By Paul Honda
hrcFantasyLeague@aol.com
Friday, Aug. 25, 2006

HAWAII KAI — It's almost 4 p.m. and the regular season is about to begin.

The time is right for some Pupule Pigskin Picks!

Friday's games
• Nonconference
@ Campbell 24, Damien 20. The Sabers showed plenty of character in a 17-6 win at Castle last week. Damien was solid in a 14-point win at Kapolei. It's a 'pick-em' game, and Campbell has the home field.

@ Mililani 27, Iolani 21. This has the makings of a potential classic. Iolani may exploit the Trojan secondary, but the Mililani offense is balanced and experienced, with all five starters back on the offensive line.

@ Kapolei 33, McKinley 14. The Hurricanes have numbers and a big home-field advantage. The Tigers have a tough crew that gave Saint Louis fits last week, for 2 1/2 quarters. Depth will prove the difference tonight.

Kauai 40, Konawaena 21, Vidinha Stadium. BIIF teams rarely do well off-island, especially when they are one-dimensional. This Wildcat team has one of the most promising quarterbacks in the state, but without protection, it means little.

Bassett (Calif.) at Kealahehe. No pick here. Don't know a thing about Bassett.

• League play
@ Kahuku 40, Kailua 12. This is an extremely tough task for the Surfriders, who are terribly young and on the road again. It's been a long, long, long time since the Red Raiders lost at Carleton Weimer Field.

Kaimuki 34, Anuenue 22. A first for Anuenue, the newcomer to the OIA's varsity level. Na Koa number 21 players in all — they're on the field right in front of me as I type — and will have to rely on conditioning to keep pace with the Bulldogs. Kaimuki has the athletes, but low numbers over years impacted their performance in the OIA Red East. Anuenue is young — no seniors — but will stay close thanks to a group of talented players who came up through the Palolo Vikings Pop Warner program, as did a number of Bulldogs.

Roosevelt 26, Kalani 24. This could be the most entertaining game of the night between two undersized teams. Roosevelt is coming off a 41-point loss, while the Falcons are trying to shake off a 68-point defeat.

Baldwin 23, Maui 14. There are some on the Valley Isle who believe the Sabers are about to return to their glory days of the '90s when Curtis Lee directed a dynasty. Unfortunately, Baldwin has plenty of tradition and success to work with, and their run-and-shoot offense will still be enough to get past the old-school Sabers.

Saturday's games
• League play
@ Castle 14, Kalaheo 6. The Mustangs are in Year 2 of the De La Salle veer attack under Chris Mellor, who was the offensive coordinator last season. The Knights are at home again, and last week's loss to Campbell was a rude awakening for the renovated stadium. Castle is one of the least experienced teams in the Red East, but this is Kalaheo's first stint in the Red. Mellor believes his team has plenty of speed, and tonight's matchup with Castle will be a good test.

Farrington 41, Moanalua 30. The Govs can certainly throw the ball, and unless the Menehunes can get a pass rush going, Elijah Filifili could have a big night. Farrington ambushed Waianae on the road last week, 38-0, and could have a letdown against the much-smaller Menehunes.

Pearl City 20, Nanakuli 19. The Chargers have size and big numbers, while the Golden Hawks went to Kamehameha and played tough in a two-touchdown loss.

Waialua 51, Waipahu 41. The potent offense of Waialua meets the option attack of the Marauders in what could be the highest-scoring game of the weekend. Caleb Fore guided the Bulldogs to a 538-yard output at Honokaa last week.

@ Lahainaluna 40, Kamehameha-Maui 13. The Lunas are used to the mid-afternoon heat on the West side, and this will prove to be a huge advantage.

@ King Kekaulike 39, Pac-3 0. The Titans nearly shut down the program less than two weeks ago. Na Alii are out to prove a point under a new coach.

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