Q&A
Govs seek first OIA crown in 26 years




One-half of Friday night's championship game of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I football tournament should come as no surprise: Kahuku.

The Red Raiders (9-1), who have been ranked atop the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings all season, will be playing for their second straight league crown and record 25th overall.

Their opponent, however, took an unlikely route to the title game. Farrington's road to the final began as a No. 3 seed out of the Red Division — meaning it will be playing its fourth playoff game in as many weeks Friday — and included a stunning come-from-behind 33-27 semifinal win over Red top seed Kapolei last Saturday.

The Governors (8-2), who ascended to No. 4 in this week's Power Rankings, will try to end a 26-year drought since their only league championship in 1990, when coach Randall Okimoto starred as a workhorse running back.

It won't come easy, however.

Kahuku, the No. 22 team in the USA Today Super 25 national rankings, has won its last 22 games against Hawaii teams, including its last two meetings against Farrington.

The Red Raiders have posted six shutouts on the year, the last coming in a 38-0 semifinal drubbing of Waianae Saturday.

Farrington's last win over Kahuku came on Oct. 3, 2013 when it pulled out a 21-7 victory at Aloha Stadium.

The teams have met in three previous OIA finals — 1994, 2008 and 2011 — with Kahuku winning each time.

Both teams have already qualified for the inaugural Open Division state tournament. The winner will have a first-round bye in the six-team tournament, which gets underway Nov. 4.

We caught up with Okimoto, the 15th-year coach of the Govs, a few days before Friday's big game. (Numerous messages left for Kahuku coach Vavae Tata were not returned).


ScoringLive: Describe your team's current situation in one word.

Randall Okimoto, Farrington coach: "Blessed. Sometimes you never know how things will turn out. We've been hit with a lot of adversity this year and for us to be here at this point, it's just awesome, and at the same time we want to keep the momentum going."


ScoringLive: How close is your team to playing to its potential?

Okimoto: "We have a lot to improve upon in every area. We use the season to really find our identity and it just so happened that everything unfolded at the right time and we're here at this point. Guys have stepped up and replaced other players and that's how you know you have a special team, because you know you can depend upon those who are backing up, so to speak. They commit and they come in and they do a great job and it's rewarding for us, as coaches to see that."


ScoringLive: Which game this season, win or loss, proved to be most beneficial to your team?

Okimoto: "It's hard to say because every game has had its purpose this season for us, going back to our scrimmages, even our pass scrimmages — both with and without pads — going back to when we started in May. Every game had its purpose and we were able to make use of each one and so it's hard to pick one game. For us, having two losses in the season, that was actually kind of crucial to us because it tested us in those losses to see whether or not you're able to rebound and able to put aside your pride and say, ‘You know what? We need to improve in this area, or that area.' That's the way we look at it."


ScoringLive: Who has been an under-the-radar player for your team that deserves more recognition?

Okimoto: "I think Christian Acorda, our corner, has been under the radar. He's been very consistent all season, except when we had an injury, but other than that he's been very reliable. He's one of those players that is so quiet, but yet, so dependable. Iosefo Ah Ching-Noga is in the same boat: quiet, but works hard and you know you can rely on this guy."


ScoringLive: What's your take on your opponent this week?

Okimoto: "They're very well-coached and your typical Kahuku football team where they can weigh you down on offense and same with defense and special teams. They're just so impactful. They've got good players — Division I players — with good size and good speed, but I know our players are up for the challenge."


ScoringLive: How does your team win the game Friday night?

Okimoto: "For us to come out on top, we need to play at our best. We cannot afford to make the mistakes that we've made. Last week we made two special teams errors that resulted in scores. We cannot afford to do that this week with this team."


Kickoff between the Governors and Red Raiders will follow the 5 p.m. D2 title game between Waialua and Waipahu.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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