farrington | 6 |
| Al Harris knocks down Raymond Haynes’ pass on the final play. | ||||
| 1973 | Waianae | 13 | McKinley | 6 |
| Mike Vierra runs for 110 yards and two TDs. | ||||
| 1972 | Kahuku | 35 | Leilehua | 29 |
| Molia Salanoa hits Pisa Finai from 10 yards out with 5 seconds left. | ||||
| 1971 | Waipahu | 7 | Kahuku | 6 |
| Ed Benito hits Paul Carvalho for a 45-yard score on third and 20 with 10 seconds left in the first half. | ||||
| 1970 | Waianae | 6 | McKinley | 0 |
| Tui Ala runs for 130 yards on 30 carries in first East vs. West championship game | ||||
| 1966 | Waianae | 7 | Kahuku | 0 |
| Omega Reyes scores from 1-yard out with 3 minutes left in a playoff after both teams finished the regular season 8-0-1. | ||||
Good luck to both teams. Ref don’t let Coach Y try to bully you.
Coach C
Well put!!! Ref need to throw that flag if need to.
Good luck to both squads.
I agree, York get’s away with bullying the officials. But he’s got his team executing at a high level, so Big Red needs to bring it.
RRFL!!
You guys fall for his antics? He is just putting on an act to gain any type of psycological edge. Its like the WWE, he even calls timeouts to disrupt the flow of the game to send his team and the opponent a message. All the pro and college sports coaches do it. Sad that its creeping its way into hawaii high school football.
No way boo…you give him too much credit. That guy has anchor issues.
Yes…I did mean anchor.
Brown and Yellow power!!! Brown and yellow for Life!!!