St. Louis edges Punahou to win ILH title

A grueling two-team race in the ILH that started with double overtime ended with another thriller that came down to the final minute.

Saint Louis senior Saitaua Lefau scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 4-yard run with 3:50 remaining and defensive back Ronson Timbreza came down with the game-clinching interception in the final minute to give the Crusaders an emotional 27-23 victory over Punahou on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

No. 1 Saint Louis (8-1) finished off back-to-back wins against previous-No. 1 Punahou (8-2) to end the Buffanblu's four-year run atop the ILH.

The Crusaders won their first ILH title since 2010 by handing Punahou consecutive losses in ILH games for the first time in more than a decade.

"I'm just so happy for the players. They worked so hard and they deserve it," Saint Louis coach Cal Lee said. "We were fortunate the way things ended up. (Punahou) is a helluva football team. It's too bad only one can go (to the state tournament). That's the way it is."

Saint Louis blew a double-digit lead in the second half of a 51-45 double overtime loss to Punahou in the first meeting this season.

The Crusaders ended Punahou's 20-game winning streak in the ILH last week to force a one-game playoff and then came back after losing a 20-10 lead in the third quarter.

Polynesian Football Hall of Fame

[10/8/15]  And the inductees are: Charlie Ane, Rockne Freitas, Troy Polamalu, Vai Sikahema, Al Lolotai.

[9/10/15] Recently retired Pittsburgh Steelers star safety Troy Polamalu heads the list of 25 finalists for the next class of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.

Also, 15 of the players, contributors and coaches up for installation in the PFHOF's third year graduated from Hawaii high schools.

The finalists were chosen from a field of over 200 nominees by a selection committee including Dick Tomey, LaVell Edwards, Ron McBride, Dick Vermiel, Kevin Mawae, Neil Everett, Gil Brandt and Robert Kekaula.

"This is quite a challenge because there are so many great Polynesian players, coaches and contributors that have made an incredible impact on the game of football," said Tomey, the committee chairman.

This year's inductees will be announced on Oct. 7. They will be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend, to be held at the Hawai'i Convention Center and at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Jan. 29-30.

PLAYERS

Junior Ah You (DE) Arizona State, Pro: CFL & USFL 12 years, Samoan ancestry

Bob Apisa (FB/HB) Michigan State, Pro: NFL (GB) 1 year, Samoan ancestry

Charles "Charlie" Teetai Ane, Jr. (OL) USC, Pro: NFL (DET) 6 years, Samoan ancestry

Herman "Buddy" Piikei Clark (OL) Oregon State, Pro: NFL (CHI) 4 years, Hawaiian ancestry

Riki Morgan Ellison (LB) USC, Pro: NFL (SF, OAK) 9 years, Maori ancestry

Rockne Crowningburg Freitas (OL) Oregon State, Pro: NFL (DET, TB) 11 years, Hawaiian ancestry

Ma'ake Tu'amelie Kemoeatu (DT) Utah, Pro: NFL (BAL, CAR, WAS) 11 years, Tongan ancestry

Brandon Manumaleuna (TE) Arizona, Pro: NFL (STL, SD, CHI) 10 years, Samoan ancestry

Chris Naeole (G) Colorado, Pro: NFL (NO, JAX) 11 years, Hawaiian ancestry

Alapati "Al" Noga (DL) Hawai'i, Pro: NFL (MIN, WAS, IND) 7 years, Samoan ancestry

Niko Noga (LB) Hawai'i, Pro: NFL (AZ, DET) 8 years, Samoan ancestry

Troy Polamalu (DB) USC, PRO: NFL (PIT) 12 years, Samoan ancestry

Joe Fagaone Salave'a (DL) Arizona, Pro: NFL (TEN, BAL, SD, WAS) 8 years, Samoan ancestry

Dan Saleaumua (DT) Arizona State, Pro: NFL (DET, KC, SEA) 12 years, Samoan ancestry

Vai Sikahema (RB/KR) BYU, Pro: NFL (AZ, GB, PHI) 8 years, Tongan ancestry

Ma'a Tanuvasa (DE) Hawai'i, Pro: NFL (STL, PIT, DEN, SD, ATL) 9 years, Samoan ancestry

Mosiula Mea'alofa "Lofa" Tatupu (LB) USC, Pro: NFL (SEA) 6 years, Samoan ancestry

Manu'ula "Manu" Asovalu Tuiasosopo (DL) UCLA, Pro: NFL (SEA, SF) 8 years, Samoan ancestry

Marques Tavita Tuiasosopo (QB) Washington, Pro: NFL (OAK, NYJ) 8 years, Samoan ancestry

Kimo von Oelhoffen (DL) Boise State, Pro: NFL (CIN, PIT, NYJ, PHI) 14 years, Hawaiian ancestry

COACHES AND CONTRIBUTORS

Thomas Ka'auwai Ka'ulukukui, Former Head Coach at University of Hawai'i, Hawaiian ancestry

Cal Lee, Former Head Football Coach, St. Louis High School (HI), Hawaiian ancestry

Albert "Al" Lolotai, First Polynesian to play Professional Football, Samoan ancestry

John Manumaleuna, Southern California Advocate for Polynesian Youth, Samoan ancestry

Charlie Wedemeyer, Former Head Football Coach, Los Gatos High School (CA), Hawaiian ancestry

Don Robbs reflects

A recent visitor to Tokyo was old Japan hand and long-time Honolulu sportscaster Don Robbs. The 78-year-old radio voice of the University of Hawaii baseball games and other sports in the islands has been a frequent traveler to this country since he first came here in 1960 as a member of the U.S. Army.

The veteran mic man gave his thoughts about the changes in Japanese baseball since he saw his first Japanese game at Korakuen Stadium in 1961 and also talked about his own career, how he got into broadcasting and some of the personalities from Hawaii who later excelled in baseball and other sports in Japan.

Robbs came to Japan from Korea 55 years ago to work at the Far East Network (FEN) U.S. Forces radio station, then based at Camp Drake in Saitama Prefecture northwest of Tokyo. He recalled going to see the Yomiuri Giants play at Korakuen and recalls three things about being there: Shigeo Nagashima, the cheerleaders and the food.

“I remember watching Nagashima playing for the Giants and thinking he was the best third baseman I ever saw. Even then, I thought Japanese baseball was at a very high level and entertaining, and Nagashima could have played in the majors then,” Robbs said of the former Yomiuri superstar.

That was three years before Masanori Murakami became the first Japanese big leaguer when he joined the San Francisco Giants in 1964, and 34 years before Hideo Nomo debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995.