Int. Football ILH Champs
42 mb WMV Movie
Under blue skies at Iolani on Saturday the intermediate football team made the sun shine again on Raider football as they redeemed the gloomy, muddy varsity loss Friday with a clean 19-13 win over St. Louis for the ILH Intermediate Football Championship.
Inside, Behind-the-Scenes Report
by Coaches David Luedecke, Kevin Manuel and Chucky Nakoa
Friday was wet and rainy, and we had practice in the Lower Gym. Despite the weather and being inside, the boys seemed ready. The coaches were ready too, but wondered what the weather would be like for our championship game against the Saints of St. Louis. We knew that we had never beaten St. Louis twice in one season, or twice in a row for that matter. The last time Iolani played for the Intermediate championship at our home field was in 1990, fourteen long years ago, before some members of our team were even born.
In a game filled with doubt and uncertainty, our boys remained unshaken and maintained the Iolani ‘One Team’ spirit. It was a hot, humid Saturday afternoon at Koizuki Stadium with many supporters from both schools present. A fired-up St. Louis team won the toss and chose to receive. That possession was extinguished by an interception returned 60 yards for the first score of the contest. Extra point failed.
After a stop from the defense, the offense drove the ball all the way to the 1-yard line and then punched it in for the second touchdown of the game. This time the extra point was good.
Our defense held the Saints again on the next possession and forced them to punt. The punt was downed on the 1-yard line. With our backs to the goal-line, the ball was handed off up the middle for an electrifying 99-yard touchdown run. Everyone was going wild, but this game was far from over. Extra point was blocked again.
With 1:26 left in the first half, St. Louis finally came up with their own points after a long touchdown run which changed the momentum just before the end of the half.
HALFTIME SCORE: Iolani 19 St. Louis 7
At halftime, Coach Suzuki rounded up the boys and reminded them how they had gotten to this point and had 20 minutes left to decide how they would end the season.
Coach Nakoa made it simple and said, “Just go out there and have fun!” The team took the field for the second half.
Fumbles, interceptions, and penalties plagued the second half.
Leading 19-7 after three quarters, the Raiders gave up a touchdown on a long St. Louis run at the start of the fourth quarter after a muffed punt, but then turned away a determined St. Louis team that was driving for the winning score with a key interception.
After several more courageous defensive stands, the Raiders were able to hold off the Saints for a 19-13 victory and championship.
A Review of the 2004 Intermediate Football Season
by a devoted parent fan
Led by lower school teacher Mr. Ivan Suzuki, this year's team of 27 freshmen, 12 eighth graders and 5 seventh graders has achieved success beyond anyone's wildest dreams.
The following is a recap of the 2004 season up to the championship game.
The season opened against Kamehameha Blue. After trailing 19-0 at the half and with only a few minutes left in the fourth quarter, Kamehameha had the ball and a 19-13 lead. While trying to run down the clock, the Kamehameha runner lost the ball and Iolani went 60 yards the other way for the game tying touchdown and the winning PAT. Final Score: 20-19 Iolani.
Punahou narrowly averted a similar upset fate in the next game. With a minute left on the clock and Iolani down 25 to19, the Raiders' fourth down pass into the end zone from 5 yards out slipped through the hands of the receiver. The Puns got the ball back and hung on to win 25-19.
Against MidPac the first two offensive plays resulted in two early touchdowns. The offense had a break-out game and Iolani won going away, 35-14.
The St. Louis game was THE GAME!!. The team viewed game films of St. Louis and saw that they were big and fast. Iolani scored on its second possession and held a slim lead at the end of the first half 7-6. In the 3rd quarter, St. Louis drove down to the Iolani 15 yard line, but the defense held. St. Louis kicked a field goal to lead 9-7 going into the 4th quarter. After a clutch fourth down pass and catch to St. Louis’ 30 yard line and a quarterback scamper to the 2 yard line, Iolani got into the end zone on a 2 yard run around the right side. The defense bent but held the Crusaders one last time to preserve a 14-9 victory.
Against Kamehameha White there was no letdown on offense or defense after the previous week’s game. The 7th and 8th graders who worked hard all season long get into the game and played well. The team rolled to another victory, 44-0.
Despite Homecoming Week excitement, the team’s focus never wavered, and the young Raiders were up to the task of beating a game Damien team 34-14.
The title game against St. Louis was played at Iolani on a soft, but dry field, and the Raiders played tough on both offense and defense to emerge with the 19-13 win.
Led by seven 9th graders who have been with the Intermediate program since 7th grade, seven talented new freshmen and seven 2nd year players, the intermediate team has surprised themselves, their coaches and their family and friends.
