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Marauders win battle of backs
It was a duel that wasn’t.
When Waipahu met Kalaheo on Saturday, it featured two prolific running backs in Victor Moananu and Jesse Carney. Instead, with four offensive linemen out of the lineup, Kalaheo handed Carney the ball just seven times for 24 yards.
Rather than struggle against Waipahu’s physical front seven, coach Chris Mellor opted to keep Carney healthy and air out the ball to his tall receivers.
Short-term picture, Moananu rushed for 214 yards, Kalaheo’s aerial attack was grounded in the second half and the visiting Marauders rallied for a 31-20 win. Big picture, Kalaheo’s line will regroup and Carney, who had more than 900 rushing yards coming into the game, will run another day.
Musical chairs in tough ILH
Though Kahuku and Moanalua remain the elite programs in the OIA in girls volleyball, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu has been a fall series hit with drama from upstarts Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific and University.
University made plenty of noise on the court in preseason, but MPI’s upset win over Punahou three weeks ago opened plenty of eyes. On Saturday, Maryknoll surprised then-No. 6 ‘Iolani, while Mid-Pacific swept UHS in two close sets.
Factor in the ascension of St. Francis and Sacred Hearts, plus always-tough Hawaii Baptist.
And then there were 2
With Kauai’s 24-13 loss to Kapaa on Saturday, the undefeated dwindled to two.
Top-ranked Kahuku again was a unanimous pick by media and coaches in the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10. The other unbeaten? Pearl City, of the Oahu Interscholastic Association White (Division II).
The Chargers are 6-0 overall, including a 14-7 win over Kapolei in mid-August.
The defensive-minded team, led in large part by senior dual threats Cyrus Coen and Ray Cooper, picked up its fifth league win over Waialua.
For all their success, cracking the Top 10 has been difficult. Some of it may have to do with Kapolei’s struggle (1-6 overall); the Hurricanes were the only D-I foe on the schedule.
The toughest part of the slate is just ahead: Waipahu, Kalaheo and Kaimuki.
