FIFTH IN A SERIES
Next: ‘Iolani Raiders
FARRINGTON GOVERNORS
>> 2015 record and finish: 7-4 (5-2 OIA Blue); beat Campbell 28-0 in OIA D-I quarterfinals; lost 43-0 to Kahuku in OIA D-I semifinals; lost 20-19 to Waianae in OIA D-I third-place game
>> Number of returning starters: 11 (6 on offense, 5 on defense)
>> Number of returning seniors: 18
>> Number of starters lost to graduation: 11
>> Number of seniors lost to graduation: 23
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections lost to graduation: None
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections returning: Challen Faamatau (second-team RB), Kingston Moses-Sanchez (third-team REC)
>> OIA Blue All-Stars lost to graduation: Mealofa Sevao (first-team OL), Andrew Aneki (first-team LB),
>> OIA Blue All-Stars returning: Challen Faamatau (first-team RB), Tainano Gaulua (first-team DL), Christian Acorda (first-team DB), Freedom Alualu (second-team RB), Kingston Moses-Sanchez (second-team WR), Poa Moananu (second-team OL).
>> Among 2016 key offensive returnees: Bishop Rapoza (QB, Sr.), Justin Uahinui (QB, Sr.), Challen Faamatau (RB, Sr.), Freedom Alualu (RB, Sr.), Kingston Moses-Sanchez (WR, Sr.)
>> Among 2016 key defensive returnees: Christian Acorda (DB), Tainano Gaulua (DL, Sr.), Foi Sila (DL, Jr.), Cyrus Sula (DB, Sr.), TJ Tautolo (LB, Sr.)
>> Governors with Division I FBS college offers: None.
>> All-time state championships: None
>> All-time Prep Bowl era (1973-1998) championships: None
>> All-time OIA championships: 1 (1990, D-I)
>> All-time ILH championships: 2 (1944, D-I; 1965, D-I)
>> 2016 conference: OIA Red (D-I)
Head coach RANDALL OKIMOTO on the Governors’ outlook for 2016:
“It’s been actually an interesting three weeks of spring football so far, and we have a long ways to go as far as teaching our guys what it takes to be self-disciplined. But it’s been a fun process for me as a coach and hopefully for the players as well. At this time in our workouts we want to build a foundation with weightlifting, conditioning and with our base offense, defense and special teams. Having lost two players (to untimely deaths) in the last two and a half years really changes your perspective and that’s what opens everyone’s eyes. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Win every day. That’s what we preach every day. Enjoy every day. We try to teach that mentality, to have our kids realize that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We have the privilege of representing Farrington High School, and there is a lot of attention given to us for playing this game. We want to represent our community and everyone who supports us well.
“We’re excited about being able to practice on our new (artificial turf) field. We can start next week or the following week. That’s going to be a huge difference. It took a toll on us, traveling to practice on a daily basis throughout the season last year (with improvements being done). We’re not only right at home, but we’ll be practicing on a surface that is top notch. One person in our church said to me, ‘Hey, that field is nicer than Punahou’s,’ and I said, ‘At least we have something that is nicer than Punahou’s.’
“We talk among the players and the staff about how do we beat the elite teams. We’ve proven we can beat everyone else, and had some big wins but haven’t won the big game. We haven’t won the big OIA game three times in my tenure. How do we do that? Just today (Saturday), I spoke to our team about it. We know that it’s not only us that helps us win. It’s the community, administration. It’s everybody. But we also talk about the things that only we can control and focus on those things. For us, and I’ll give Kahuku as an example, if all of our players from Kalihi stayed home and didn’t go to the private schools, that right there in itself would help us to make it to next level because those players obviously are going to private school because they have something to offer the school. Already at that young age, they’ve shown that. Players that would be playing for us are having an impact at other schools. Those kids should be ours. That to me is No. 1 and I’ve kind of got yelled at for saying things like that in the past. Another thing is resources to get quality coaches, and it’s not that we don’t have quality coaches, but who is going to be putting in all this time for the love of the game (and not much money)? (Former University of Hawaii and NFL head coach) June Jones (an assistant at Kapolei). Wow. He’s out there every day. You don’t find too many of those guys around. Everybody else is in that situation. It’s things I think about. We lose coaches. I’ve lost four defensive coordinators — one to Punahou, one to ‘Iolani and two to Saint Louis.”
2016 Farrington football schedule
Check here for the latest schedule updates: http://bit.ly/2958rWe
>> July 28: at Kamehameha (scrimmage only)
>> July 30: Three-way scrimmage: Kahuku/Farrington/Punahou, 9:30 a.m., at Punahou
>> Aug. 5: at Kahuku (scrimmage only)
>> Aug. 13: Campbell (at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium)
>> Aug. 20: Kailua (at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium)
>> Aug. 27: at Mililani
>> Sept. 3: Leilehua (at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium)
>> Sept. 10: at Castle
>> Sept. 17: Nanakuli (at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium)
>> Sept. 24: at Kapolei
>> Sept. 30: Bye
2016 Farrington varsity football staff
>> Head coach: Randall Okimoto (15th season, 103-58)
>> Offensive coordinator: Daniel Sanchez
>> Defensive coordinator and linebackers: Shane Lyman
>> Ofensive line: Aaron Kamau
>> Defensive line: Willie Talamoa
>> Defensive line: Pale Sanerivi
>> Running backs: Robby Hong
>> Tight ends: Resti Paguirigan
>> Defensive backs: Andy Williams
>> Wide receivers: Murphy Kealoha
>> Quarterbacks: Vince Acohido
Private schools know that in order to get those elite kids they need to hire the fathers or uncles of these kids. That is why you are seeing polynesian coaches being sucked from Farrington and other public schools into the ILH system.
I agree that Coach Okimoto is battling with Punahou and St. Louis for the players that belong in the Farrington district but so is all the other public schools.
Not sure why he used Kahuku as an example of players staying home to play for the home school because Kahuku is dealing with the same problem. There are on average 5-10 Players at private schools every year but that didnt stop Kahuku from winning the D1 title lastyear. I think in 2011 Kahuku beat Punahou in the title game and Punahou had 5 starters from the Kahuku district.
Coach Okimoto is right though that if the community, athletic dept and administration step up their dedication to the athletic program then more of the local kids would be willing to stay home and play for the Govs. But with the gang activity in Kalihi and the recent death of players due to gangs….If im a parent with options you best believe that Farrington would be the last option.
Kahuku is a good example to follow. Private schools take players every year from Laie park big boys football. but kahuku’s talent pool still deep and the kids have instilled in them selvs the “next man up mentality”. Almost every player get family history on the team and school. 5 to 7 generations red raider. Almost give the kids one incentive to play for that they may be one the greats. On top of that best community support ever In the history of anything. Kalihi have the same if they just snap in to a slim jim.
To Setu taifane … a great line: “the best community support ever in the history of anything.” … I can’t prove that to be true, but I wouldn’t put money against it.
I applaud Coach Okimoto for continually bringing the issue to light about the “recruiting” era we live in. He went public a few years ago when some of his players transfered to Mililani to help the trojans win a state title, he went public about private schools taking his talented players and now hes going public about his assistant coaches being recruited too.
More OIA head coaches need to voice their concerns because it directly reflects their ability to coach. Okimoto is considered the coach that cant win the big games and he is making sure that its not his ability to coach but rather the ability of schools like Mililani and Kahuku that field a more talented squad on the field, the three or four extra elite players that would have helped the Govs have a punchers chance against Kahuku/Mililani are recruited away from the Farrington program. So Rod York in his 5th year is considered a better coach then Okimoto who has been coaching for 20yrs based on winning two OIA titles and a state title? Coaching can only do so much its the talent on the team that makes the coach look good. It is definitely an arms race.
Setu, There are other schools that have many generations deep in the community like Waianae, Ewa beach and Kalihi but what seperates Kahuku and takes them to another level is the predominantly mormon environment. Through the church system they worship together, play, eat, camp, sing, pray, dance, celebrate weddings and even mourn at funerals together. Unity is what brings that community together and their faith allows that unique bonding. Its not a fad, its a daily lifestyle. When I attended the championship game last year at the stadium I saw many red raider fans from Honolulu that were mormons but had no other connection to Kahuku other then the church. Mormons supporting mormons lol.
If I was coach Okimoto I would join the Kalihi mormon church and start building a bond and pride in that community with the help of those mormons, the Fehokos are mormon and was a big supporter of the Farrington athletic program when their four boys were playing.
Farrington has a lot of Mormon kids on the team however being a Mormon has nothing to do with winning Championships. Putting in the work during the off season is what breeds champions and championships. The day after Kahuku loss to Punahou the kids were all at Laie Park putting in the work and we all know the result. Work + work + more work is what Farrington needs if they want to win. The Bamboochas need to put in the most work. Can you imagine how good that team would be if that O-line wasn’t hanging by the 2 quarter…..
88 – everyone puts in work, from west side to town to waimanalo all these kids are working their tail ends off. Coach Okimoto is saying that some of his hardest working and talented kids are leaving to play at other schools. Its not an issue of his kids not working hard, its about keeping his kids to stay and play for Farrington. He specifically mentions Unity and sense of pride in the community is the only card he has left to play in order to keep the elite athletes in his program. He used Kahuku as an example of kids that leave the ILH to return to Kahuku because they want to wear the Red Raider jersey and represent big red.
Year in and year out…If the few elite linemen from Kalihi stayed and didnt fill rosters at Mililani and St. Louis and Punahou the bamboochas wouldnt even be starting and you wouldnt be blaming hard work as the problem. Okimoto knows that its not about getting his kids to work hard because there already is a handful that are working hard, its about stopping the ILH from taking those kids away from him. All OIA schools are dealing with this problem and its probably one of the main reasons the OIA does not want to join conferences with the ILH.
I agree with irizary! I’m an OG RRFL and our faith has a big big influence. Our young men knows that the community is behind them and we have Elite players leave to the ILH also. The coaches who have left to other programs is a reflection of Coach Okimoto, they learned and it’s time for them to spread their wings and continue to teach the values that was learnt while there with the Govs. But my opinion is after all these years… it’s time for Okimoto to past the torch and let the new generation take over. The game has evolved so much and it’s time to let young and new blood to run wild.
To nick abramo. Kahuku has the best community support in the history of anything. Just my opinion. Bumbai u think I stateing facts
Jus restateing how I feel, i agree with coach, farrington loses players to private schools just like kahuku. But I believe that just like kahuku, farrington has a deep talent pool but farrington not doing things right. Kahuku is a good example to follow. Every year private schools take players from laie park big boys football. But kahuku has instilled in them kids the ” next man up” mentality. Very well coached. Almost Every kahuku kid has at least 5 to 7 generations red raiders before them in their family. It gives the kids an incentive to be great like their family members before them not just football but everything. On top of that kahuku got the best community support ever in the history of anything. I kno I saying too much about kahuku but obviously they doing something right and farrington is not. I know farrington can do it but everybody gotta jump on board in making farrington great. But Too much crabs in da bucket.
Work + work + more work = Champions and Championships. Not just ” A handful of players” but the WHOLE DAMN TEAM! Stop making excuses and get the kids ” ALL THE KIDS” out running and putting in the work so that way come time to play Kahuku its not 43-0 again.
Man Coach Okimoto…
You sound like a guy making excuses and although you may believe that’s the reason you ain’t getting over the hump, you’re really sounding like a cry baby…
You need to hit da road or just get it done! Kahuku been having elite kids leave for private schools since I remember!!! This year Punahou just scooped up a handful of Laie Park BigBoys that are going to enter the 9th grade next year and that’s not counting the kids they already have!!! So don’t make excuses about not getting the job done with what you have because Kahuku gets it down with what they have and it doesn’t matter who leaves to privates schools! Difference is the next kid believes in himself that he is just as good or even better!!! That’s how those kids are raised down there…It’s next man up mentality and pure blue collar work ethic…
All you cry baby coaches crying over transfers and now kids have to sit out a year that won’t even have any benefit to them but just because coaches crying kids take the hit! It’s no wonder a lot of teams suck year in year out! The coach doesn’t even have the mentality to lace up the cleats, put on the helmet and just bang with anybody regardless who’s on the team…
“C’MON MAN?!!!” I bet if Vae Tata was head coach at Farrington he wouldn’t even use that excuse… LOL! Just get it done no excuses or hit da road and let someone else take a shot!