Friday's night's game will be the final meeting against each other on the high school gridiron for Kapolei offensive line coach Alden Kaaihue and Campbell senior linebacker Giovanni Stevenson. Antonio Agosto | Special to SL

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EWA BEACH - They've done it before, so it's nothing new. But for Kapolei offensive line coach Alden Kaaihue and Campbell senior linebacker Giovanni Stevenson, this will be their final meeting against each other on the high school gridiron.

The Sabers will meet the Hurricanes, 7 p.m. Friday at Kapolei stadium in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West football game. It is Kapolei's homecoming and it will be televised on OC16.

Stepfather and son both agree all is cool on the home front.

"We usually just chill out," Stevenson said. "We'll talk about other teams."

Unlike most fathers, Kaaihue can't really watch his son play often. With Campbell and Kapolei in the same division, they're often playing Friday nights. There was a rare Saturday night game when Campbell played at Leilehua that allowed Kaaihue a chance to see Stevenson play. Friday will be the second time Kaaihue will get to see his stepson play this season.

"I'm going to miss seeing him on the field (after this season)," Kaaihue said. "I don't think it's going to be emotional. Last year, it was just going out there and doing his thing. Every morning before I leave for work, I tell him to play hard, just flow to the ball."

At the Sabers' homecoming last weekend, Campbell honored its senior players. Kaaihue, who had a game at Radford, was excused early from that game and made it in time to join his son in the post-game ceremonies that also honored the players' parents.

But sentiments aside, there will be an area where they will cross paths on the field. As offensive line coach, Kaaihue will have schemes to block the Sabers' front seven, which includes Stevenson, an inside linebacker who leads the team with 61 tackles, six for lost yardage, with two interceptions, returning one for a TD.

"They're probably going to come after me a lot this game," Stevenson said. "That's all right."

They've joked about the situation at home.

"When I go home, I tell him we're going to run straight at you," Kaaihue said with a laugh. "He laughs, he smiles."

On a serious note, the key for the Hurricanes offensive line will be keeping the linebackers occupied. In Campbell's 3-4 alignment, the linebackers have been usually protected from the blocker.

"They have a good group of boys up front. It's going to be a challenge for us, especially getting to the linebackers. In our offense, we have to get to the linebackers. I tell the kids, they have four great linebackers. We have to attack. We have to sustain (our blocks). If not, 90 percent of the time, they'll make the tackles."

Somewhere in the family affair is Stevenson's mother, Alyssa.

"She'll be on our sideline cheering for us, probably calling my dad a traitor," joked Stevenson.

"She's all Campbell," Kaaihue said.

The Kaaihues live in Campbell's district; Stevenson admitted he considered transferring before this school year started to be with his stepfather and his uncle, Mike Ioane, also an assistant at Kapolei. Ioane is Kapolei's strength and conditioning coach and worked with Stevenson, as well as with a number of players from other schools, during the offseason.

The irony of this matchup is that it's happening on the Leeward side. Kaaihue was a 1987 Advertiser all-state tight end for Kahuku. Stevenson's biological father is Richard Stevenson, a running back for Kahuku and the Advertiser's all-state offensive player of the year in 1986.


No. 6 Campbell (5-1, 3-1) at Kapolei (3-3, 2-2), 7 p.m. Friday

The two teams didn't qualify for the playoffs last year. But the Sabers, ranked sixth in the SL/OC16 Power Rankings, can clinch no worse than the second seed with a win.

While the Sabers are expected to get SB Aries Pihi (concussion) back, the Hurricanes won't be as fortunate. They are down to their fifth QB of the season in Mason Alfaro, a defensive back with just a game-and-a-half signal-calling experience entering the game.

Starter Trey Kamachi-Allen (both ankles), backup Brandon Cambra (shoulder), third-stringer Kaeo Kanoa (knee) and fourth-stringer Makana Kamanawa-Kahawai (ineligible) are out, coach Darren Hernandez said. Slot back Mana Reis and receiver Christian Torres are the backups.

"It's been crazy," Hernandez said.

If the QB situation wasn't bad enough, also out is RB Darrius Lopez, the team's leading rusher, with a turf toe he sustained last week against Radford, Hernandez said.

Inspirational defensive tackle Papu Uti, who has an amputated left leg, said he was cleared by his personal physician to play. But Hernandez said Uti still needs to be cleared by the school's athletic trainers.

"It's tough," Hernandez said. "I feel for that boy."


Mililani (2-3, 1-2) at Aiea (1-4, 0-3), 7 p.m. Friday

A crucial game for both, as a win for each is a step closer to clinching a playoff berth. Six of the seven teams from each division advances to the OIA playoffs.

The Trojans are looking to rebound from their loss to Campbell, while two of Na Alii's three losses have been heartbreakers. They lost in triple overtime to Kapolei and lost 6-0 to Waianae last week.


Radford (1-4, 1-2) at No. 3 Leilehua (4-0-1, 3-0), 6:30 p.m. Saturday

The Spirit of Freedom Bowl is up for grabs between the schools closely tied to the military in their respective communities.

The Rams need to win to move closer to securing a playoff berth, but the Mules are hot, have a good defense and the most consistent and efficient offense in the West.