Hawaiian Electric Game of the Week
Bulldogs, Saints to meet head-on in D2 showdown




The football game held at Farrington High School this weekend will have a lot of beef and pancakes to go around.

No, not on the menu — but on the field.

Two of the best — and largest — Division II teams in the state are set to face off when Saint Francis and Kaimuki meet up Saturday night in an interleague matchup at Edward 'Skippa' Diaz Stadium at Henry Kusunoki Field.

The Saints (5-0 overall, 4-0 league) are one of three Oahu teams without a loss while the Bulldogs (4-1, 4-0) have just one blemish, a 28-26 loss in Las Vegas against Sierra Vista.

The matchup will also feature two college-bound linemen in Saint Francis offensive tackle Faaope Laloulu, a 6-foot-7, 350-pound junior, and Kaimuki senior two-way lineman Evangelist "Sama" Paama, who is 6-4 and weighs 355 pounds. Laloulu received an offer from the University of Oregon as a sophomore and Paama gave a verbal commitment to play for the University of Washington.

With Laloulu and 2017 All-Hawaii First Team selection Siotame Haunga (6-1, 280, Sr.) anchoring the Saints' offensive line, Saint Francis is averaging 204.2 yards on the ground in five games.

The Saints also have one of the top defensive lineman in the state in junior Sione Lolohea (6-3, 220), who has amassed 10 tackles for loss in four regular season games to help Saint Francis keep opponents at 53.2 yards rushing a game.

"Saint Francis is a dangerous team as they've been the last two seasons," said Kaimuki coach David Tautofi. "They've got the record to prove it and the stats to so show it. With coach Kip (Akana) leading them, they've got a serious agenda and a title isn't far for them to reach."

Saint Francis OL Faaope Laloulu (75) manhandles a Iolani defender in a 2017 regular season game. Michael Lasquero | SL    Purchase image

Kaimuki also boasts a number of big linemen in two-way players Hunter Mulu (6-1, 245, Sr.) and Siosaia Nisa (6-0, 300, Soph.), and interior offensive linemen Ricky Wells (5-10, 270, Soph.) and Daniel Moefu-Tautofi (5-10, 250, Jr.).

Although the Bulldogs are averaging 45 yards less on the ground than the Saints, they do have an advantage on the defensive front as Oahu teams are averaging just 39.4 yards on the ground against Kaimuki.

With so many similarities between the two teams, Saint Francis coach Kip Akana believes the game will be decided by whoever makes the least mistakes.

"I believe that most games are decided in the trenches and who controls the line of scrimmage, but it's also my opinion that when two teams appear to be equally matched on paper, a lot of times it's not who wins the game as so much as who loses the game. Don't be surprised if the team that wins this game is the team that also has the least amount of penalties and turnovers, and plays better on special teams."

The biggest personnel question heading into the matchup is whether or not Saint Francis star running back Jonan "Bubbah" Aina-Chaves will be available. Aina-Chaves, who leads the state in rushing with 719 yards, hurt his right ankle in a win over Pearl City and did not play in last week's contest against PAC-5.

If Aina-Chaves is unable to go, the Saints will most likely turn to Shepherd Kekahuna, who ran for 110 yards on five carries against the Wolfpack. Kekahuna also leads the team in receiving with 368 yards and three scores on 15 receptions.

"They've got some serious weapons with their skill players," said Tautofi. "For Saint Francis, I don't think they have any weaknesses."



Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


MORE STORIES

Crusaders knock off Rough Riders in mercy-rule finish

Shannon Fee and Jonah Brub combined on a two-hitter and No. 2 Saint Louis downed Roosevelt in five inning...

Laboy persevered through early-season injury for UH Lab; Fake rose to the occasion for Kamehameha

The junior OH came back from a severe ankle sprain to help the Jr. 'Bows claim their first state title,...

Pearl City outlasts ninth ranked Aiea in 11-inning marathon

Devin Fujino's two out single in the bottom of the 11th won it for the Chargers, the first over Na Alii...

Plays made and not aid No. 8 Waiakea to first-round victory

Loren Iwata pitched a complete game gem, and the Warriors made the most of two crucial plays that both...

Mortensen's sac fly in seventh leads Baldwin in first-round play

Pinch hitter Douglas Mortensen's sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning...

Kamehameha outlasts Punahou in overtime to go back-to-back

Warriors got the game winning goal by Tea Brandon with 1:56 left in regulation and hung on to deny the...