OIA Football Playoff Scenarios

Wait what, we’re already at that point of the season?

Yes, we sure are. Only two weekends left in the OIA Division I regular season. Division II is a little crazier, but let’s take a look at what’s at stake the rest of the regular season. Top six from the OIA Blue and Red make the playoffs with the top two in each division getting a first-round bye.

OIA BLUE

TEAMS IN: Kahuku, Waianae, Campbell, Moanalua
TEAMS WITH BYE: Kahuku
TEAMS OUT: None
TEAM ON THE BUBBLE: Radford
Notes: Waianae can clinch a first-round bye with a win over Campbell on Friday night. The Sabers have a lot to play for the next two weeks because if they win out, they would get the No. 2 seed and an automatic berth into the OIA quarterfinals which would guarantee them a spot in the state D-I playoffs. The Rams would need to win out to make the playoffs. A loss to Aiea on Friday night would eliminate them from playoff contention. Kahuku has the No. 1 seed locked up with a win in either of its last two games.

OIA RED

TEAMS IN: Farrington, Kapolei, Mililani, Leilehua, Kailua
TEAMS WITH BYE: None
TEAMS OUT: None
TEAM ON THE BUBBLE: Nanakuli
Notes: The Golden Hawks are in must-win mode Friday night and need to beat Castle for the first time since 1994 to avoid elimination from playoff contention. The race for the automatic byes and berth in the OIA quarterfinals is a wild one. Farrington is in with a win over Kapolei on Saturday, but a loss and the Govs’ might find themselves playing in the OIA first round. Kapolei controls its own destiny. A win over Farrington locks up at least a first-round bye and the No. 1 overall seed would go to the Hurricanes should it win out and beat Nanakuli the following week. Mililani can get the No. 1 seed if it wins out and Farrington beats Kapolei. A win over Kailua on Friday does not necessarily mean a first-round bye. The Trojans will be big Farrington fans on Saturday. Leilehua locks up the No. 4 seed with any Kailua loss in its last two games. The only way Kailua is out is if it loses its last two games and Nanakuli wins out against Castle and Kapolei, forcing a three-way tie for two spots.

OIA D-II

TEAMS IN: None
TEAMS WITH BYE: None
TEAMS OUT: Roosevelt, Kalaheo
TEAM ON THE BUBBLE: McKinley
Notes: It is wayyyy too early to be doing this in the OIA D-II, where somehow Roosevelt plays its last game of the season on Friday yet McKinley still has four more games to play. Pearl City doesn’t play until next week but locks up a berth with any win in its last three games. The key game played so far this season is Kalani’s 26-22 win over Kaimuki. That keeps the Falcons in it. Kalaheo is out even if it wins out because it has already lost to every team with at least three wins.
Key games to watch: Waipahu at Waialua (Friday); Kaimuki vs. Waipahu @ Mililani (Oct. 1); Kaimuki vs. Pearl City at Aiea (Oct. 7); Kalani vs. Waipahu at Aiea (Oct. 8).