WAILUKU - Facing the top-ranked passer in the state may require a special effort by the Baldwin High School football team tonight.
With seven return touchdowns for the season, Abraham Reinhardt has been the Bears' uncommon standout all season long. As a defensive back with three interceptions on the season, he may be a large key when Baldwin takes on Mililani tonight at 5 at War Memorial Stadium in a Division I state quarterfinal.
"Mililani, they are really good in their passing," Reinhard said at practice in War Memorial Stadium on Thursday. "This week we changed up our defense - we are trying to put in a defense to try and stop them. We practiced and prepared for it a lot."
Article Photos
Baldwin High’s Abraham Reinhardt has seven returns for touchdowns this season.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER Photo
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association/First Hawaiian Bank Division I State Football Championships game will be televised live by OC Sports.
Mililani is led by Jarin Morikawa, the state's No. 1 passer with 3,098 yards and 33 touchdowns, according to the scoringlive.com website.
In eight MIL games, Baldwin gave up 701 yards passing, an average of just 87.6 yards per contest. Still, the Bears expect to be tested all night against Morikawa. His leading receiver is Ekolu Ramos, who has caught 41 passes for 628 yards and eight touchdowns.
Fact Box
First Hawaiian Bank State Football
DIVISION I
Today's Games
First round
Mililani vs. No. 3 Baldwin at War Memorial Stadium, 5 p.m.
Farrington at No. 4 Kealakehe, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 16
Semifinals At Aloha Stadium
No. 2 Punahou vs. Mililani-Baldwin winner, 4:30 or 7:30 p.m.
No. 1 Kahuku vs. Farrington-Kealakehe winner, 4:30 or 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 23
Championship At Aloha Stadium
Semifinal winners 7 p.m.
DIVISION II
Today's Games
First round
Radford at No. 4 Kauai, 3 p.m.
Nanakuli at No. 3 Konawaena, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 17
Semifinals At Aloha Stadium
No. 2 Lahainaluna vs. Konawaena-Nanakuli winner, 4 or 7 p.m.
No. 1 Iolani vs. Radford-Kauai winner, 4 or 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 23
Championship At Aloha Stadium
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
"We will find out tomorrow," Baldwin coach A.J. Roloos said. "We have had an OK week of practice. Hopefully, we come out tomorrow and show up."
Roloos said after watching Mililani's 50-13 loss to Kahuku in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I championship game last week, he knows the Trojans will come out passing.
"The key is to slow down Morikawa," Roloos said. "All we can do is contain him and hopefully we can get pressure on him. You have got to get pressure on him. You can't let a pure passer like him stand in there and have time or he will pick you apart."
Reinhard agreed with that assessment. Fellow senior defensive back Jacob Valle also has three interceptions on the season and that duo could flourish with pressure from up front. Linebacker Jordan Hoiem, who has four college scholarship offers, has played just three games due to injury and illness.
"I'm slowly getting back into it," Hoiem said. "I'm recovered though, so I should be good. The leg is a little sore, but adrenaline should kick in and I'll be ready. Pressure is the main thing. If we can bring pressure on (Morikawa) it is easier for him to make mistakes. If we can bring the pressure and force a mistake, that is what we need."
Reinhardt would love to see Hoiem and the defensive line led by Miki Fangatua in Morikawa's face.
"It is always good to get pressure on the quarterback - that would help us a lot," Reinhardt said. "That would throw off the timing with the quarterback and the receivers and then hopefully we can make a play."
Roloos said Reinhardt could be a double key, both as a defensive back and kick returner. Reinhardt has returned eight punts for 347 yards and three touchdowns; eight kickoffs for 393 yards and three touchdowns; three interceptions for 37 yards; and a fumble for a 59-yard touchdown.
That's 836 yards on 20 returns, or an average of 41.8 yards each time he touches the ball in a non-offensive manner. Throw in his single offensive touch - a 5-yard scoring reception - and he has eight touchdowns in 21 touches. His 48 points are fifth in the MIL.
"If we can't move the ball on offense, the defense is going to be on the field, so if we can get a spark from our special teams, that's a plus," Roloos said.
Roloos has been with the Baldwin program for more than a decade and he said he has seen few return men similar to Reinhardt. Some who came to mind were A.J. Garbin, Mikey Webb and Skylar Cabacungan.
"We have had good return guys in the past, but I'm not sure if we have ever had one like Abraham," Roloos said. "You have got to give credit to the guys up front blocking. You can't give all the credit to one guy. If we can force some three-and-outs, we can get some touchdowns or field position in the return game. It's a momentum thing. If we can get a big return, that would be perfect for us."
Reinhardt echoed those sentiments.
"I'm always back there thinking, 'Please kick the ball to me,' " Reinhardt said. "And then I am always thinking, 'Score.' I have confidence in my teammates to block, so I really want the ball."
Roloos said he is not sure what kind of crowd to expect for a pre-dinner kickoff for a game that will be televised.
"I'm not sure how much Maui people are going to show up," he said. "It might be big, it might be small, I don't know."
