Perfect seasons at stake in both state title games


For the first time, the First Hawaiian Bank Division II state football title game will pit teams with unblemished records.

Kickoff is 4:30 p.m.  Friday for Division II and 7:30 p.m. for Division I at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.

Kapaa (9-0) is trying to become the ninth Kauai Interscholastic Federation team to accomplish a perfect season (undefeated and untied). The last was Waimea in 1983 (8-0). Among Waimea's victories that season was a 16-14 win against Waianae in what was part of the then-Oahu Interscholastic Association-Neighbor Island Bowl.

The bowl matched the OIA's second- and third-place teams against Neighbor Island champions. In the other game in 1983, Baldwin beat Radford, 8-6. Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Saint Louis beat Big Island champion Konawaena, 35-0. The inter-island series lasted only through 1985.

Radford (12-0) is looking for its first perfect season since 1981, when it won the Oahu Prep Bowl to finish 13-0. The Rams are trying to become the eighth OIA team to finish with a perfect record.

Radford and Kapaa have little history between them. Their only meeting was during the 1966 preseason with the Rams prevailing 42-0 in a contest played on the Garden Isle.

This is Radford's third title-game appearance. This is Kapaa's first title-game appearance and the fourth for the KIF. Both teams are looking for their first D2 title.

Meanwhile in the 7:30 p.m. Division I championship, Kahuku (12-0) is seeking its first perfect season since 2012, when it won its last state crown. The Red Raiders have the second-most perfect seasons (2003, 2012, 2013).

Kahuku's opponent, Saint Louis (9-1), leads the state with eight unbeaten and untied seasons, its last coming in 1996, all under Cal Lee.

The meeting between the two schools will be the rubber match of the all-time series, which is tied at 7. They have met nine times for either the Prep Bowl title (Saint Louis, 4-0) or state championship (Kahuku, 4-1).

This will be the sixth meeting in the state tournament for the title between Saint Louis and Kahuku. The Crusaders won the inaugural crown in 1999 against Kahuku, which has since won the last four meetings.

Kahuku is 7-2 in title games; Saint Louis is 3-5.



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].