Kalani's homecoming rescheduled after no refs show up for the game
Oct. 12—If you build it, they will come.
When Kalaheo and Kalani gathered to play their game at Kaiser Stadium last weekend, homecoming festivities were about to start. Falcon nation was in full regalia. But nothing, no homecoming game happens without the referees.
If you build it, they will come.
When Kalaheo and Kalani gathered to play their game at Kaiser Stadium last weekend, homecoming festivities were about to start. Falcon nation was in full regalia. But nothing, no homecoming game happens without the referees.
The Oahu Interscholastic Association, one of the largest leagues in the nation, made a boo-boo. No referees were assigned to the game. In all the years, the decades of gridiron greatness, this was more than a rarity. Fans were perplexed, the teams got back on their buses and fans scratched their heads. Athletic directors were on their phones trying to figure out what happened.
It was a mistake. A heartbreaking mistake for all involved. The game has been rescheduled for Oct. 20 with free admission at Kaiser Stadium. The OIA issued an apology to both schools, and protocols to prevent a repeat mistake have been implemented by the league's administrators.
There are players whose relatives flew in for the special occasion. The OIA refunded all spectators at the game. Bus rentals have to be paid. There is simply the hope and expectation that the mistake won't happen again.
It was a long night for longtime Kalani athletic director Greg Van Cantfort. It has also been a long week of conversations with parents, who have been understanding for the most part. A few are still irate.
"It was very unfortunate situation. I feel for our kids, I feel for our parents. I feel for everyone that was impacted in some way by the ultimate decision that we had to postpone the game, " he said. "We contacted the OIA. They owned up to the mistake, acknowledged it and apologized. They've put steps in place to prevent this from ever happening again. They've rescheduled the game. The kids will have the opportunity to play."
This hasn't been the easiest of seasons for Kalani football. Coach Radford Dudoit continues to heal in the hospital after near-fatal complications from heart surgery. A senior-heavy team with high hopes is 2-3 in OIA Division II play. The Falcons can stay in the hunt with a win over first-place Pearl City—which has already clinched the top seed for the upcoming playoffs.
Kalaheo is also 2-3 and needs a win over Kaiser this weekend to stay in the playoff chase. Mustangs coach Jaymason Lee was a standout quarterback at Castle before matriculating to college football.
"We lucked out where we could play (Kalani ) next week. The only downfall is one of us makes the playoffs and we won't have a bye week to rest, " he said. "A lot of planning, money and coordinating went into Kalani's homecoming. We felt for them. We had a successful homecoming so we can only imagine if it had happened to us."
Football in 2023 is about adaptation.
"We've had two Thursday games. We were supposed to play Roosevelt, and they rescheduled us to have adequate rest. We were the odd man out, but they've been coordinating correctly this whole time, " Lee said. "They just made one minor mistake. Everybody makes mistakes. They've been doing a great job this whole time. We've adjusted to our schedule changes and our parents have done a great job."
Lee was grateful that his team went back to campus after the postponement, had dinner and went home with no injuries.
"My biggest thing is we can only control what we control. It's not a big deal unless you make it a big deal. I have a great support group with my parents and my admin. We've adjusted well. That's going to transfer to the kids, how we respond, " he said. "The OIA is making it right, trying their best. We didn't lose a game and everyone got their refund. It's just sad."
No ties in prep football unless ...
When Nanakuli and Moanalua finished regulation tied at 21, the expectation was that an extra period would ensue. Instead, officials called the game.
According to league rules, the game was supposed to go to overtime. Ties are allowed in junior varsity football, but not varsity.
Moanalua is 1-3-1 in Open Division play. Nanakuli is 0-4-1 in D-I play.
A game sent into the void Waianae and Castle don't meet often on the football field, but last weekend, for just the second time in eight years, they were slated to battle at the Knights' field.
Castle planned to go all out for homecoming, a D-I program hosting an Open Division squad. The game was canceled long before kickoff, on Oct. 2, due to safety concerns stemming from social media posts. On Sept. 28, Castle had a lockdown after school. Waianae investigated a potential threat on its campus on Sept. 29.
The game will not be made up. Waianae is 1-3 in OIA Open play (1-6 overall ). Castle (1-4, 0-4 ) will have homecoming on Friday against Radford.
Waianae will visit Kapolei on Saturday.
The lowest teams on the totem pole in OIA D-I are candidates to move down to D-II. Aiea (0-5 ), which travels to Nanakuli (0-4-1 ) on Friday, currently trails the Golden Hawks in the Pool A standings. Castle (0-4 ) and Radford (0-5 ) will battle for the right to stay in D-I.
OPEN DIVISION STATISTICS PASSING Player, team C A I Yd TD Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Camp. 169 258 6 2, 314 20 Kaunaoa Kamakawiwoole, St.L 151 239 13 1, 913 15 Kini McMillan, Mililani 118 166 2 1, 732 24 Ty McCutcheon, Punahou 114 168 4 1, 709 14 Tama Amisone, Kapolei 101 176 4 1, 492 25 Tayden-Evan Kaawa, Moanalua 71 147 13 836 8 Jevin Bolos-Reyes, Kamehameha 28 44 2 613 7 Tuli Tagovailoa-Amosa, Kahuku 50 80 2 603 11 Maximum Kahalawai-Sapigao, Waian. 42 93 3 435 2 Sitani Suguturaga, Kahuku 21 28 2 363 5 RUSHING Player, team Att. Yds TD YPC YPG Vaaimalae Fonoti, Kahuku 92 744 11 8.1 106.3 Tama Amisone, Kapolei 62 599 8 9.7 85.6 Nakoa Kahana-Travis, Mililani 50 494 8 9.9 70.6 Keola Apduhan, Saint Louis 77 413 7 5.4 59.0 Moe Passi, Kamehameha 77 399 8 5.2 66.5 Chase Camarillo, Kapolei 47 345 5 7.3 57.5 Reeno Teo, Kapolei 30 329 1 11.0 82.3 Alika Idica, Waianae 75 317 2 4.2 45.3 Dayton Kuhiiki, Waianae 55 270 1 4.9 54.0 James Steffany-Flame, Camp. 38 256 6 6.7 32.0 RECEIVING Player, team Rec. Yds TD YPC YPG Titan Lacaden, Saint Louis 63 853 10 13.5 121.9 Kaina Kamohalii, Kapolei 46 775 12 16.8 110.7 Astin Hange, Punahou 30 587 4 19.6 97.8 Rusten Abang, Campbell 32 488 2 15.3 61.0 Diezel Kamoku, Kahuku 25 384 6 15.4 54.9 Davyn Joseph, Mililani 16 376 6 23.5 62.7 Tana Togafau-Tavui, Campbell 26 373 5 14.3 74.6 Zayden Alviar-Costa, Campbell 26 366 3 14.1 45.8 Zion White, Punahou 18 350 5 19.4 58.3 Kama Corales, Moanalua 24 345 4 14.4 57.5 DIVISION I STATISTICS PASSING Player, team C A I Yd TD Elijah Mendoza, Waipahu 80 120 1 1, 256 18 AJ Tuifua, Damien 72 118 7 1, 227 16 CJ Villanueva, Iolani 89 113 1 1, 156 17 Romeo Ortiz, Kailua 92 173 8 1, 125 9 Hanohano Plunkett, Leilehua 95 170 8 1, 071 8 Kanoa Torres, Nanakuli 92 173 9 773 6 Afi Togafau, Radford 78 127 6 652 5 Joshua Manu, Waipahu 41 67 1 650 5 MJ Moreno, Farrington 38 79 2 466 2 Nai Kalauokaaea, Castle 38 83 5 401 2 RUSHING Player, team Att. Yds TD YPC YPG Sitani Mikaele, Farrington 130 999 14 7.7 142.7 Cole Northington, Leilehua 158 801 8 5.1 100.1 Christian Asinsin, Nanakuli 120 539 7 4.5 77.0 Sylas Alaimalo, Damien 47 438 2 9.3 146.0 Ikaika Quidashay, Kailua 59 338 2 5.7 48.3 Kristian Yamamoto, Kailua 33 250 3 7.6 50.0 Camren Flemister, Leilehua 40 249 4 6.2 35.6 Aniel Teleaai, Waipahu 31 234 4 7.5 58.5 Romeo Ortiz, Kailua 39 211 4 5.4 26.4 Ikaika Kuaana-Lacno, Farr. 36 210 2 5.8 35.0 RECEIVING Player, team Rec. Yds TD YPC YPG Eric Stephens, Waipahu 38 765 9 20.1 109.3 Timothy Arnold, Leilehua 46 742 7 16.1 92.8 Jayden Chanel, Waipahu 36 495 8 13.8 70.7 Dayton Savea, Damien 29 494 8 17.0 123.5 Kekame Kane, Iolani 30 486 7 16.2 121.5 Tai Aipia-Barrett, Waipahu 27 456 4 16.9 65.1 Aizek Kaanoi, Kailua 34 392 4 11.5 56.0 Jacob Sullivan, Radford 34 368 3 10.8 61.3 Richard Federico, Nanakuli 22 351 4 16.0 58.5 Chansen Smith, Farrington 20 298 4 14.9 42.6 DIVISION II STATISTICS PASSING Player, team C A I Yd TD Trey Dacoscos, Pearl City 151 258 7 1, 818 21 Iosefa Letuli, Kaimuki 119 203 3 1, 562 14 Sean Connell, Kaiser 103 185 11 1, 196 9 Ioane Kamanao, Roosevelt 79 155 6 1, 130 13 Emey Abilla, Waialua 66 131 11 841 5 Jude Weber, Kalaheo 53 134 11 783 6 Kynan McCartney, Kalani 58 137 8 693 6 Colten Amai-Nakagawa, Pac-Five 48 95 6 317 0 Iosua Sefo, McKinley 17 43 7 217 1 Mana Ka'io, McKinley 18 46 3 205 0 RUSHING Player, team Att. Yds TD YPC YPG Dillon Reis, Kaiser 93 547 6 5.9 91.2 Seth Miller, Pac-Five 95 425 2 4.5 106.3 Iosefa Letuli, Kaimuki 94 384 7 4.1 48.0 Sonny Iaea, Kalani 93 357 4 3.8 59.5 Makoakai Fierro, Waialua 106 356 5 3.4 50.9 Zechariah Kuratsu-Cook, Kaim. 89 326 4 3.7 54.3 Marcus Sasaki, Kalaheo 81 323 3 4.0 64.6 Mana Lale-Saole, McKinley 98 292 1 3.0 48.7 Kalei Akiona, Roosevelt 69 272 3 3.9 34.0 Sean Connell, Kaiser 69 256 5 3.7 36.6 RECEIVING Player, team Rec. Yds TD YPC YPG Keagan Lime, Kaiser 47 598 7 12.7 85.4 Jeremiah White, Kaimuki 44 575 8 13.1 71.9 Jayvie Arellano, Waialua 27 454 3 16.8 64.9 Keaton Tomas, Pearl City 30 427 4 14.2 71.2 Jesse Shinagawa, Kaiser 36 403 1 11.2 57.6 Taimane Souza-Fautanu, Roos. 27 380 4 14.1 54.3 Kamalu Jordan, Kalaheo 18 361 3 20.1 72.2 Tobias Vazquez, Pearl City 22 343 7 15.6 49.0 Ezekiel Kuiee-Matias, Kaimuki 13 337 3 25.9 67.4 Keawe Davis, Roosevelt 23 329 3 14.3 54.8 STANDINGS ILH Team Conf. Pct. PF PA Overall Pct. PF PA Open Punahou 2-0 1.000 73 31 5-2.714 256 140 Saint Louis 1-1.500 68 63 3-4.429 195 248 Kamehameha 0-2.000 24 71 4-3.571 182 149 Division I 'Iolani 4-0 1.000 189 84 5-1.833 248 117 Damien 3-1.750 194 117 5-3.625 334 269 Division II Pac-Five 2-2.500 36 70 2-2.500 36 70------Saint Louis I-AA 2-2.500 102 75 3-3.500 136 158 Kamehameha I-AA 2-3.400 73 119 2-3.400 73 119 Punahou I-AA 0-5.000 47 176 0-5.000 47 176 OIA /D1 A Standings Team Conf. Pct. PF PA Overall Pct. PF PA Kahuku 5-0 1.000 208 34 8-1.889 347 129 Campbell 4-1.800 200 58 6-2.750 314 135 Farrington 4-2.667 184 133 5-2.714 228 147 Leilehua 3-2.600 119 130 4-4.500 164 207 Moanalua 1-3-1.300 82 155 1-5-1.214 89 251 Nanakuli 0-4-1.100 56 207 1-5-1.214 136 274 Aiea 0-5.000 31 163 1-6.143 64 238 OIA /D1 B Standings Team Conf. Pct. PF PA Overall Pct. PF PA Mililani 5-0 1.000 301 14 7-1.875 390 41 Kapolei 4-1.800 231 108 6-2.750 314 180 Waipahu 4-1.800 259 111 4-3.571 308 211 Kailua 3-3.500 129 201 4-4.500 174 232 Waianae 1-3.250 69 123 1-6.143 84 243 Castle 0-4.000 25 213 1-4.200 42 226 Radford 0-5.000 35 276 0-6.000 49 220 OIA Division II standings Team Conf. Pct. PF PA Overall Pct. PF PA Pearl City 6-0 1.000 178 98 7-0 1.000 220 110 Kaiser 4-2.667 128 96 4-3.571 141 113 Roosevelt 4-2.667 144 82 5-3.625 208 130 Kaimuki 3-3.500 152 161 3-5.375 190 258 Kalani 2-3.400 71 66 3-3.500 99 72 Kalaheo 2-3.400 133 123 2-3.400 133 123 Waialua 2-4.333 121 125 3-5.375 152 179 McKinley 0-6.000 19 195 0-7.000 19 229 THIS WEEK'S GAMES—Kamehameha vs. Saint Louis at Farrington, 7 p.m.—Radford at Castle, 7 p.m.—Aiea at Nanakuli, 7 :30 p.m.—Kalani at Pearl City, 7 p.m.—Moanalua at Campbell, 7 :30 p.m.—McKinley vs. Kaimuki at Roos., 4 p.m.—Waialua at Roosevelt, 7 p.m.—Kamehameha I-AA vs. Saint Louis I-AA at Farrington, 4 p.m.
Saturday—'Iolani vs. Damien at Farrington, 6 p.m.—Kalaheo at Kaiser, 6 p.m.—Leilehua at Kahuku, 6 :30 p.m.—Waianae at Kapolei, 6 :30 p.m.—Waipahu at Mililani, 6 :30 p.m.
Compiled by Billy Hull, Star-Advertiser
