Kahuku meets Waianae in a state football semifinal

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

It wasn’t so long ago, actually. Remnants of the Rural Oahu Interscholastic Association are thriving more than 40 years since the merger with town-side public schools. Waianae. Kahuku. In the 46 years since opening their doors to the then-ILH public entities, these two country schools continue to succeed on the football field.

Top-seeded Kahuku (11-0) and OIA third-place finisher Waianae (9-3) meet on Friday in the first of two semifinal games at the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

For Kahuku success over the decades has been accentuated by OIA and HHSAA titles. The Red Raiders, under first-year head coach Vavae Tata, have redefined the meaning of smashmouth football.

"That’s our DNA like I said on day one when I took this job," the former college assistant coach said. "Ground and pound. If anything happens, we can adjust. Cameron (Renaud) did a great job coming off the bench (against Mililani in the OIA title game)."

While many programs in the OIA have been nourished by a steady diet of dives, traps and counters, Kahuku has demolished opponents with straight-ahead poundage, particularly since a regular-season meeting with Waianae. The double-tight end, two-fullback, H-back (and no wide receiver) formation is offensive coordinator John Hao’s creation, a hybrid of power sets that still use basic and traditional Kahuku running lanes.

Fans still haven’t seen a toss sweep, but they have seen guards who have changed numbers to become sledgehammer blocking tight ends. They’ve seen fullbacks clean out smaller cornerbacks and dime backs.

It might seem unfair, thrusting 2,497 pounds (nine blockers) ahead of wildcat quarterback Kesi Ah-Hoy (1,024 rushing yards, 15 TDs). Running back/QB Harmon Brown has 728 yards and 14 TDs on just 96 carries.

Kahuku had already been bulldozing defenses with power football, scoring 78, 42, 41 and 63 points in the four games prior to the Waianae meeting.

The Red Raiders blanked the Seariders 30-0 on Oct. 3, and have since racked up OIA playoff wins over Kapolei (56-10), Farrington (43-0) and defending champ Mililani (20-7).

Mililani became the first defense to slow Kahuku’s jumbo smashmouth formation to some extent. Ah-Hoy left in the first half and aggravating a previous injury. Coupled with a leg injury to offensive lineman Tamatoa Neher (on a legal cut block), the Big Red attack loses steam and Hao rolls out Renaud in a shotgun, trips set. The kind of look that Hao is better known for with his Saint Louis roots.

Renaud played well, hitting short passes and managing the offense. Mililani’s offense, though, had difficulty moving the ball with starting QB McKenzie Milton out (shoulder). Keala Santiago sparked the secondary with three interceptions in the game.

Kahuku has not been seriously challenged from start to finish in any game so far. Waianae is coming off an opening-round, 21-6 win over MIL champion Baldwin last week at Aloha Stadium.

The game plan for the Seariders likely won’t have drastic changes, if any.

"We watched (on video) what we did against Kahuku. We just weren’t working on execution," first-year head coach Walter Young said of the regular-season loss to Kahuku. "We have to clean up the bad things, clean up the penalties, make tackles and wrap up better."

Waianae has its timely moments of unpredictability. Running back Kade Ambrocio hurled an option pass to Isaiah Freeney for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage during Waianae’s playoff win over Farrington three weeks ago.

Young saw what Mililani did two weeks ago in the OIA final, at times creating mass penetration against Kahuku’s ground game.

"Mililani had a good game plan and Kahuku stuck to what they do. Kahuku showed a spread (formation), but nobody has run that running game like they have," Young said.

Waianae’s wing-T offense has its share of variations, and from time to time, QB Jaren Ulu (1,040 passing yards, nine TDs) lines up in a shotgun set. Fullback Jurick Valdez leads a deep RB corps with 626 yards and four TDs. Running back Javen Towne has 552 yards and a team-high 19 touchdowns, and he is one of the top kick returners in the OIA.

"If they give us a cushion, we’ll throw the ball if we have to," Young said.

Kekaula Kaniho has been a standout at cornerback for Kahuku all season, as is Santiago, who is also a major threat as a kickoff and punt returner. Hirkley Latu, a 6-foot-4, 208-pound senior, has been a swarming nuisance for opposing quarterbacks, using long arms much like Ted "Stork" Hendricks of the Oakland Raiders back in the day.

The Big Red defense has allowed just 39 points in 11 games. Mililani’s TD came on a fumble return, which gives Kahuku six shutouts — something Tata praises his defensive unit for.

"Everybody’s doing their jobs. They’re just fundamentally sound, stopping the run first, not letting any balls get over our heads," Tata said.

He dipped into his background as an assistant coach at several universities to create a blended scheme that his defensive players have fully embraced.

"It’s an onion with layer upon layer. Concepts that go back to Coach (Derek) Mason when I was at Stanford, back to coaches like Dick LeBeau and Chuck Noll, Jimmy Johnson of the (Philadelphia) Eagles. (Dom) Capers," Tata said. "We put our spin on it and simplified it for our kids so they can play fast. They always want me to put in more. It’s so exciting to see our players execute it."

Manaia Atuaia, a third-year starter at linebacker, is one of the key cogs of Kahuku’s front seven.

Kahuku will have Ah-Hoy and Neher back for the biggest game to date.

"Kesi is such a competitive player," Tata said. "He’d play whether he’s 80 percent, 70 percent, 100 percent. That bye week, we took full advantage of it."

If and when Kahuku is engaged in a close game, Kekoa Sasaoka could prove to be a huge edge. The senior has been a touchback machine on kickoffs and has tremendous range on field goals.

The Seariders’ 30-point loss could have Kahuku in a position to be surprised. Maybe.

"We know we’re playing a good team," Young said. "We know the task at hand and we’ll do our best to accomplish that task. It’s a new season and everybody’s equal."

Tata agrees.

"We look at it with a different set of eyes. It’s a whole new season, a clean slate. We have the same approach, attacking this like they’re a new opponent. not looking backward or forward," Tata said. "Waianae is a great team. We have to bring our ‘A’ game."

OIA RIVALRY

Head-to-head (Since 1973): Kahuku leads 25-13-1

Last meeting: Kahuku 30, Waianae 0 (Oct. 3, 2015)

Biggest margin of victory: Kahuku 43, Waianae 0 (Nov. 26, 2005)

Lowest margin of victory: Teams played to 21-21 tie on Sept. 15, 1995

KAHUKU’S SINGLE-GAME LEADERS VS. WAIANAE

Passing: Inoke Funaki, 268 yards (Waianae 12-7, Sept. 22, 2000)

Rushing: Jason Keo, 279 yards (Kahuku 33-20, Nov. 10, 1995)

Receiving: Spencer Hafoka, 183 yards (Kahuku 36-0, Aug. 29, 2003)

WAIANAE’S SINGLE-GAME LEADERS VS. KAHUKU

Passing: Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, 240 yards (Kahuku 45- 20, Oct. 18, 2013)

Rushing: Reed Aken, 150 yards (Waianae 21-0, Oct. 5, 1985)

Receiving: Ikaika Gilman, 134 yards (Kahuku 33-20, Nov. 10, 1995)