Football
Kahuku to forfeit title game, state berth




Kahuku will forfeit the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red title game and state berth, as today's appeal of Thursday's ruling was denied, according to OIA Executive Director Dwight Toyama.

With the forfeit, the OIA White title game between the Kaimuki Bulldogs and the Kalaheo Mustangs has been moved from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The game will be televised live on OC16.

According to a statement released by the OIA, an anonymous phone call recieved by Kahuku Principal Donna Lindsey last week claimed that one of Kahuku's players was in violation of the OIA's eligibility rules.

Following a thorough and complete investigation by the Principal, the findings were presented to a Rules Committee last night. After a review of all findings presented, the committee unanimously determined that the complaint made against Kahuku was bona fide.

Kahuku's appeal, which was heard in an emergency meeting at 11:00 a.m. today, resulted in the OIA upholding the Rules Committee's initial findings.



One of the most dominant Kahuku High School football teams in the past decade is in jeopardy of being abruptly eliminated from further postseason action, ScoringLive has learned.

An O'ahu Interscholastic Association council of principals will meet at 11 a.m. today to review an appeal of Thursday's ruling that the Red Raiders used an ineligible player in a game or multiple games earlier this season. OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka confirmed today's scheduled meeting to ScoringLive late Thursday night.

If the appeal fails, Kahuku would forfeit today's scheduled 7:30 p.m. championship game against Mililani, and the Trojans would be awarded the league's top seed in the upcoming state tournament. OC16 sports director Dave Vinton said the 4:30 p.m. OIA White Conference championship game between Kaimuki and Kalaheo would still be played and televised live from Aloha Stadium, though the kickoff time may be pushed back pending today's ruling on Kahuku.

A failed appeal also would mean the Red Raiders forfeiting their state tournament berth, since the allegedly ineligible player - said to be a fifth-year senior - participated in a game or games before the state berth was clinched. OIA rules limit athletic participation to four consecutive school years, starting with when the student enters ninth grade.

Tomorrow's scheduled third-place game between Leilehua and Wai'anae would reportedly still be played, but instead of the winner earning a state berth and the loser being eliminated, now both teams would be assured of berths beforehand with the winner receiving the OIA's No. 2 seed and the loser coming in third.

Kahuku, 10-0 overall and No. 1 in the ScoringLive-OC16 Power Rankings since late August, was having perhaps its most dominant season since 2001. The Red Raiders had outscored opponents, 400 points to 111, averaging 383.2 yards per game.

Their closest game had been a 16-0 victory over Farrington, with every other win coming by a margin of 20 points or more.




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


MORE STORIES

Surfriders erase early deficit, pull away from Falcons

Ninth-ranked Kailua scored 10 unanswered runs behind six scoreless innings of relief from DJ Kauahi to...

Pearl City ends Kaiser's season with playoff road victory

The Chargers rapped out nine runs on 14 hits, capped by Jayson Au Hoy's three-run home run in the top...

Shinagawa's catch spurred Cougars in OIA East finale; Painter continues producing for unbeaten Bears

The Kaiser junior centerfielder made a pivotal highlight-reel grab against Kailua Saturday, while the...

Campbell scores 11 runs in opening frame in rout of Leilehua

Ismael Diaz delivered a pair of two-RBI doubles as part of a 29-minute top of the first inning for the...

Kaiser improves playoff seeding with win over No. 7 Kailua to close out regular season

The Cougars plated a season-high 16 runs Saturday night to end the Surfriders' 10-game win streak and...

Roosevelt walks off Moanalua to lock up second seed in OIA East

Bryson Rubio's line drive single scored Tai Pham from second for the game winning run in the Rough Riders'...