Players to watch in first round of state football tourney


Four opening-round games on four islands get the First Hawaiian Bank/Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Football Championships underway this weekend.

The Division I tournament kicks off in Wailuku with Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Farrington taking on Maui Interscholastic League-titlist Baldwin at 6 p.m. One hour later, OIA No. 3 Campbell and Big Island Interscholastic Federation-champ Hilo kickoff at Keaau High Stadium.

The Division II tournament, which arguably has the deepest field ever in its 10-year history, starts Saturday on the Garden Isle. OIA runner-up Pearl City meets Kauai Interscholastic Federation-winner Kauai at Vidinha Stadium under the afternoon sun, while back on Oahu that evening, the weekend wraps up with a pair of league champions meeting in Konawaena, of the BIIF, and Kaiser, from the OIA.

Here is a list of players to watch on offense, defense and special taams in each of those matchups and links to in-depth game previews.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Division I first-round games
Friday, Nov. 8
Farrington (8-3) vs. Baldwin (6-4) , 6 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium (Wailuku, Maui)
Govs—Offense:
Sanele Lavatai, RB. Defense: Breiden Fehoko, DT. Special Teams: Roger "Tre" Boyd, KR/PR.
Bears—Offense: Dusty Flores, RB. Defense: Tevarua Eldredge, LB. Special Teams: Ricky Casco, PK.
SL game preview

Campbell (8-3) vs. Hilo (10-1), 7 p.m. at Keaau High Stadium (Keaau, Hawaii)
Sabers—Offense:
Isaac Hurd, QB. Defense: Waylen Lindsey, LB. Special Teams: Solomon Matautia, KR/PR.
Vikings—Offense: Tristin Spikes, RB. Defense: Isi Holani, DT. Special Teams: Rayce Takayesu, PK.
SL game preview

Division II first-round games
Saturday, Nov. 9
Pearl City (7-4) vs. Kauai (8-0), 2 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium (Lihue, Kauai)
Chargers—Offense:
Timothy Rivera, WR. Defense: Blake Cooper, LB. Special Teams: Jake Bactista.
Red Raiders—Offense: Devan Ferreira, OL. Defense: James Bukoski, LB. Special Teams: Pono Bukoski, PK.
SL game preview

Konawaena (9-2) vs. Kaiser (10-1), 7 p.m. at Kaiser Stadium (Hawaii Kai, Oahu)
Wildcats—Offense:
Chase Takaki, WR. Defense: Evyn Yamaguchi, LB. Special Teams: John Replogle, PK.
Cougars—Offense: Fitou Fisiiahi, RB. Defense: Tommy Fisher, LB. Special Teams: Thomas Leong, KR/PR.
SL game preview



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].