Lahainaluna seems to know all about state heartbreak. Here is a look at their previous appearances:
>> 2006: The Lunas went 7-2-1 with a 6-5 and 14-6 losses to Baldwin, which was in the midst of its MIL D-I dynasty. The tie came against King Kekaulike, which took the league’s Division II title and went on to edge. King K then edged ‘Iolani 38-37 at War Memorial before downing Kauai 33-20 in the state final at Aloha Stadium.
>> ’07: Entering the state tourney, the Lunas were 8-1, including 6-1 in MIL play with a 23-20 overtime loss to eventual league D-I champion Baldwin. The Lunas rolled over Kaimuki 52-20 at War Memorial before falling to ‘Iolani in the final, 28-21, at Aloha Stadium.
>> ’08: The Lunas opened with a blowout loss to CIF powerhouse Edison and a nonleague win over Keaau. Then they went 6-1 in MIL play, losing only to Baldwin (29-28). In the first round of the D-II state tourney, they lost to Radford 33-27 at War Memorial.
>> ’09: Lahainaluna lost to Kauai 35-18 in presesaon, then started MIL play 1-2. Then came five wins in a row, including a 28-14 victory over Baldwin. The Lunas lost at Aiea in the opening round of the D-II state tourney 20-12.
>> ’10: The Lunas opened with a preseason win over Keaau, then went 6-2 in league play with both losses to Baldwin. Then more state-tourney heartbreak: a 28-27 loss to Kaimuki at War Memorial. Bulldogs running back Chester Sua rushed for 229 yards and three TDs on 33 carries.
>> ’11: Lahainaluna lost to Pac-Five 14-0 and beat Keaau 26-6 in preseason, then went 5-3 in MIL play. They beat Konawaena 23-6 at War Memorial, then lost at Waipahu 19-14 in the state semifinals.
>> ’12: The Lunas are potent, routing Keaau in preseason and opening MIL play with six wins in a row, all in blowout fashion. But Baldwin, had been routed earlier by the Lunas, edged them 20-17 in overtime. Lahainaluna finished 7-1 in league play, then blanked Nanakuli 28-0 at Aloha Stadium to reach the final of the D-II state tourney. The Lunas lost to ‘Iolani 36-33 in what may have been the most entertaining D-II title game in history. It was the last state title in a string of six in a row for the Raiders.
>> ’13: Lahainaluna went 2-0 in preseason, beating Kapaa and Mt. Douglas (Canada). The Lunas were ranked every week in the Top 10 starting in week 2 and went 8-0 in MIL play, routing every team including once-mighty Baldwin. But Kaiser was too strong, beating Lahainaluna 20-9 in the state semifinals en route to the state title.
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