Hurricanes head west

In a weekend of interisland hopping by several football teams, the OIA regular season has a Leeward Coast clash of titans.

Kapolei and Waianae, now that’s one heck of a way to kick off the season. The varsity game will begin around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at Raymond Torii Field.

The Hurricanes, ranked No. 5 in the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10, are the favorites in the Red Division coming off a 23-7 win over neighboring Campbell. That contest had no bearing on the regular-season standings, but it gave coach Darren Hernandez and his staff a clear picture of where the ’Canes are in early August.

That picture reveals the expected: an immensely talented, physical team that is loaded defensively. Six Hurricanes defenders have Division I college scholarship offers. The offense isn’t too shabby either, with hulking Julius Buelow in the trenches. The list of prospects makes Kapolei a destination for many college recruiters.

“I was encouraged by our first game, a lot of guys making their first starts,” Hernandez said. “As a coach I have to be cautious.”

But still, it’s hard to match what Kapolei has on the field.

>> Kukea Emmsley, linebacker, 6-foot-5, 230 pounds: The former Damien player has nine offers: Air Force, Army, Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Idaho, Navy, Oregon and Oregon State. He committed to Boise State on July 26.

>> Aaron Faumui, defensive tackle, 6-2, 280: Faumui was a sophomore at Radford when the Rams won the D-II state title. He transferred to the mainland but returned this year, enrolling at Kapolei. He has offers from Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii, New Mexico, Utah State and Wisconsin.

>> Rocky Savea, linebacker, 6-1, 200: Despite a knee injury last year, he has rehabbed and has offers from Oregon State and Texas Tech.

>>Junior Tula, defensive lineman, 6-2, 270: He has an offer from Fresno State.

>> Buelow, offensive lineman, 6-7, 300: He is only a junior, another former Damien player. He transferred to Kapolei this year and has 11 scholarship offers: Arizona State, BYU, Fresno State, Hawaii, New Mexico State, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah, Utah State and Washington State.

>>Treven Ma‘ae, defensive end, 6-4, 220: Like Buelow, Ma‘ae is an 11th-grader. He already has four offers: Arizona State, Hawaii, Navy and Utah State.

>> Bam Amina, linebacker, 6-1, 200: Amina is just a sophomore. He has an offer from San Jose State.

Having six defensive players worthy of FBS scholarship offers could make up for the departure of several key starters, including All-State defensive tackle Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (Notre Dame).

Meanwhile, Waianae is patiently developing a lineup that lost most of its starters from a successful 2016 season. All-State defensive end/linebacker Kana‘i Mailo is back, swarming sideline to sideline for a relatively inexperienced defensive unit. All-State running back Rico Rosario did not play in last week’s 49-7 loss to No. 1 Saint Louis, and there’s no official word about his return. Coach Walter Young told Hawaii Prep World’s Nick Abramo that Rosario sat out due to violation of a team rule, but that he may return soon. Even with Rosario, who churned out 1,453 yards and 17 touchdowns from scrimmage as a junior, the Seariders are laying a foundation up front.

“We try to just work on ourselves,” Seariders coach Walter Young said. “If we can work on playing as a team and as a family, getting better every day, when the time comes, we’re going to get to that potential. If we’re resilient and stick together and help each other out, we’re going to get better as we go.”

Hernandez would be surprised if Rosario does not suit up and play.

“Waianae always in the beginning of the season they don’t have their whole schemes in like a lot of the OIA teams. I expect them to be much improved this Saturday when they install everything, their game plan is in order, and I expect their guys back,” Hernandez said. “I expect Rico to play.”

Offensively, the era without Taulia Tagovailoa — and offensive coordinator June Jones — is officially underway. New QB Kaniala Kahaola threw the ball 39 times against Campbell for 221 yards and three touchdowns. He was also picked three times in his first varsity start.

“I’ll feel better if we can put it together at a very tough place to play. He looked really good at times and at times his inexperience showed. He did a good job with the mechanics, staying in the pocket,” Hernandez said.

The offense is missing running back Josh Kansana, who is hindered by a knee injury for a second season in a row, and wide receiver Isaiah Ahana, who missed last week’s game for breaking a team rule.

OTHER FRIDAY GAMES

Leilehua at Kahuku, 7:30 p.m.

There’s a fundamental truth about Kahuku football. The Red Raiders just don’t lose at home. Carleton Weimer Field has been off-limits to visitor success. But the Leilehua Mules have a mobile quarterback in Kona Andres and just enough grit to possibly make this a tougher battle than expected against the defending OIA champions.

Andres had his moments as a junior, wheeling and dealing for 19 TDs along with 18 interceptions. In 13 games, he racked up 2,242 passing yards, scrambling for four more TDs.

In a nail-biter 13-9 win over St. Francis last week, Andres passed for 139 yards and a TD while the Mules finished with negative rushing yardage. James McGary led the receiving corps with six grabs for 47 yards. First-year head coach Mark Kurisu and staff would like Andres to take fewer hits this fall, especially against a defensive unit as superb as Kahuku’s.

The Red Raiders permitted a mere 36 points in 10 league games last season. The only OIA team to reach double-digits against Kahuku? Leilehua, in a 49-15 loss. With Vavae Tata now gone after two years, the Big Red defense remains formidable under first-year head coach Makana Freitas, at least in scrimmage action.

Mililani at Kaiser

The game has been forfeited by Kaiser because of low roster numbers. Mililani will host Leilehua and Castle in the next two weekends before flying to California to play Clayton Valley Charter School (Sept. 1).

Farrington at Campbell, 7:30 p.m.

The Governors and Sabers are in similar development stages. The Govs were within 14-9 before losing to Kamehameha 34-15 last week.

While the Govs struggled on the ground against a stout Warriors defense — 57 yards on 31 attempts — Campbell had some success against a dominant Kapolei defense. Jacob Covington finished with 71 rushing yards on 12 carries as first-year Sabers head coach Darren Johnson found some balance. Campbell QB Krenston Kaipo connected with Vernon Etrata-Daite five times as the Sabers were nearly 50-50 in run-pass ratio.

Kailua vs. Moanalua at Radford, 7:30 p.m.

If there are two slightly mysterious squads in the midst of OIA football, they may be the Surfriders and Na Menehune. Last season was a rough road for Joe Wong’s Kailua squad, which lost its QB to injury and saw RB Mark Lagazo — their third-string QB — carry the load as the signal-caller. He did all he could: 1,203 yards from scrimmage, nine passing TDs, nine rushing TDs with just six picks. An upset win over Mililani was a highlight in an otherwise difficult season.

Moanalua is coming off a 35-7 preseason loss to Punahou.

McKinley at Roosevelt, 6 p.m.

For McKinley and first-year Tigers head coach Pat Silva, the process starts from the bottom. The program has lost 25 games in a row, including last week’s 27-7 loss to Pac-Five, though there is hope. Last year’s squad was fairly competitive in the second season of then-coach Sam Cantiberos.

Roosevelt is in its second year under Kui Kahooilihala. The former longtime assistant coach runs a tight ship, and the program has grown more competitive. One of the coaches at Roosevelt prior to Kahooilihala: Pat Silva.

SATURDAY GAMES

Baldwin vs. Saint Louis, at Aloha Stadium, 3:30 p.m.

The Crusaders looked in midseason form during last week’s win at Waianae. Chevan Cordeiro didn’t play like a typical first-time starting QB. He passed for 153 yards and one score, but his field vision and elusiveness were immeasurable. Waianae’s secondary had its share of solid coverage, but Cordeiro never stopped taking every opportunity to gain yardage with his legs. He ran for 63 yards and two TDs.

Kamehameha at Lahainaluna, 3 p.m.

The Lunas came to Pearl City last week and left with a 20-7 victory. Now they get a challenge against a D-I program, a Top 10 team that overwhelmed Farrington last week.

Lahainaluna returns a number of key contributors to last year’s D-II state championship team. Etuati Storer runs the multi-faceted wing offense. Siale Hafoka had an interception in the win over Pearl City.

Hilo at ‘Iolani, 1 p.m.

The Vikings have traditionally been stacked with tough linebackers, run-stuffers from Hilo and Keaukaha. That makes this a unique matchup with the Raiders, who will continue to spread the field to set up the run.

Hilo remains in Division I of the BIIF, while ‘Iolani moved down from ILH D-I. The Raiders declared for D-II, the lowest of three tiers, at the state tournament.

Kauai vs. St. Francis at Punahou, 1:30 p.m.

Are the Red Raiders back? The one-time dynasty football program of the KIF has taken a back seat to Kapaa in recent years, but last week’s 10-7 win over BIIF D-II power Kamehameha-Hawaii was a proper start to the 2017 season.

This is a potentially major turning point for the Saints, who battled strong last season in ILH D-II and lost a thriller at Leilehua last week.

Waipahu vs. Kalaheo

Kalaheo will forfeit the game because of low numbers, putting its season opener on hold.

The Marauders beat Nanakuli 51-14 last week. Kalaheo beat Kamehameha-Maui with a roster of 19.

Castle at Radford, 6:30 p.m.

The Knights got 201 passing yards and a TD from quarterback Jaylen Uyemura-Lee last week in a 42-7 loss to Damien. Makana Smith and Elijah Catrett were his key receivers.

The Rams won the D-II state title in ’15, the final season of then-head coach Fred Salanoa, then went 0-7 last season in OIA D-I.

Pearl City vs. Kalani at Roosevelt, 5:30 p.m.

The Chargers held their own defensively against defending D-II state champion Lahainaluna last week. The Falcons are coming off a 4-3 season in OIA D-II and have returning quarterback Seth Tina-Soborano, who passed for 1,342 yards, 11 TDs and just two picks.

Pac-Five vs. Waimea at Hanapepe Stadium, 7 p.m.

A.J. Ulufale played a key role in last week’s win over McKinley for the Wolfpack. Ulufale caught five passes for 77 yards and a TD, all from Tyler Fukuroda, a first-year starter at QB.

Waialua vs. Kaimuki at Skippa Diaz Stadium, 6:30 p.m.

Waialua’s Bulldogs have high hopes after winning the OIA D-II crown last season. They opened the season with a 16-6 loss last week at Waiakea.

David Tautofi is in his third season as head coach at Kaimuki, which has plenty of beef in the trenches and plenty of skill at QB and WR, but not much depth.

Damien at Kealakehe, 6 p.m.

Eddie Klaneski’s program finally broke through the ceiling last year, taking the ILH D-II title and reaching the semifinals of the state tourney.

Nanakuli at Aiea, 6:30 p.m.

Nathan Kipi passed for 177 yards and a TD in the loss to Waipahu last week. Joey Vea-Quitog and Sinai Robello combined for 13 receptions and 146 yards.

Na Alii coach Wendell Say begins his 26th season. He has 16 returning starters from a squad that lost to Leilehua in the opening round of the OIA D-I playoffs.