Once again, our undefeated FHS varsity football team arrived at Aloha Stadium to maintain their loss-less record, as they met up with the Kahuku Red Raiders in OIA Championship play. Kahuku had revenge on their mind from the streak-breaking 14-13 loss to FHS just a month or so earlier. The critics were calling it a fluke; they said that Farrington was "lucky" and would get theirs at the Stadium.
As the OIA White division final was being played out, we made our way to the locker room. Inside the boys and lady were fired up, yet there was a bit of pallor in the room....can't describe what it was, but I did pray for the usual players who ask for personal prayer before the corporate time....I prayed and asked God for an encouragement... I shared with them James 1:12, which simply says, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." I told the players I was grateful for a memorable season and we are going to keep pressing forward, how trials PURIFY a player and how they can play PURE football, 110 percent. We prayed, sang "I'a Pepese la Fa'afetai", then hit the field.
I had the pleasure of meeting in person, Coach Skippa Diaz, a Farrington legendary coach. He's had some low points in his life, but that is in his past and he came to bless every player with greetings. Even some Kahuku players and coaches came to say "hi" to him.
That's where the pleasantries ended. Our team took off running, but just couldn't formulate or capitalize on any plays. Kahuku had "kill" on their mind and they played like it was life or death. It just wasn't happening for the FHS players. I agonized at the frustration of each one, and I was concerned when Shai (one of our Defensive Linemen) took an injury to his knee that had him gritting his teeth, despite the fire in his eyes to get back out on the field, Dr. Wayne had him sit it out. There WILL be more football, no worry.
Kahuku took a 3 point lead that quickly turned bigger in the second half. Our team normally is able to bounce back in the second half, something that had confounded our opponents, but Kahuku wasn't going to have any of it. They played football that we just couldn't "click" on. It was humbling, it was frustrating, and the fans of our opponents were getting arrogant and cocky with cheers like "Why so quiet?" in mocking tones. Sad, but that's fan-ship for you.
At the end of the game, the coaches had ALL players huddle together for corporate prayer. I had to fight off my feelings as I didn't want to shake ANY Kahuku player or coaches hands at all....arrogance disgusted me. Then I remembered an incident where someone didn't want to shake my coaches (my brother in Christ, coach Randall) hand...and how that hurt him, even in victory....I REPENTED IMMEDIATELY and ran to shake every Red Raider player and coaches hands I could find. We prayed, gave God the glory as ONE FOOTBALL FAMILY, #1 and 2, congratulated the OIA CHAMPION KAHUKU RED RAIDERS.
Farrington, don't drop your heads, hold them up high. You played your hearts out and it just wasn't our night. Good soldiers dust themselves off, evaluate the loss, work on the improvements, and prepare for the next battle! Looks like were Maui bound to play Baldwin next week!
FINAL SCORE: FHS 0, Kahuku 23. Thank You Jesus for the chance to play, You get the GLORY, even in defeat. Our first and only one right now.
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