Running back Makaila Haina-Horswill and the Hawks will face off against wide receiver Justin Lugo and the Rams at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium Friday. ScoringLive photo illustration

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With a win over Radford this Friday the fourth-ranked Nanakuli football team can clinch the top seed in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Division II four-team playoffs. However, a Radford win will create a three-way tie with Pearl City for first place in the division. 

The Golden Hawks (6-0) are posting astronomical numbers on offense, averaging over 40 points and 400 yards per game. Their defense has been just as impressive, having allowed less than 12 points and less than 135 yards per game. 

Running back Makaila Haina-Horswill leads all of Division II in rushing with 691 yards so far this year. Haina-Horswill also averages 10.2 yards per carry and has hit pay dirt 10 times in 2014. The senior running back was instrumental in helping the Golden Hawks rally from a 21-7 halftime deficit with three second half touchdowns. 

The Rams (5-2, 5-1 OIA D2) is coming off a 40-7 win over Kalaheo last weekend. Radford is averaging 27.3 points per game while holding opponents to 13.6 points per game. 

Sophomore linebacker Jordan Walker has led the team in tackles in contests against Kaimuki and Pearl City. 

We caught up with the coaches of both teams a few days out from their game Friday at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

ScoringLive: Describe your team's current situation in one word.
Keala Watson: "Motivated because we got a lot to play for. We got a lot to prove. This year, this offseason and this season we've been asking these kids to do a lot. These kids do what they're told and they've been seeing the benefit of it. We're not used to those long seasons so we got to keep them motivated so that we can finish and go where we want to go." 
Fred Salanoa: "Excitement because of what transpired in the Nanakuli-Pearl City game last week. It brings excitment to our team knowing that this is a big game. It's a game where if we win, there's a possiblity of a three-way tie or a situation where we might be number one."

SL: How near or far is your team from playing at its potential?
KW: "We're definitely not there yet, which is a good thing because if we've already peaked, there's not a lot of room for improvement. We haven't seen the best Nanakuli football team yet." 
FS: "We're very far, hopefullly that far is not too far where we're not even going to reach it by the end of the season. We made so many mistakes and at times it's frustrating because we're pretty far in our season and in my opinion we shouldn't be making these kinds of mistakes this far in the season. We are far away from our full potential because of all the mistakes we continue to make."

SL: What are some of the challenges that your team has had to overcome this year?
KW: "I think us being a relatively new progam, getting the buy in was tough. A lot of our guys don't really understand what it takes to be a succesful program and a student athlete. We had a lot of guys who used to be with us decide that it's not the best thing for them because they didn't really expect and understand the work load and dedication. Even though we're winning, we're still not giving our best effort out there. Pinpointing that and showing it to them is hard because they're so happy because they won, we want more than that." 
FS: "A lot of injuries to our key players. Our starting wide receiver (Kaimi Mercado) broke his collar bone in the Kalani game and our other starting receiver (Dylan Frank) tore his ACL and his meniscus in the Pearl City game. When you lose two starting receivers that pretty much puts a damper in your offense as far as buys being with you for three, four years in the system. You lose them who are hard workers and leaders in the offseason and doing pretty good for us up until the injury. Now we got to scramble for guys to fill their spots, even bring guys from defense and JV over."

SL: What player(s) or position group would you consider to be the heart of the team?
KW: "The heart of our team has got to be our offensive and defensive line. They are the most focal guys on the field. They set the tone for our offense (and) they call most of our audibles. Defensively they allow the entire defense to make plays. We ask a lot of our defensive and offensive lines." 
FS: "I would probably have to say the receiving corps. They were the heart of the team when we had those other guys, but being that they're hurt now, these other guys have been stepping up in their place. Kaimi and Dylan, they're still in every practice. Dylan just had surgery this past Friday and he's still out there with his crutches and being a leader on his side of the field and so is Kaimi. I would say the receivers because they've really been trying to show things by example."

SL: What are your thoughts about your opponent this week and how do you feel your team matches up?
KW: "Radford is going to be a challenge. Going up against a seasoned coach like Fred and his staff, I'm kind of nervous. I know they already have a little bit of an edge over me. They have talented athletes out there and we just have to stick to our game plan as far as our preparation goes." 
FS: "Nanakuli they're well coached by coach Keala Watson. He has a wealth of knowledge, grew up in the community and having taken his football and academics to the University of Hawaii and coming back to being a part of that community again. If I'm not mistaken, this was the JV champions two years ago. He had this group since the JV years. They understand what are the expectations and the game plan of coach Watson. They're playing together and you can tell they're a very emotional team. They feed off positive emotion. Once you give them a little space as far as that emotion and hope, they're going to take that tenfold. Those are the kind of things that we have to matchup this week. They have a lot of good athletes on that team. Guys that stand out on video is their outside linebacker (Alexcio Meyers) and their quarterback (Kale Kanehailua). He makes things happen, he's real savvy with the ball. He'll throw the ball but he'll hand it off when he needs to." 

SL: What do you think we can expect from Friday's game?
KW: "Friday, it could be a toss up. I'm not going to tell you that it's going to be an easy win for any of us. We haven't seen a team like Radford yet. They got size and talent, that's what makes me nervous the most. They also have experience. The only thing we have is momentum. It'll be a nice hard fought game."
FS: "I think you can expect two teams that know whats at stake. Nanakuli, they're sitting in the driver's seat, haven't loss a game yet. It's one of those things that they got to protect their record and we're going to come in there and try and do everything we can to give them an upset and come out with the 'W.'"

The game between the Golden Hawks and Rams will follow 25 minutes after the conclusion of the 5:30 p.m. junior varsity game.