Farrington coach Randall Okimoto and Castle boss Nelson Maeda have matched wits 12 times since Okimoto took over in Kalahi in 2002, but this might be the first time one of the teams was not a decided underdog.
The teams play tonight at Castle in front of OC 16’s cameras.
Okimoto leads the series 7-5, but it has been a cyclical affair. The Governors have won the last two and put up 94 points in doing it. Castle surprised the Governors 29-28 in 2010 to win for the first time since 2005 when Jaymason Lee torched the Governors for 374 yards passing and needed every one of them to deal the Governors their first loss of the season.
Farrington won five straight times before that, matching Castle’s streak in the series from 2001 to 2005.
Maeda’s defense ruled the first time the two coaches faced each other, beating Farrington 13-9 to reach the OIA championship.
Maeda vs. Okimoto over the years:
2012: Farrington 44, Castle 6
2011: Farrington 50, Castle 13
2010: Castle 29, Farrington 28
2009: Farrington 19, Castle 8
2009: Farrington 42, Castle 26
2008: Farrington 41, Castle 14
2007: Farrington 25, Castle 15
2006: Farrington 32, Castle 22
2005: Castle 19, Farrington 7
2004: Castle 34, Farrington 19
2003: Castle 34, Farrington 14
2002: Castle 13, Farrington 9
It’s hard to tell what Okimoto has in store for tonight’s meeting, since he will be without quarterback Montana Liana, his team will be desperate for its first win of the year and his running game was nonexistent against tough defenses at Waianae and Kamehameha. But Okimoto won’t go away from his bread and butter; he is 5-1 against Castle when his team puts a rusher over the century mark and 2-4 when it doesn’t.
Maeda won’t likely be running the ball. Castle has never had a rusher gain more than 99 yards against Okimoto, and this year’s edition wouldn’t appear set to be the first.
Most rushing yards for Farrington vs. Castle:
Hercules Sula with 230 in 2006.
Most passing yards for Farrington vs. Castle:
Eli Antonio with 286 in 2004
Most receiving yards for Farrington vs. Castle:
Matt Bell with 111 in 2003
Most rushing yards for Castle vs. Farrington:
Doug Cozloff with 187 in 1988
Most passing yards for Castle vs. Farrington:
Jaymason Lee with 372 in 2010
Most receiving yards for Castle vs. Farrington:
Ikaika Ho with 163 in 2003
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