Waianae won three of six games in its brutal OIA Open Division regular-season schedule and then trailed powerhouse and No. 1 Kahuku by six points deep into the second quarter of the league semifinals on Saturday.
The Seariders (3-4) — who moved into Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s Top 10 for the first time this season this week, at No. 8 — lost that semifinal matchup 33-7, but threw Kahuku off its game for a good part of it. They can clinch a state spot, but it won’t be easy. They meet No. 5 Campbell on Saturday for the right to make it in.
All signs point to a super intense, close match for that state berth. Earlier this season, the Sabers lost to the Red Raiders by the same 26-point margin, 49-23.
—–
ALSO AT BedrockSportsHawaii.com:
>> State Tournament Berth-O-Meter: Only 4 Of 12 Hawaii High School Football Spots Are Left To Be Clinched
>> After Making 8 Tackles For Loss, Roosevelt Defensive End Kaeo Akana Is Bedrock Sports’ Player Of The Week
—–
In other Top 10 movement this week, Lahainaluna, which struggled in a 29-22 win over Baldwin, dropped three spots to No. 10, and idle ‘Iolani took one step up to No. 7.
THE NEW Bedrock Sports Hawaii Top 10:
>> 1. Kahuku (7-0) … can wrap up a second straight OIA Open title by beating Mililani
>> 2. Saint Louis (5-3) … next game vs. TBA in Open state tourney Dec. 18
>> 3. Mililani (5-1) … trying to unseat reigning OIA Open champion Kahuku
>> 4. Kamehameha (3-3) … season done, but not before going 2-1 vs. powerhouse Saint Louis
>> 5. Campbell (4-3) … the whole season is on the line in OIA Open third-place game vs. Waianae
>> 6. Konawaena (6-0) … went 2-0 vs. reigning state D-I champ Hilo to secure BIIF D-I title
>> 7. ‘Iolani (9-0) … next game vs. TBA in D-I state tourney Dec. 17
>> 8. Waianae (3-4) … the whole season is on the line in OIA Open third-place game against Campbell
>> 9. Kapaa (5-0) … want to finish regular season undefeated against Kauai High
>> 10. Lahainaluna (6-0) … hope to bounce back from rough outing vs. Baldwin
Top 10 teams’ opponents THIS WEEK
>> 1. Kahuku (vs. Mililani, Friday at Leilehua High field, 7:30 p.m.
>> 2. Saint Louis (idle)
>> 3. Mililani (vs. Kahuku, Friday at Leilehua High field, 7:30 p.m.
>> 4. Kamehameha (season over)
>> 5. Campbell (vs. Waianae, Saturday at Waipahu High field, 6:30 p.m.)
>> 6. Konawaena (idle)
>> 7. ‘Iolani (idle)
>> 8. Waianae (vs. Campbell, Saturday, at Waipahu High field, 6:30 p.m.
>> 9. Kapaa (vs. Kauai, Saturday at Vidinha Stadium, 2:30 p.m.)
>> 10. Lahainaluna (idle)
How LAST WEEK’s Top 10 teams fared:
>> 1. Kahuku (defeated Waianae 33-7)
>> 2. Saint Louis (idle)
>> 3. Mililani (defeated No. 5 Campbell 42-7)
>> 4. Kamehameha (season over)
>> 5. Campbell (lost to No. 3 Mililani 42-7)
>> 6. Konawaena (defeated Hilo 13-12)
>> 7. Lahainaluna (defeated Baldwin 29-22)
>> 8. ‘Iolani (idle)
>> 9. Kapaa (idle)
>> 10. Kaiser (defeated Kaimuki 48-17)
