Steve Erler | SL

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Mililani athletic director Glenn Nitta said on Monday afternoon that electricians discovered part of the reason why power at John Kauinana Stadium failed to remain on during Saturday night's non-league game against Saint Louis.

"They came and found out that one of the light poles on the Waianae side is what is causing the problem, so they have to come back and find out which pole it is and then from there work it out," Nitta said.

The initial power outage occurred about seven minutes prior to the 6:30 p.m. scheduled kickoff between the Crusaders and Trojans. Despite numerous attempts by school staff to restore power, the main circuit breaker tripped each time. Just as the last rays of sunshine disappeared behind the Waianae mountain range, officials suspended the game at the end of the first quarter — at 7:02 p.m.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. the official call was made to cancel the game by the school administration after it was apparent the lights would not remain on.

"This has never happened; it's the first time in 40 years," Nitta said. "Usually the scoreboard would trip or the concession lights would trip, but never the stadium lights … and it had to be a big game, too."

Nitta wasn't the only one left disappointed.

"I think it's disappointing for both teams because you put a lot of time and effort to go out there and really play the game to find out how you're going to be in a season," Saint Louis coach Cal Lee said. "You're disappointed that it happened, but things happen and for the safety of the players and everybody's health, it was the right thing to do, but you move on in preparation for the weeks coming up. We've got another game coming up in a few weeks, so you've just got to look forward."

Because the game was a non-league contest and the teams do not have a coinciding open date, the game will not be made up and the statistics do not officially count.

Nitta said crews are returning to Kauinana Stadium on Tuesday to resume work. The Trojans are scheduled to host Kaiser in their Oahu Interscholastic Association opener Saturday night.

"They'll let me know as soon as possible if we will be able to play here Saturday, but we won't know that until Tuesday or Wednesday. If not, we will have to look at playing somewhere else," Nitta said.

If Saturday's game is moved to another site — possibly Leilehua's Hugh Yoshida Stadium — it would be the first time in 39 years that a Mililani home game was not played on campus. The Trojans played football games at Waipahu during their first three varsity seasons from 1975 to 1977, while the stadium was being constructed. 

RAMS' FIRST TRUE HOME GAME IN SIGHT
Radford opened its 2016 season with a home game … away from home.

The defending D2 state champion Rams hosted Iolani (and lost, 42-6) in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Aiea Saturday. Pac-Five walloped McKinley, 49-0, in the early game.

There is good news, however, for Radford and first-year coach Lon Passos. After more than two seasons of playing home at nearby Aiea, the end is in sight.

Athletic director Kelly Sur said on Monday that he fully expects the Rams' next home game on Aug. 26 against Kaiser to be held at John Velasco Stadium.

"We'll be ready," Sur said.

The last game held at Velasco Stadium was on Oct. 13, 2013, a 7-6 loss to Pearl City. After the conclusion of that season, a new synthetic track was to be installed, but during construction work dangerous levels of contaminants — including arsenic, mercury and lead — were found several feet below the surface. That pushed the re-opening of the stadium well past its originally-scheduled date of July of 2015. The ordnances were removed and the natural grass surface re-sodded.

The reason that last Saturday's season-opening doubleheader was moved to Aiea was a separate issue, Sur said.

"Our mauka lights are still not working, so we're just waiting for that," Sur said. "Other than that we're good to go. The field itself is fine."

Before it hosts Kaiser on Aug. 26, Radford will visit Castle Friday night in its first Division I regular-season game since the 2011 season. The Rams went 1-7 that year, which also began with a loss to Iolani. However, they went 37-9 over the next four seasons in D2, including last year's perfect 13-0 mark, capped off by the first D2 state title in school history.

SAINT LOUIS DEFENSIVE BACK OUT WITH COLLARBONE INJURY
Lee also confirmed that cornerback Jalen Saole suffered a fractured clavicle against Mililani Saturday.

"He went to the doctor and it was a slight break in the collarbone, but I think it could have been worse," Lee said. "Basically he'll be back in about a month or so."

Saole, a 6-foot, 170-pound senior, sustained the injury on a play that he intercepted a pass off of Trojans' signal-caller, Dillon Gabriel. Lee said Rick Sandy, Jr., a 5-foot-8, 160-pound senior, will be the immediate replacement while Saole heals.

The Crusaders, who remained in the No. 2 spot in Monday's ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division I Power Rankings, will travel to the Big Island for a non-league game against Hilo at Dr. Francis Wong Stadium on Aug. 20. They open the Interscholastic League of Honolulu on Sept. 2 against Iolani at Aloha Stadium.

AIEA-NANAKULI KICKOFF TIME MOVED UP
Aiea has forfeited its junior varsity game at Nanakuli Friday due to a lack of available players, athletic director Blake Moritsugu confirmed on Monday. The JV game was scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start with the varsity game to follow. Kickoff for the varsity game is now set for 6 p.m.