'Wild Play' and 'Historic' were some of the ways the sports headlines described the 'Iolani versus King Kekaulike football game on Friday night at Maui's War Memorial Stadium.
But this battle of the state Division II football tournament was also a heart wrencher, a nail biter, and an unbelievable tug-of-war between talent and luck. What 'Iolani lacked in physical size, the team made up for in true determination, focus, and spirit. 'Iolani played with heart, and in the end, that determines the real winners.
"In what has to rank as one of the most unlikely game-winning sequences in the history of the Hawaii High School Athletic Aossciation football tournament, King Kekaulike turned a botched final play into a 38-37 victory over 'Iolani in a seesaw Division II semifinal," wrote Honolulu Star Bulletin reporter Fred Guzman.
King Kekaulike coaches and players rushed the field as the referee's arms shot up in the air after Randen Abafo caught the ball in the end zone in the final play of the game. The Na Ali'i fans went crazy with cheers, their faces painted and their band and cheerleaders jumping for joy.
On the opposite side of the stadium, 'Iolani was in shock. Dozens of family members, alumni and other Raider fans had traveled over the Thanksgiving weekend for the neighbor island game. The mauka bleachers were a sea of red, black and white, even without a band or cheerleaders.
Through out the game, the fans sang 'Iolani No Ka Oi after each score, cheered loudly and enthusiastically. And now put their hands together for the Raiders in defeat. 
On the field's side, Coach Wendell Look gathered the team and gave them a final talk. Most boys lowered their heads. Some wiped their eyes. It had been a long day of flight delays and playing in an unfamiliar stadium. But the camaraderie and One Team spirit were never feigned.
"I hope this hurts," Look told his players, like a parent seizing upon a teachable moment. "Because if it doesn't hurt, that means it didn't matter."
The boys put their helmets back on and walked towards the stadium exit. They could hear the applause meant for them from the King Kekaulike fans. In the future, lifelong lessons from this loss will come.
Read the Star Bulletin's story: http://starbulletin.com/2006/11/25/sports/story08.html
