Chase for the Championship
Rested Rams to square off with battle-tested Wildcats Saturday




The battle at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium Saturday will feature two teams that boast the best offenses in Division II.

Radford, ranked No. 1 in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division II Power Rankings, will take on third-ranked Konawaena in the semifinal round of the First Hawaiian Bank/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II Football Championships.

The Rams (11-0), champions of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, cruised through its league schedule and was awarded a first round bye in the tourney. It was their first weekend off since a forfeit victory over Anuenue on Aug. 15.

"I think it's a testament to our young men and their hard work, buying into our coaches' philosophy and what we've been teaching the whole season," said Radford coach Fred Salanoa. "Success doesn't come easy. It doesn't come without hard work, and that's kind of been our saying this year."

Radford comes into the matchup averaging 39.3 points per game with 358.1 yards of total offense and has outscored its opponents by 37.8 points per game.

"We had two goals in mind at the start of the year," said Salanoa. "The first was to win the OIA championship, and our second goal was to win the state championship. Whatever comes in between we just have to take it in stride. We're very fortunate to be in the situation that we're in."

Unlike past Radford teams, this year's squad has taken a run-first mindset on offense, averaging 254.4 yards on the ground a game. The running back tandem of Ace Faumui and Kodi Ongory-Mathias have combined for 1977 yards and 27 touchdowns on the year.

It's not like the Rams lack options in the passing game however. All-purpose Blaise Manabe has caught 23 passes for 348 yards and six TDs while Division I FBS prospect Thomas Reid has 18 receptions for 302 yards and five scores. Wideout Solomon Loggins also has seven catches for 150 yards and three TDs while Jake Walter has caught eight passes for 83 yards. Quarterback Quintin Iriarte directs the offense and has completed 64 of his 130 passes for 921 yards and 14 scores.

"I think that's the luxury that we have at Radford in this 2015 season," said Salanoa. "We have a lot of weapons that we can utilize and at any given point, any one of those guys can have a breakout game."

As electric as their offense has been, the Radford defense has been the backbone of the team all season long. With defensive tackle Dillon Sunday and middle linebacker Jordan Walker leading the unit, the Rams have held opponents to 4.7 points per game with three shutouts. 

"I think that's why we're in the position that we're in and why we won the OIA," Salanoa said. "Although I'm more of an offensive mind as a former quarterback, I am a firm believer that defense wins championships. We've always kind of lean on our defense to get us through games and get us out of bad situations. They deserve a lot of credit."

The Rams' defensive unit will be put to the test when it takes on a Konawaena offense that averages 37.3 points per game with 389 yards of total offense.

The Wildcats (10-1), winners of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, is coming off an opening round 42-33 win over Damien.

"It feels awesome for these kids, for the community and for all the past teams of Konawaena," said first-year Konawaena coach Brad Uemoto. "We have so much history just at is. To add to the legacy that's all ready there is something special for this group of players and coaches."

Konawaena held a 39-12 lead through three quarters before weathering a late Damien charge to notch its first ever win in the state tournament.

"A lot of people ask us ‘did we get comfortable,' but no we didn't," said Uemoto. "Basically we gave Damien some opportunities in the second half and they capitalized. In high school sports momentum takes big swings and we were on the wrong end of it. Fortunately we found a way to stop the bleeding."

WHAT: 13th Annual First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II Football State Championships, semifinals
WHO: Konawaena Wildcats (11-1/BIIF Champion) vs. Radford Rams (11-0/OIA champion)
WHEN: Saturday, 5 p.m.
WHERE: Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium at Roosevelt High School
TICKETS: Adults $7, students (grades K-12) $5, seniors (62-and-over w/ID) $5
STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY—Konawaena: Sixth appearance (fifth in Division II) (1999, 2008, 2011-’13, 2015), 1-5 all-time record. Radford: Fourth appearance (2005, 2008, 2012, 2015), 4-3 all-time record.

Although the opening round of Division I tournament was one-sided, both Division II contests were competitive and decided by less than 10 points.

"I think it just comes down to who plays the best that night and who makes the most mistakes," said Uemoto. "I think there's not one team that's just head and shoulders above the rest. To me it feels like we always have a chance. If we play our best game that night then anything can happen.

The Wildcats will use their speed to counteract the size advantage that the Rams hold over them.

"A lot of people comment to me about their size," said Uemoto. "They're definitely a big enrollment school in the OIA and some say this Radford team could play in Division II. We sort of had the same draw a few years back when we played Kaiser. Our edge on everything has always been our speed."

Konawaena was able to win all of its four games against BIIF Division I opponents this season.

"We played Hilo, Waiakea and Kealakehe and they all had big kids on their team," said Uemoto. "I think for us our schedule helps us a little bit, knowing we played Division I teams that are bigger and just knowing that we can overcome that physical difference."

Uemoto says a shootout against the Rams will favor his team over a low-scoring affair.

"We're comfortably offensively to be able to score quick and I think Radford's offense is built a little more to wear you down and take advantage of what you're giving them," he said. "I think their high points per game is definitely a result of their defense and good field position."

The winner between the two teams will take on either Lahainaluna or Kapaa in the Division II title game on Nov. 20.



Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




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