Waianae and Saint Louis have a knack for meeting in inaugural events.
When the Prep Bowl was instituted in 1973, legendary Waianae coach Larry Ginoza led the Seariders to a 6-0 win over the Crusaders in the first of eight meetings between the schools in the annual OIA-ILH postseason classic.
Saint Louis has owned the series since. The programs met in the Prep Bowl seven times in a 12-year stretch from 1986 to 1997 during the Crusaders’ decade-plus of dominance.
When the Prep Bowl was replaced by the HHSAA state tournament in 1999, Saint Louis eliminated Waianae in the opening round. The Crusaders also won semifinal matchups in 2000, ’06 and ’07 and again in the 2010 Division I final when Marcus Mariota led the Crusaders to a 36-13 win over the Seariders.
The state tournament’s Open Division was introduced this year and Waianae and Saint Louis will renew their series with a meeting in the semifinals on Friday at Aloha Stadium.
While second-seeded and ILH champion Saint Louis had a bye in the first round, Farrington survived a defensive battle with Farrington and advanced with a 14-8 win on Saturday in Halawa.
Waianae’s defense held Farrington to 75 yards to help the Seariders overcome two interceptions, two fumbles, a blocked punt and a safety. Linebacker Kana’i Mauga led the way with eight total tackles in a collective defensive effort that bottled up prolific Farrington running back Challen Faamatau for 32 yards on 20 carries.
“We gotta go back and fix that against a good Saint Louis team,” Waianae coach Walter Young said of the turnovers. “We’re going to go back to the drawing board, we’re gonna fix those mistakes and we’re gonna get ready for the next one.”
The Seariders and Governors did quite a bit to hamper their own progress with both teams flagged for 10 penalties each for a combined 213 yards.
The Seariders forced punts on Farrington’s first six possessions and held fast when the Governors took over at the Waianae 4 after Iosefo Ah Ching, who had two interceptions, blocked a punt in late in the third quarter. Short runs by Faamatau and Freedom Alualu moved the ball to the 1 and the Seariders stopped Faamatau short on fourth-and-goal.
Three plays later, Farrington broke through with a safety on the first snap of the fourth quarter. The Governors received the free kick and moved to the Waianae 20 before stalling. But the Seariders fumbled the ball away on a handoff at their 13 and Faamatau cashed in this time from two yards out to give Farrington the lead.
Waianae was awarded a fumble recovery when the officials ruled Faamatau lost possession although television replays appeared to show he was down before the ball was torn loose. Two plays later, Javen Towne scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 15-yard run with 4:58 left.
“Our defense balled out the entire game,” said Towne, who ran for 148 yards on 22 carries. “The time needed to come and coach prepped us, our quarterback gave us pep talk and just told us we had to leave it all on the line or else we’re going to go home and and this was going to be it for us.”
Farrington put together one more push with Bishop Rapoza completing two fourth-down passes to extend a drive that reached midfield. But his final throw fell incomplete to give the back to Waianae and Towne picked up a first down that allowed the Seariders to run out the clock.
“No matter how you do it, you gotta play to win or else you go home,” Young said. “That’s the message we preach to our kids and they came up big for us today.”
Go get ‘um Waianae. Hope too see all OIA in the finals. I called that in one earlier comment section. Kahuku and Waianae. Im RR4L but I always cheer for the W when they not playing Kahuku.
@Hau’ulaBoy,
Yup same here, we always cheer for Waianae when they not playing us. Das our cousins from the West Side.
Lets go Waianae, bus um up. Go get um, no scade um.
RR4L c/o87
It’s that type of “D” that can upset STL.
Hit & tackle like Chris Paogofie and you have a chance…
Hau’ulaBoy: you like Waianae win so Kahuku can beat Waianae for the third time Ha, watch for Kapolei 1st, Tagovailoa’s the magic one’s coming up next, you guys brag to much about Kahuku.
Aaahhhhh SHUT UP…………
Wow….. Kahuku’s hate for STL is interesting to witness. Not cheering for either team. going through these articles STL is brought up a lot by a Kahuku fan. Even when they aren’t playing lol
I think its more oia vs ilh do u have fluid on u?
I.B., no worries…Kahuku has a global fan base, which is AWESOME! The comments you read here supporting Kahuku football do NOT represent what their fans or even former players are really about. We have so many good friends that competed at Kahuku and not one of them has ever displayed the kind of arrogance and ignorance you read here. This is just a very tiny fraction of Kahuku ‘fans’ that no one really pays attention to…..
It is very unfortunate that so many adults on these forums are so angry and take away from what all the kids are accomplishing. Even the worst teams in Hawaii should be applauded. Kids are being active and healthy. They are making friendships and learning how to compete. I don’t understand how the anger and hostility. This may sound naive. But is it so hard to support all student athletes from different schools? It is not easy playing any sport nowadays with the academic demands made our children. It’s quite a grind and we should all acknowledge the great things so many kids and teams are doing. Playing sports is much more than winning a title. The teams with the most talent usually win. That doesn’t mean other teams are not successful either.
ILH- I too want Waianae to win, not so that Kahuku can meet them in the final, but for Waianae to win over the ILH and thwart the HHSAA poorly thought through playoff. OIA #4 to Beat ILH #1 would be great. Good luck Waianae, you have improved much the last two years.
I@ILH: I wasnt bragging about anything. Im just cheering for the W. Sorry if you think thats bragging. But country always cheer for country. And yes Kapolei does look like a formidable foe and I wasnt looking past them if thats what you are trying to say. I just would love to see Waianae win. I not scared of nobody.
@Interested Bistander: No one said anything about St. Louis, except that some of us RR4L is cheering for Waianae. Too funny. I didnt say anything hateful towards STL. All I was saying was I cheering for the W. If thats hatin, give me a break. Too funny.
And that’s the one and only comment from Innocent Bystander. Bye Girl
If Waianae was to get past St. Louis it would be a monumental upset. I would love to see it happen, the question is can waianae’s D make some stops and cause turnovers against Tua and co? As for offense can they sustain drives and score? Waianae need to control the line of scrimmage and pound the rock, make the game physical like how Kahuku’s Offense did in last year’s state final.
As for last night game, Waianae looked to be more conditioned then Farrington.
3 out of the last 4 times Waianae played St. Louis the game was close or respectable.
’10 state final: the game was closer then the final score indicated, 36-13. A couple big plays allowed on defense and stalled drives in the red zone hurt the Seariders.
’07 state semifinals: St. Louis smash job, 44-6
’06 state semi finals: 10-7 St. Louis. George Kauwalu and Co. controlled the game until waianae offense gave up a picksix.
’05 preseason: Waianae beat St. Louis 30-20 at Waianae. First time in years and maybe Matsumoto’s highlight victory.
I hope next weeks game is a good one. I don’t think anyone or the media is giving Waianae a chance. Would be great to see an all OIA final in the open and D1 tournaments.
@hauula boy, same here, I always cheer for Kahuku when waianae is not playing them. families and friends have deep connections on both the westside and north shore.
I think Tua and co. will be too much for the Waianae secondary.
Will be interesting to see how St.Louis responds to physical ground game of Waianae.
Punahou looked soft. Wonder if that’s typical ILH wide.
Hope the boys up front can get some pressure on Tua, to help the secondary. Tua is just good though, quick release, rocket arm and scrambling abilities.
Kahuku corralling him in last years final was a credit to their pass rush. It also helps that Kahukus DBs are big and fast; at most schools they’d be playing LB’s.
Kahuku fans, donʻt worry about St.Louis / Waianae, you better worry about Kapolei…..
Kapolei 35
Kahuku 28
Final
Think about that…. no worry about STL/Waiane
Easy work for the CRUSADERS. Waianae is to basic with their offense. Their D is OK but I don’t think they have enough to stop TUAMAN.
CRUSADERS 42
waianae 7
Worry about Kapolei? By the 2nd quarter their front 4 is going to be just like Waianaes and Farringtons front 4. They will be walking. Don’t get me wrong I’m happy for them for beating Punahou but there is no team in this State that will beat Kahuku this year.
Worry about Kapolei? Like other posters, I’m glad they beat Punahou, huge kick in the olos for the ILH fans.
But really, worry about Kapolei? It’s true, they have some ballahs on both sides of the ball, but Big Red got some absolute hammahs. Without a running game to worry about, Kahuku Will get to Taulia; he has yet to play a Defense as good as Big Red’s.
Some one please wake me up when any football team wins 14 straight state titles/prep bowls. And please don’t bring up the “age rule” as an excuse.
Waianae & Kapolei winning their 1st round games only to get murdered in the semi’s.
Waianaes defense gotta score 40 plus points.
Kapolei gotta hope for another ineligible player/ forfeit by Kahuku.
Waianae has to leave their emotions on the bus. They have a very good defense. Nothing like St.Louis have seen this year. They have a brutal running game. Again, nothing like St.Louis have seen this year. If Ulu is back at qb, then it frees up PontesBorge to run or catch. Like last year, 3-4 yards a play and W keeps Tua off the field. No panick.
@ 111 you can wake up now those 14 Prep Bowl Titles no count when kids playing adults
111 November 7, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Some one please wake me up when any football team wins 14 straight state titles/prep bowls. And please don’t bring up the “age rule” as an excuse.
@111. . . While your sleeping Cal Lee still coaching football @STL trynna win more titles cause he don’t live in the past. So you can stay asleep and rub those 14 titles on your chest. . . #SillyRabbit.
Kahuku fans like see waianae in the title because they scared for play the crusaders. Bitch ass fan base. All bridesmaids from the nineties.
Being called a bitch from a guy who’s mama named him Red Panties. Now that’s funny. Not as funny as my clown Education85 but still funny.
@ Red Panties for Life I rather watch a St. Louis vs Kahuku finals than watch Waianae go home with another goose egg for the fourth time in the last two years.
Red panties still living in the 90’s, that’s hell of funny, I wonder if she has a pair of blue ones to match her red one.
Yeah not looking for a 5th goose egg lol, but waianae always had a solid defense and strong running game, but the OC think he get mariota back there hehe… Definitely headed in the right direction but not on offense. Sorry so much talent just being wasted. Sad but true, the players are making the coaches look decent and defense keeps them in games. Praying they wake up and make changes so we can get over that hump of laying eggs and barely producing first downs. Go O.I.A!
@Alpha – Just another sour OIA or Punahou fan.
@Ainokea- I said wake me up when someone wins 14 straight titles. Your reply has no relevance to what i posted.
@111: keep sleeping in your ancient history…which has less than zero relevance with today’s state championships.
zzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz
111- bringing up the “age rule” or more accurately eligibility in 8 consecutive semesters. A past commentator mentioned that there were only 3-5 guy over 18 on the team. I’m willing to bet that there were more than that. Hard to say, St. Louis doesn’t post height and weight stats, let alone birthdays.
Bringing up the age rule. It wasn’t just the age rule, they took the best players. I remember a guy that was two years ahead of me when I was in the sixth grade, but it didn’t dawn on me that he graduated only one year before me.
The ILH only consented to the 8 consecutive semesters of eligibility because they would have been left out of the state tournament. Kinda sucks If you only play with your self and no one else. So they consented, and they are now trying to figure some way to get an advantage.
Hey OIA, consent to a third division, but put in a clause of only 60 players on the team.
I brought up the age rule. On a level playing field, St. Louis is not dominate.
@Too Meke- Of course it has no relevance now because there are no prep bowls anymore. Yes that’s common sense. But it’s still History regardless. Btw what high school do you cheer for?
@- Jason Keuma- what high school do you cheer for?
This week, I’m chearing for Waianae at 4:30 pm.
Cal is overrated, he cant win unless he has some kind of advantage, like the 19yr old seniors on his 14 prep bowls. If im not mistaken a very highly touted athlete at St.Louis right now is going to turn 19 before next June.
Last year Vae Tata schooled Cal on how to scheme a defense and John Hao school Ron Lee on how to win with a limited offense. Both are St. Louis Alum but you know they aint having that kind of success coaching on the RUGGED SLOPES OF AIKAIPOHAKU.
@ Jason Keuma- good luck with that…do u cheer for a different team every week? Or just OIA?
@anywaaaays!!- BTW what high school team do u cheer for?
At 7:30 I’ll be cheering for another team.
I cheer for the same team, when they play. Let’s just say the doors are flung wide.
Go Crusaders and Go Hurricanes, Tagovailo’s brother’s the best.
@111 if St Louis was so good why they haven’t won 14 State Titles like they did in the Prep Bowl days. You can’t talk abt St Louis Prep Bowl Titles without mentioning the age thing.
111 November 7, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Some one please wake me up when any football team wins 14 straight state titles/prep bowls. And please don’t bring up the “age rule” as an excuse.
@111 I’d be very interested to see authentic birth certificates for all the players on Kahuku’s team. When you factor in culture, grade retention, and other stuff I wouldn’t be surprised if there have been students over 20 years old over the past 10-15 years on the Kahuku teams.
AiNoKea November 7, 2016 at 1:35 pm
@ 111 you can wake up now those 14 Prep Bowl Titles no count when kids playing adults
You do know that you are referring to team that had at the most 2-3 players who were older correct? I could understand if it was like 10 or more. I’d be curious to know the real ages of many of these Kahuku kids. The eyes don’t lie.
@ B.C. Really? Why don’t you go to Kahuku and request their birth certificates? You do remember when Kahuku got disqualified because they used a 3rd string ineligible player who was held back in 8th grade. The whole team suffered and had to forfeit their games. They were favored to win the title that year even with Mariota playing for St Louis. Do you really think Kahuku will risk going through that again by using an ineligible player? Don’t think so!
Yeah I think our DBs are in their 20s. I mean have you seen them play. No waite our two RBs who can’t even shave yet are probably 20. That’s why no one can tackle them. No, It’s our QB. He is definitely 20. No way is any 14yr old that fast… lol
don’t forget to VOTE!
@anywaysss and @EF… remember… regardless of your respective multiple personalities disorders…you can only vote ONCE!
HA!!!!
RRFL!
Get some straight dumb ass” on here. My name is red panty for life is to mock Kahuku u dumb shits. Keep knocking on coconuts to find out your future and building tikis to rip off the tourists. U small minded bastards.
I have noticed that when someone can not reinforce their argument, they raise their voice.
I enjoy reading the comments, both serious and playful, but the name calling is not necessary.