East Oahu Football Action Seen Through Islander’s Spyglass

In prep football, there’s always the season within the season – the critical games that make or break a team’s year. With the recent release of OIA slate, MidWeek‘s East Oahu Islander breaks down the respective schedules for Anuenue, Kalani, Kaimuki and Kaiser high schools.

Anuenue High School

2012 record: 2-7 overall, 2-6 in OIA White

2013 schedule: Aug. 17 at Radford, Aug. 24 versus Kalaheo (at Kaiser High), Aug. 30 bye, Sept. 6 at Roosevelt, Sept. 13 at Pearl City, Sept. 20 at Kaiser, Sept. 28 versus Kalani (at Kaiser), Oct. 4 Waialua (at Kaiser), Oct. 11 at Na-nakuli

Key stretch: Roosevelt, Pearl City, Kaiser

Must-see game: Kalaheo

Must-see game II: Kalani Game to be on upset-alert for: Waialua

Breakdown of Na Koa’s schedule: While all of Anuenue’s games are technically road games, their slate of “true” road games may be the most demanding of all OIA White teams, as they travel to Radford, Roosevelt, Pearl City and Nanakuli for their four away contests.

Kaimuki High School

2012 record: 0-8 overall, 0-6 in OIA Red East

2013 schedule: Aug. 9 at Waialua (pre-season), Aug. 23 at Kahuku, Aug. 30 McKinley (at Roosevelt), Sept. 7 bye, Sept. 13 Moanalua (at Kaiser), Sept. 20 at Kailua, Sept. 27 Farrington (at Roosevelt), Oct. 4 Castle (at Kaiser)

Key stretch: Kailua, Farrington, Castle

Must-see game: McKinley

Must-see game II: Castle

Game to be on upset-alert for: Moanalua

Breakdown of Bulldogs’ schedule: Although the Bulldogs have the unen-viable task of traveling to Kahuku in week one of OIA Red East play, there’s a chance for a nice run in the weeks that follow with winnable games versus McKinley, Moanalua and at Kailua. A bye week also follows the game with the Tigers to help Kaimuki get its second wind. The date with Castle in the season finale could figure big in the Bulldogs’ quest to ensure a playoff spot.

Kalani High School

2012 record: 4-5 overall, 4-4 in OIA White

2013 schedule: Aug. 10 Iolani (at Aloha Stadium), Aug. 17 at Kaiser, Aug. 23 Pearl City (at Kaiser), Aug. 31 Kalaheo (at Kailua High), Sept. 6 Radford (at Kaiser), Sept. 13 bye, Sept. 21 Nanakuli (at Kaiser), Sept. 28 Anuenue (at Kaiser), Oct. 4 bye, Oct. 11 at Waialua

Key stretch: Iolani, Kaiser, Pearl City

Must-see game: Kaiser

Must-see game II: Nanakuli

Game to be on upset-alert for: Anuenue

Breakdown of Falcons’ schedule: The three-game stretch to begin the season will give Kalani an opportunity to continue the upward mobility it displayed last year. Having a bye week prior to the showdown with defending OIA White champion Nanakuli is also a boost. Kalani’s last two games – Anuenue and Waialua – look like “must wins” with such a difficult schedule on the front end.

Kaiser High School

2012 record: 7-3 overall, 7-1 in OIA White

2013 schedule: Aug. 9 Campbell (pre-season), Aug. 17 Kalani, Aug. 23 bye, Aug. 30 at Radford, Sept. 6 at Waialua, Sept. 13 Nanakuli, Sept. 20 Anuenue (at Kaiser), Sept. 27 Roosevelt, Oct. 5 at Pearl City, Oct. 11 Kalaheo

Key stretch: Radford, Waialua, Nanakuli

Must-see game: Nanakuli

Must-see game II: Rad-ford

Game to be on upset-alert for: Kalani

Breakdown of Cougars’ schedule: With five dates at home, including the much-anticipated Nanakuli game, this looks favorable on paper for the Cougars, who have built momentum steadily since Rich Miano took over. While they have a huge road date with Radford in week two of the OIA White schedule, a bye in week three gives them some time to regroup.