Of all of the games to open the season, none are as steeped in tradition as the game between OIA rivals Farrington and Waianae. The affair, which resumes at Waianae on Friday, pits two of the OIA’s longest-serving head coaches in Danny Matsumoto of Waianae and Randall Okimoto of Farrington.
Okimoto has the edge on his rival 3-2 since he took over at the beginning of the 2002 season, and the Govs have won the last two meetings. The last four meetings have been in the preseason, but they certainly haven’t lacked intensity and Friday should be no different. Here’s what happened the five times the two coaches have squared off:
2012
Farrington 37, Waianae 23
Amo Silva steps in at running back for an injured Tyler Taumua, and all he does is carry the ball 28 times for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Everything works for the Governors at Radford, with new quarterback Monotana Liana throwing for 131 yards, 76 of them to James Hashimoto, including a 29-yard TD to break a tie midway through the fourth quarter. Alakai Kealoha leads the Seariders with 86 total yards. Matsumoto has never had a 100-yard rusher in his five meetings against Okimoto.
2008
Farrington 20, Waianae 7
Farrington opens the season with touchdowns on a kick return and fumble recovery to beat Waianae. Both defenses show up in midseason form, with Apelu Sooalo pacing the Govs with 45 rushing yards and Marley Tau leading Waianae’s ground attack with 20 yards. Ani Isumu scored on a 94-yard kickoff return and Aaron Iramina scored on a 21-yard fumble return.
2007
Waianae 21, Farrington 7
Justin Kauwalu rushes for 87 yards and two touchdowns in another defensive showdown, with BJ Jelf adding 66 yards and Danny Kekoanui running for 46 yards and a score. Waianae’s defense holds Farrington to just 13 yards rushing, but the Governors get 135 yards through the air from Alefesio Iu, 70 of them on a garbage-time touchdown to Ani Isumu.
2006
Farrington 37, Waianae 0
Elijah Filili stretches out his arm for the Governors, throwing for 227 yards and four touchdowns in the rout. The Governors need only 54 yards on the ground, with Elijah Lesu leading the way with 52. The win snaps Waianae’s 11-game winning streak in the series.
2005
Waianae 17, Farrington 7
The Seariders earn a state-tournament berth with the hard-fought win at Roosevelt.
Farrington running back Kenneth Faumui did not suit up due to academic probation, though Hercules Sula stepped in with 18 carries for 127 yards. Waianae was without quarterback Henry Keomalu, who injured an ankle the previous week, and rode on the shoulders of Liko Manuel. Manuel threw for 63 yards but did not turn the ball over. Curtis Jones led the way for Waianae with 86 hard-earned yards on 21 carries.
Waianae leads the series 15-7 in the state championship and prep bowl eras, including 11 in a row from 1994 to 2005. Top performers in that time:
- Waianae passing vs. Farrington: Sam Keaulii with 217 yards in a 34-19 win in 1999.
- Waianae rushing vs. Farrington: David Tafiti with 203 yards in a 14-7 win in 1988.
- Waianae rreceiving vs. Farrington: Tulia Lave with 94 yards in a 26-20 win in 1994.
- Farrington passing vs. Waianae: Elijah Filifili with 227 in a 37-0 win in 2006.
- Farrington rushing vs. Waianae: Abrahma Silva with 223 yards in a 37-23 win in 2012. Randall Okimoto stung the Seariders for 216 in a 15-7 win in 1990.
- Farrington receiving vs. Waianae: Chad Mock with 90 yards in a 37-13 loss in 2000.
Points scored for each team in the series since 1977:
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