The reality of 2 tiers: 208-20

Mililani's defense held Leilehua running back Kalika Anderson-Seumanutafa-Bryant and the rest of the Mules in check in a 47-0 blowout. Photo by Marco Garcia/Special to the Star-Advertiser.

The OIA football regular season began last week providing some exciting moments for schools struggling to field competitive football teams under the current two-tier alignment.

Radford, coming off a winless season in which it managed only one offensive touchdown, nearly pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback against Castle, finishing with more points in the game than it had scored the entire previous season in an entertaining 33-28 loss.

Nanakuli, which also went winless in 2016, picked up its first victory under new head coach Kili Watson, holding off an Aiea program, 12-7, that hasn’t been able to keep a junior varsity team intact for an entire season in recent years.


Two games that came down to the final minutes in the fourth quarter. Fun for the players, entertaining for the fans, teachable moments for the coaches. It had everything you’d want in high school football.

And predictably, it ended there.

As we’ve seen in Division II in the OIA this year (Kalani and Pearl City going to OT, Kaimuki edging Kalani 41-34, McKinley and Kalaheo in a one-point game), when teams of similar levels are pitted against one another, you get the best of high school football.

So what did we get this past weekend in Division I? Five games decided by a combined score of 208-20.

Yes, 208-20.

47-0
37-0
35-0
48-13
41-7


Take away a missed extra point by Kapolei and all five games would have been running clock for most of the fourth quarter. While Kalaheo was making a fourth-down stand deep in its own territory to beat McKinley by one, or Kaimuki was recovering an onside kick to hold off Kalani by one score, the scoreboards for Division I games were lighting up on only one side.

The numbers are getting dangerously low. Kalaheo played its second game in three weeks suiting up 19 kids. Kailua has made for an amazing story this season, starting 2-0 with 29 in pads. The Surfriders knocked off a team from Arizona by a point and shut out Moanalua. They’ve held up for now. But what happens once they play Farrington and Kapolei back-to-back and then Mililani in their eighth game in as many weeks? A few injuries and suddenly their situation is a precarious one.

A big injury and suddenly we begin to wonder why football mattered so much in the first place.

Moanalua had a bye this week after losing to Punahou and Kailua by a combined score of 79-7. Na Menehune’s excitement resting up after a bye is quickly offset by the murderers row of Kahuku, Waianae and Campbell over the next three weeks.

All because the largest league in the state is stuck on dividing its teams up in two tiers.

Kaiser might have been able to field a team in Division II, but because it’s stuck in Division I and its head coach is concerned about safety, the Cougars have yet to play a game, essentially killing football in Hawaii Kai for the time being.


The OIA coaches were in unanimous agreement after last season to go to three tiers. But it never happened.

Because of it, get used to seeing 208-20. Because until we get deep into the OIA playoffs, that’s about what you can expect.

COMMENTS

  1. RidgeRunnerE-5 August 20, 2017 4:56 pm

    Just like I said last season, Hawaii high school football has devolved into “the haves” vs “the have nots”. You either recruit(or get the load of transfers) or you take your place on the sideline and watch the others collect the trophies.


  2. Hyn August 20, 2017 5:08 pm

    You have a bunch of donkeys running the OIA. It starts from the top and until they boot them out the oia will stay the same. So sad!


  3. anywaaaays!! August 20, 2017 5:15 pm

    Three tiers for the OIA regular season will probably happen soon just like how it used to be in the late 90s with the red/white/blue divisions.

    One thing to consider is that the lopsided scores are not just the Big Dogs pounding on the Medium dogs, its Big dogs beating up on Big dogs too…Kahuku over Waianae 37-0, Mililani over Leilehua 47-0.

    If we were in a 3 tier system this year the above 4 teams would be in the top tier and those scores would still be blow outs.

    Another thing to consider is that I dont see the media fighting for equal competition in other sports, blowouts in softball, soccer, volleyball etc.. are just as boring as well but no one complaining there, its part of life and you do your best and move on. The OIA is smart enough to understand whats best for their public schools considering all the variables like money and resources.


  4. anywaaaays!! August 20, 2017 5:25 pm

    Can someone please tell me why high school football needs to be everything that the media wants it to be? Is it because newspapers sell better when the headlines are lined with buzzer beaters and hail mary touchdowns? or maybe viewership and advertising revenue for TV take a hit when games are blow outs and all the viewers change the channel after halftime?

    Sounds to me like the TV and Newspaper executives are the incompetent ones if they are calculating their payroll and income based on High school football performances. I would rather see TV stop broadcasting games, then more people will show up at the gate and more money goes straight to the schools.


  5. anywaaaays!! August 20, 2017 5:52 pm

    IF you really, really, really want to think about it. Its the media that is ruining High School football all over the nation.

    How?

    Because the more media coverage and glory being praised upon these elite young athletes (who are usually playing at big schools) the more our younger kids think they need to be at those big schools in order to get that kind of attention.

    My nephew living in Waipahu transfered to Mililani this year and will play next year after sitting out due to the transfer rule. Back in the days (50s-90s) kids had pride in their home schools and fought like warriors to protect that pride.

    Now days its the adults that profit off football that are ruining the sport.
    – College head football coaches are offering kids scholarships in 8th grade, why? because their $900,000 paycheck is based on wins.
    – Colleges that win more games get bigger contracts with the tv networks.

    I guess you cant really blame anyone, but you can blame everyone, and for heavens sake, DONT BLAME THE OIA!


  6. Hyn August 20, 2017 6:57 pm

    Yes you need a three tier system. Teams like nanakuli, Radford, aiea, kaiser, castle, and moanalua don’t belong in division 1. They don’t field a team year in and year out to be competitive every year like the other power house schools. If they keep this up more kids won’t play because of safety reasons and the numbers will drop even more. You can see it happening already. So if you think about it ithe oia is to blame because they can make a three tier system to make it competitive. I know you can’t please everyone but I think that would be best case scenario.


  7. Coach C August 20, 2017 7:35 pm

    As oppose to the ILH? I mean St.Francis or Damien could knock off a big 3, cept they won’t have a chance.


  8. Austin Chang August 20, 2017 8:00 pm

    @Hyn First of all Moanalua definitely not moving down to D2, and they are dealing with a Quarterback issue, Moanalua has doing fine, and by their enrollment too. I don’t think Radford would not go down this year maybe 2 years but not this year. If they even move them down, then they will dominant the D2 all over the again, and when I heard they are dealing with a coach issue. They are pretty big. Now team like Aiea, and Kaiser, Nanaukli they should move down cause there program are falling apart. You need to be careful what you said. My opinion Moanalua, Radford, and Castle would staying in D1 next year. Kaiser, Aiea, Nanaukli would move down next year.


  9. BG Grad August 20, 2017 8:06 pm

    anywaays is right. even within D-I, there’s a pretty big disparity between teams. Kahuku, mililani, and kapolei vs everyone else. It’s been like that for several years, although kapolei is the newcomer, and kahuku and mililani seem to be the only two teams that can sustain a high level program year in and year out.

    as far as media hype and college football and so on, it is what it is. college football is a $7.3B industry. high school is the pipeline into that industry. it’s not necessarily the high school teams themselves that are important but the exposure the kids get for recruiting, especially when you get to the elite blue chip level

    A solution that would make more sense is an ILH/OIA merger into three tiers with relegation. The top tier, with kahuku, mililani, kapolei, kamehameha, punahou, and st louis would be an absolute war, week in and week out, and would create extremely exciting and compelling football matchups. Bottom two teams in the division gets bumped down, and the top two teams in the lower division gets bumped up.

    Either that or just make a single oahu league and set the divisions based on school enrollment size, like in the mainland. Although things will have to get creative for states.


  10. Austin Chang August 20, 2017 8:09 pm

    OIA Three Tier Division:

    Open Division Teams:

    Mililani
    Leliehua
    Kailua
    Campbell
    Kapolei
    Kahuku
    Farrington
    Waianae

    D1:
    Castle
    Pearl City
    Radford
    Moanalua
    Aiea
    Waipahu
    Nanaklui
    Kaimuki

    D2:
    Kaiser
    Kalani
    McKinley
    Kalaheo
    Waialua
    Roosevelt


  11. Hyn August 20, 2017 10:35 pm

    @austin chang- I didn’t mean move them to d2 but put them exactly where you would in the 3 tier system. That’s why a 3 tier system makes more sense. The competition will be more even this way.


  12. Tokotoko August 21, 2017 12:17 am

    I really like that three tier proposal, Austin. That would make the most sense. It’d be interesting to see how they would break down the OIA representatives for the state tournament in each tier. Im assuming the top 4 teams from the Open, and top 2 from Div I & Div II.


  13. BK August 21, 2017 12:23 am

    Eh Austin, you using someone else idea from another post. At least give proper credit. Haha. The main thing we generate conversation.


  14. TooMeke August 21, 2017 8:18 am

    What I don’t understand is how ALL the coaches voted for three tiers…and yet the administration says no.

    Terrible. Time to get some responsible people running the show who are genuinely concerned with the health and well-being of these kids.

    Three tiers is a great idea. At the very least, it would minimize the need for 8-man football.

    Hopefully, the lesson has been learned so we have better, and safer, games moving forward.


  15. phILHarmonic August 21, 2017 9:42 am

    Maybe more realistic:

    Mililani
    Campbell
    Kapolei
    Kahuku
    Farrington
    Waianae

    D1:
    Kailua
    Leliehua
    Castle
    Pearl City
    Moanalua
    Waipahu
    Kaimuki
    Radford

    D2:
    Aiea
    Nanakuli
    Kaiser
    Kalani
    McKinley
    Kalaheo
    Waialua
    Roosevelt


  16. Tea Time August 21, 2017 11:13 am

    Does three divisions even matter? If Kaiser and Kaleheo are suiting up less than 20 kids, I’m not sure if having the sport matters in those locations. Having 29 is okay so long as the team across from you has similar numbers and expectations but I assume that Kailua is not going to get that very soon.

    Though it is not a popular thought, maybe having high school football at this many high schools is not what is best (and this is coming from a high school football coach). If numbers continue/start to decline, perhaps the sport is not worth it from an economics and health standpoint.


  17. hwnstyl August 21, 2017 11:23 am

    OIA AD’s voted as a block. Not one dissenting vote to have at least one team in the Div 1 playoffs. It was the outer island/ILH vs the OIA and the OIA obstuctionists AD’s lost. ILH has a team in each playoff div and the outer islands have a total of 5.
    Sorry 18 OIA football teams that will not have an oppurtuity to play for a state championship, thank your AD’s!!

    As for why does the media hype up football?
    Check out the full stands and over 4000 participants, in case you haven’t noticed football touches alot of families. Add in cheerleaders, band members, faculty and staff that all have extended families that watch them too.


  18. rrforlifebaby August 21, 2017 12:01 pm

    Split up Oahu into 4 “Divisions” with 3 subdivisions:
    Division 1
    Subdivision Open
    Subdivision Category 1
    Subdivision Category 2

    Division 2
    Subdivision Open
    Subdivision Category 1
    Subdivision Category 2

    Division 3
    Subdivision Open
    Subdivision Category 1
    Subdivision Category 2

    Division 4
    Subdivision Open
    Subdivision Category 1
    Subdivision Category 2

    Have the top 2 teams from each subdivision battle it out in an 8 team playoff to determine the Oahu champion from each “Subdivision”;

    Each “subdivision” winner also qualifies for a state tourney berth.
    I would give the neighbor island teams leeway in determining at the end of their regular seasons which category they want to compete in.

    This could mean the possibility of all ILH teams or maybe, all OIA teams dominating the playoffs, but so be it. At the very least, there should be more competitive games on a weekly basis.

    I would break it down further, but work is calling…lol. But I think you all get the gist of the idea.

    RRFL!


  19. Education First August 21, 2017 12:15 pm

    anywaaaays!! August 20, 2017 5:52 pm
    IF you really, really, really want to think about it. Its the media that is ruining High School football all over the nation.

    How?

    Because the more media coverage and glory being praised upon these elite young athletes (who are usually playing at big schools) the more our younger kids think they need to be at those big schools in order to get that kind of attention.

    My nephew living in Waipahu transfered to Mililani this year and will play next year after sitting out due to the transfer rule. Back in the days (50s-90s) kids had pride in their home schools and fought like warriors to protect that pride.
    ——————————
    Once again another dumb thought by TOOMEKE.

    So going by your logic, then all kids who play football should stay home, please for UH and “fight like warriors” t0 protects that pride? Who cares if the academics at Waipahu is far less than Punahou. You should give up the chance to attend one of the most prestigious and proven schools in the nation to stay home and “fight like warriors” to protect the school closest to the address of your home.

    Yeah that is such a great idea TOOMEKE.

    Everytime I think you are done writing something really dumb, you go and outdo yourself.

    You should sit outside the State Capitol and lobby to make change. There needs to be a rule to get rid of all private schools and all kids should stay home and “fight like warrior” to protect your house because TOOMEKE or anywaaays, or whatever name he is using today said so.


  20. Hyn August 21, 2017 12:21 pm

    @tea time- I think of you go to a three tier league then more kids would come out to play so the numbers would go up. If you think about it why would you let your son sign up for football at kaiser if he has no chance at pursuing football at the next level and get his head pounded by kahuku. That’s a no brainer for a lot of the parents.


  21. hwnstyl August 21, 2017 12:48 pm

    It wont happen because it is not about the kids, Its all about the AD’s..
    Transfer rule, AD’s
    Tier system AD’s
    lost of revenue for other sports that were offered but turned down AD’s
    We need a state governed body and if the OIA does not like it, then they will not be allowed to play in any State championship of any sport!


  22. Education First August 21, 2017 1:08 pm

    GPAs>TDs. Glad I never played HS sports. Too much ruined bodies and broken dreams.


  23. anywaaaays!! August 21, 2017 1:29 pm

    Edufirst – there is a name for people like you…SELLOUT! on top of your already established trait of being a SNITCH, not to mention last year when you called out 88 for lunch and never show….a CHICKEN!

    The only reason I talk about pride as a driving factor for public schools is because it works 100%, Kahukus only resource is pride and that is why our kids feel like leaving their private schools, leaving their Utah schools to represent Kahuku in true warrior fashion. What would the Hawaii State prepbowl/HHSAA titles look like without Kahuku…
    ILH=30 titles
    OIA=2 titles

    Its amazing how Kahuku has been top 2 every year for Football players with D1 scholarships, its because of people like me and 88 and toomeke and rrforlife who play football for Kahuku in the 70s, 80s, 90s, that laid the foundation of pride for our future generations who are now benefitting. Meanwhile with your logic of favoring kids to sellout and leave their public school to attend ILH or stacking up at Mililani, schools like Kaiser, Kalaheo, Waialua Radford are folding and may need to shut down their programs. According to you its better to be a bandwagon jumper then to build from scratch.


  24. Education First August 21, 2017 1:46 pm

    @anywaaays!!…LOL, sellout? Because I couldn’t play HS sports due to my asthma condition? At least I use standard English and not make a fool of myself by posting illogical conclusions in barely readable pidgin like you. To clarify once again Horace, Punahou is a great school but the way the admissions process has been tainted by bringing in mercenaries to play sports is a disgrace. Lot of these diversity scholarship recipients have no business setting foot on a private school campus and take away resources from truly deserving students from disadvantaged backgrounds. I never attended Punahou but went to summer school there one year and the place is truly impressive.


  25. Education First August 21, 2017 1:49 pm

    BTW, I showed up for lunch to meet 88 but had to leave early because of a family emergency. Mentioned it before but maybe you can’t read standard English.


  26. Education First August 21, 2017 1:54 pm

    Education First August 21, 2017 1:08 pm
    GPAs>TDs. Glad I never played HS sports. Too much ruined bodies and broken dreams.
    ———————
    YEAH! My wannabe is back. It’s 88 aka anywaays aka TooMeke trying to be me again. Buddy you cannot be me. You are neither intelligent enough or witty enough.

    I get it, by using my username it does give you a little sense of how it feels to be accomplished.

    Keep amusing me like the little boy you are. It’s hilarious and pretty amazing that you can have conversations with yourself.

    BWAHAHHAH!


  27. Education First August 21, 2017 2:02 pm

    anywaaaays!! August 21, 2017 1:29 pm
    Edufirst – there is a name for people like you…SELLOUT! on top of your already established trait of being a SNITCH, not to mention last year when you called out 88 for lunch and never show….a CHICKEN!
    ——————-

    1) 88, or should I say, you, did not show. I know you are a coward. That is why you need to live through the football team of Kahuku.

    2) You are not even from Kahuku. I used IP address locator and it says you are from Waialua. Man, you cannot even support your home team. You call out kids for playing for schools that are outside their district. But you are from Waialua and have to support Kahuku. If that isn’t being a hypocrite, then I don’t know what is.

    3) I am a sell out? But you cheer for a team that isn’t even from where you are from or live. HAHAH! You should be cheering for Waialua and you cheer for Kahuku.

    4) The IP address associated with your posts is 158.119.643. It is registered to a computer currently being used on Kanalu Street in Waialua.

    Man, you are the biggest fraud on here. Trying to pretend to be from Kahuku, but you are really from Waialua.

    #WOW #LOSEMONEY #ISNTFROMKAHUKU #REALLYISFROMWAIALUA #LIAR #FRAUD


  28. anywaaaays!! August 21, 2017 3:51 pm

    Edufirst you bring no intellect to these discussions, log off and go to sleep, you said you attended Punahou a few years before transferring to Lowell HS in Sanfrancisco where you graduated. No one cares what you say.

    All – Keep in mind that Kahuku probably has as many if not more injuries as other teams, every week they got kids banged up, in fact their 1st string RB only played that 1st Q against Waianae, their 2nd string RB is out for 2 months.


  29. ILH August 21, 2017 9:33 pm

    KAMEHAMEHA, PUNAHOU, SAINT LOUIS, KAHUKU, MILILANI, WAIANAE, KAPOLEI, LEILEHUA. TRY THIS FORMAT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THEY WILL BE ONLY 4 TEAMS THAT REALLY WILL BATTLE EACH OTHER, KAM, PUNAHOU, SAINT LOUIS, AND KAHUKU, THE REST WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME, INCLUDING MILILANI.


  30. TooMeke August 22, 2017 10:02 am

    Okay anywaaaays…the jig is up… we should just ‘fess up that we are both one and the same person… okay?

    That way EduFirst won’t be at an increased risk of an hyperbole-induced bronchospasm as he’s trying to type as fast, and as much, as he can, being the magnificent one-fingered bandit that he is…especially seeing as how he has asthma.

    You know…all this typing is about all the exercise he gets…and we all know the increased risks of exercise-induced bronchospasms with asthmatics… hopefully he has his rescue inhaler readily available in one hand as he’s pounding away with his pointer finger on the other hand.

    So let’s drop the pretence…k? We are the same person… For the sake of EduFirst’s continued good, yet frail, health. Let’s have a heart…for his lungs.

    HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    RRFL.


  31. TooMeke August 22, 2017 10:06 am

    ILH – no way you can include Kam in that statement as top 4… that show’s your obvious bias.

    StL, Puns…yes. Kam? No. Not even close.

    Kam comes after Mililani and Kapolei…waaaaaayyyyyy after…easily.


  32. Education First August 22, 2017 10:15 am

    anywaaaays!! August 21, 2017 3:51 pm
    Edufirst you bring no intellect to these discussions, log off and go to sleep, you said you attended Punahou a few years before transferring to Lowell HS in Sanfrancisco where you graduated. No one cares what you say.

    All – Keep in mind that Kahuku probably has as many if not more injuries as other teams, every week they got kids banged up, in fact their 1st string RB only played that 1st Q against Waianae, their 2nd string RB is out for 2 months.

    —————————
    Isn’t it interesting that I exposed anywaays as:

    1) not being from Kahuku
    2) he says he lives in Kahuku, but his IP address shows he currently lives in Waialua
    3) he could not even defend that fact that he has been lying for months if not years
    4) he got exposed

    You say that no one cares what I write, but yet I get the most comments written back to.

    I offer precise data, scientific evidence, and I cite sources. Last time I checked, my style of writing follows the typical Writing Process that is taught across the nation.

    You on the other hand barely offer evidence, is unable to cite sources, and just got exposed. Isn’t it interesting that after you got exposed as a fraud, this is what you come back with?

    And if you believe that I bring no intellect when it’s very clear that I am much more intelligent than you based purely on my method of writing, you continue to believe that if that makes you feel better. But you know in your soul that isn’t true.

    But then again, you are really stupid, so you might actually believe that.

    Oh yeah, I forgot, you played for Kahuku and currently live in Kahuku. (WINK WINK).

    #loser #fraud


  33. Education First August 22, 2017 10:20 am

    TooMeke August 22, 2017 10:02 am
    Okay anywaaaays…the jig is up… we should just ‘fess up that we are both one and the same person… okay?

    That way EduFirst won’t be at an increased risk of an hyperbole-induced bronchospasm as he’s trying to type as fast, and as much, as he can, being the magnificent one-fingered bandit that he is…especially seeing as how he has asthma.

    You know…all this typing is about all the exercise he gets…and we all know the increased risks of exercise-induced bronchospasms with asthmatics… hopefully he has his rescue inhaler readily available in one hand as he’s pounding away with his pointer finger on the other hand.

    So let’s drop the pretence…k? We are the same person… For the sake of EduFirst’s continued good, yet frail, health. Let’s have a heart…for his lungs.

    HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    RRFL.
    —————————-
    Can you guys please stop pretending that you are from Kahuku or ever played at Kahuku. I know they are good, but do you really have to jump on their bandwagon?

    RRFL. Let me guess, since I write that I must be from Kahuku too? Nah I don’t think so. I actually use data and evidence in my writing.

    It’s amazing that you guys can never compete with me writing objective arguments based solely on science.

    But I guess if I was really dumb like you, I would have to resort to name calling, disguise, and sarcasm. But most people see through your feeble attempt to humor. It is funny, but for the wrong reasons. It’s funny since your intelligence is really low.

    You try to interject high level vocabulary. But you cannot even use it in the right context. You are like that kid on the Program who reads the dictionary. He tries to use big words to impress Halle Berry. But she tells him how foolish he looks since he doesn’t use the words properly. That is you.

    I would give you an English Lesson now, but it would go way over your head. We need to start you off with Babar or Clifford the Big Red Dog.


  34. rrforlifebaby August 22, 2017 1:30 pm

    All this extra fluff.
    I agree, Kahuku, St Louis and Punahou for sure. It’s a toss up for the 4th position between Mililani, Kapolei and Kamehameha.


  35. Toomeke August 22, 2017 1:58 pm

    EduLast. Don’t explain your life…especially your fave reading material.

    Whew!! Your finger must be killing you by now. Take one Aleve and ice it down. And rest is important.

    Stop taking narcotics for your finger pain. That’s overkill…like your posts. Just say no.

    HA!!!


  36. Education First August 23, 2017 9:25 am

    Toomeke August 22, 2017 1:58 pm
    EduLast. Don’t explain your life…especially your fave reading material.

    Whew!! Your finger must be killing you by now. Take one Aleve and ice it down. And rest is important.

    Stop taking narcotics for your finger pain. That’s overkill…like your posts. Just say no.

    HA!!!
    ———————–
    After approximately 4 hours this is what your comeback is?

    1) Don’t explain my life
    2) Fave reading material
    3) My finger is sore and I need an Aleve
    4) Rest is important
    5) Stop taking narcotics

    Wow, you really got me. Your material is so fresh and revolutionary. I don’t know how you can come up with such witty things.

    Yeah, this does prove you are from Kahuku. This is one of the most pathetic comebacks I have ever seen. And it only took you 4 hours to do it.


  37. Education First August 23, 2017 1:06 pm

    @Toomeke – What’s the matter, still no comeback genius? I know my legendary skills with prose is intimidating but I at least expected a lame retort. If you are interested or have the brass ones to meet, I’ll be at the StL vs. Kamehameha game on 9/1 at AStadium. Will have my GPAs>TDs sign and be wearing all black if verbal jousting is more of your forte. Let me know if you need a ride as my personal game day Uber (aka my mom) can provide transportation.

    Signed, The One that All aspire to be.


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