2015 OIA Championship - What's your take?

[rrforlifebaby]

Should be a good game this Friday.
IMHO, if Milton doesn't play, I say 60-40 in favor of Big Red; IF Milton does play, 50-50.
Malepeai is a Beast and Timoteo is hard for any db to cover one on one. Trojan receiving corps is capable.
Everyone is talking about how Kahuku's D hasn't played an elite O yet; flip the switch, Mililani's O hasn't played a D like Kahuku either.
Mililani play's nice team D; couple of players stand out, but imho, no body on the trojan D is the best at their position....but, they do play nice team D.

If Big Red is able to stay relatively healthy, that O will impose it's will against the trojan D.
Believe it or not, imho, Tata has Big Red's D playing at another level, and that's saying alot considering the DC's and D squads they've had in the past...possibly comparable to the 2000, 2001, 2011 and 2012 squads I think this year's Dline is leaner than those previous 4 years, but just as nasty.
I'm hoping for a shut out, but like it or not, the trojan O is too high octane to keep off the board.
Timoteo can be contained, the question will be if Big Red's secondary can do a better job this year of keeping the rest of the trojan receiving corp in check.
I have no doubt Malepeai will get yardage, but a bunch of his yardage will be hard fought.

Milton plays, Big Red D will be stretched; Milton out, Malepeai going to have to step up even more than he has; Gabriel and/or Higa gona get harrassed alot.

Good luck to both squads!
GO BIG RED!!! RRFL!

[Markeke]

IMHO I believe MILTON is done for the year. If he comes into the OIA championship it would have to be in desperation mode. It would like picking your poison. No play in the OIA championship but face St.Louis in the State semi. Both Kahuku and St.Louis can bring heavy heat. York can stay with Gabriel And let the chips lay. If they lose the OIA, Milton gets an extra 2 weeks before St.Louis.
I don't believe the Kahuku run game can be stopped consistently. Waianae played a better second half against Mililani and made several stops. The Mililani special teams let some big yardage go on punts and kickoff returns. SASAOKA kick offs denies any returns. Watch for York trying to sneak an on side kick. Like Darren Hernandez said on TV "Don't kick to SANTIAGO" SASAOKA will get his field goals. I don't see the jumbo line up being stopped. Farrington,Waianae and Kapolei had more bulk on the DL and LB, but could not stop it. Hope AH HOY is ready because he is the best wildcat in the bunch.

[KindergartenCop]

Kahuku will get to Gabriel multiple times. Not sure if he'll hold up and stay in the pocket and make the necessary throws. And with the big Kahuku front seven ? Vavai may not get the necessary yards to move the chains. Kahuku pound and ground the clock and keep Mililani offense off the field.

OR

Mililani will spread and test that defensive secondary and find success in the air as Taulia of Kapolei who threw for 390 plus yards. Mililani has finishing power. Kahuku who live and Die but this power offense. Has nothing to fall back on and fall behind and can't score fast enough to keep up.

[Dog 96707]

Milton gets cleared today to play. Not sure if York will put him in, but he will be medically cleared. Kahuku got some guys banged up on offense but the D is pretty healthy and should be ready to roll. It's gonna be a great game. Mil will score on that D, but I believe kahuku can slow them down. it's a matter of kahuku not getting behind and then to rely on the run to keep up with mil offense. I think it's really up for grabs, can't wait to see this one go down.

[Eastside Hooligan]

In my opinion........

OFFENSE: TIE
DEFENSE: KAHUKU
SPECIAL TEAMS: KAHUKU
My take ..... Kahuku RED RAIDERS!!!

This is why we play the game in hope that our TEAM shows up to play and win!!!

GOOD LUCK to both teams.

GO BIG RED!!!
RR4L!!

[kanakattack]

Mililani vs Kahuku-Analysis
-Record: Mililani 9-1, Kahuku 10-0 (Kahuku has toyed with opponents but some question their strength of schedule. Mililani got blown out by Liberty, but are undefeated on Oahu) *Note-Mililani beat Kahuku 44-30 in a pre-season scrimmage “game” with Milton at QB.
-Points per game: Mililani 56.5, Kahuku 46.4 (Both teams blowing their opponents out)
-Points per game allowed: Mililani 25.6, Kahuku 3.2 (Kahuku’s 3.2 points per game given up on defense has to be some kind of record)
-Yards per game: Mililani 530, Kahuku 302.6 (Those are ridiculous numbers for that potent Mililani offense of which the likes the OIA has not seen before)
-Yards per game allowed: Mililani 293.7, Kahuku 119.9 (Kahuku may give up some yards now and then, but they are stout in the red zone)
-Rush Offense: Mililani 219.3, Kahuku 267.6 (Both teams can really run the ball well)
-Pass Offense: Mililani 310.7, Kahuku 35.1 (35 yards? Who needs to pass when you can pound the rock?)
-Rush Defense: Mililani 123.0, Kahuku 8.7 (NOBODY can run on the Kahuku Defense. Period)
-Pass Defense: Mililani 170.7, Kahuku 111.4 (Kahuku did give up 567 yards in two games vs Kapolei, so it is hard to determine how Mililani will do, especially with Gabriel at the helm)
Who has the edge?
-Pass Rush: Edge Kahuku. The reason Kahuku has the edge is because Kahuku’s offense rarely passes, so the Red Raiders will have a lot more opportunities. Mililani has Padello, who can rush the passer. After him, there is nobody that scares you. Kahuku has the talent, but in two games vs Kapolei, a passing team, the Kahuku DL could only muster 4 sacks in 95 pass attempts. If that is the case on Friday, Kahuku will be in trouble.
-Pass Protection: Edge Mililani. Again, the edge goes to the team who passes more, because their OL has more practice. As stated above, Kahuku has not been lights out rushing the passer, and their back 7 has made a ton of plays to carry the pass defense.
-Kicking Game: Huge Edge Kahuku. Sasaoka is the best kicker in the OIA, if not the state. The return game is the best in the state with Santiago, Botelho and Kaniho. The coverage teams are rock-solid and the best in the state.
-Quarterback: Even. Kahuku does not have a true QB, but have RB’s playing the wildcat. If forced to pass, Kahuku is in trouble. Mililani has a freshman who looked good against Moanalua and Waianae, but this is a whole new ball game. If Gabriel is harassed, Mililani is in trouble.
-Running Back: Slight Edge Mililani. Malepeai is the best player in the state at his position. There is no one behind him. He will find it difficult to run against the suffocating run D of the Red Raiders. Kahuku, if healthy, has the horses with Ah Hoy, Ameperosa and Brown. Will they be totally healthy on Friday? That is the question. Here is something else Kahuku has that no other team in the state can match-beefy, tough, blocking fullbacks/H-backs. Falemalu, Lombard, and Tongi are selfless hammers in the run game and are largely the unsung heroes of the Kahuku offensive attack.
-Receiver/TE: Huge Edge Mililani. Timoteo is the best player at his position in the state. Ventura, Sallas and company offer a deep receiving corps. Kahuku has not shown any semblance of a passing game, save for a play-action goal line set.
-OL: Edge Kahuku. They have the best running game in the state and that Stanford offense would be impossible to pull off without the studs up front-Fale, Elkington, Neher, Fisiahi, Heffernan, etc are maulers who are very aggressive and can move the pile against every DL they have faced thus far. Tovi and Mililani have a very good unit, and are adept at both run and pass blocking, but they may find the going tough against that unreal Kahuku run D.
-DL: Edge Kahuku. The Kahuku DL is incredible against the run. With Anae back, the pass rush will only improve. The Mililani DL will be unable to stop the Kahuku rushing attack, especially with Kaaiawaawa possibly injured and out. They do not have the bodies.
-LB: Huge Edge Kahuku. The best LB unit in the state. Atuaia and Lefau inside are strong vs the run and can cover and blitz, while outside linebackers Tapusoa and Latu are premier pass rushers and always wreak havoc with pressure, and tipped balls if they can’t get to the QB. Tanuvasa is a good player and Olomua is young but talented, but the Kahuku linebackers are DEEP and STRONG.
-DB: Huge Edge Kahuku. The Rebel Squad DB’s are dangerous. With guys like corners Kaniho and Botelho combining for 10 interceptions between them, and ballhawks and hammers behind them at safety in Santiago, Sauvao and Niutupuivaha, this group is downright spooky. Mililani has a few good DB’s in Tacadena and Mamea, but can they tackle all game long?
-P: Huge Edge Kahuku. Sasaoka is amazing.
-PK: Huge Edge Kahuku. Sasaoka is amazing.
-Coach: Edge Mililani. Coach York has been building his program from the ground up and this was to be the payoff year with Milton a senior. The title came a year early and Milton is out, but York has the big game head coaching experience to keep his Trojans in the game. Coach Tata is a great coach who will make a lot of noise in the future, but right now, York has the edge.
-Mascot/Uniforms: Edge Kahuku. A Trojan is a great warrior and the yellow and white unis are sharp, but they don’t bring fear to your opponents. The Red Raider, on the other hand, has taken on more of a menacing appearance on the logo and the full red unis are an intimidating sight.
-Community Support: Huge Edge Kahuku. The Red Raiders have the most die-hard, loud and most confident (some haters would say arrogant) fans in the state. However, they deserve RESPECT for the tremendous program and the many state titles they have won. They are the standard in the OIA. The Trojans have always been good, but coach York has elevated the program to elite status. The fan base is large, (some haters will say because they come from all over the island) and vocal. However, the old time Mana and support that the Red Raiders bring to the game with their knowledge, Sea of Red, and catchy slogan t-shirts and tomahawk chop are a sight to see.
-Prediction: Kahuku 35, Mililani 21

[Markeke]

Good analysis kanakattack. Couple things, Tagovailoa did have 4 picks against Kahuku. Also "scrimmage" games do not have special teams, so punt,kickoff returns, touchbacks,etc.is a very big part of Kahuku
Plus it was Tata's first game. The only other comparison is Kahuku and Mililani had 5 Oahu opponents. Total points against Kahuku was 7 as compared to 104 for Mililani. Pass rush against Kahuku is moot so is interceptions.

[saynotomercs]

In my opinion........

OFFENSE: TIE
DEFENSE: KAHUKU
SPECIAL TEAMS: KAHUKU
My take ..... Kahuku RED RAIDERS!!!

This is why we play the game in hope that our TEAM shows up to play and win!!!

GOOD LUCK to both teams.

GO BIG RED!!!
RR4L!!

If Milton is back, Mililani has a better offense. It's one of the best offenses In The country.

[bandits1]

^^^100% agree. With Milton it's probably not even close to being a "tie" on offense. Without Milton, with Gabriel running the show, I'd still give Mililani the edge until Kahuku proves on the field that they can contain him and the Trojan offense enough to win.

[huki-lau-lau]

two reason kahu lost to mill lastyear oia championship
1 rex manu - was play
2 kahu qb - was injure

this yr no rex manu, kahu qb is 3 running qb this year. kahuku should win and i hope milton play

[rrforlifebaby]

Very nice analysis kanakattack.
Like someone else pointed out, until proven otherwise, trojans still the team to beat, with or without milton.
Big Red, imho does have more overall talent across the board, but the trojans are operating yorks system at an extremely high level.
Gota pick Big Red.
Good luck to both squads.

[RedBull]

Without Milton I have a feeling this game won't be as close as it should be...

[BullNuts808]

Without Milton I have a feeling this game won't be as close as it should be...

I agree. So much of the Mililani Offense depends on the ability of the QB. The last matchup showed that several open WRs but poor passing choices by both QBs. Must have an effective, productive offense to keep up with da big red wrecking machine.

[huki-lau-lau]

watch replay of game, mil chop blocking hurt kahuku lineman and 2 rb, chop block not illegal but only mahu's do dat. even hernandez point out in the game but it happen all 4 quarters

[Markeke]

So true hukilau. Some time then just drop on their knees in the hole to clog it. Then know it's wrong as all the d line stand up during field goals ,pat,and pass play . Very sneaky and firty.