Mules and Seariders renew their annual rivalry at Raymond Torii Field.

With clenched fists of determination, the Waianae High School varsity football team spent the last week of September anticipating the seventh game of the season. This game meant more than most, it was the Seariders’s 51st homecoming game. On top of that it was a chance to beat long time division rivals the Leilehua Mules.

For the past six seasons the Seariders have lost to the mules, two times at their homecoming.

“Ever since I’ve been here we’ve lost to the Mules. Hopefully this year we will get that first victory against them,” said senior captain Leighton Panui.

In order to get that victory, the team spent the week practicing their best plays and figuring out ways to combat the other teams plays.

“The boys have been practicing hard, and we’ve been having some good practices this week,” said varsity head coach Danny Matsumoto.

With the team’s hard work, Matsumoto expects a close game, and hopes that the team can overcome their rivals.

Even though Waianae has not seen a homecoming victory since the 2006-2007 school year, the team has not given up hope.

“I feel real good, we had a good week of practice, I feel confident coming into this game,” said varsity running back Jason Towne.

The boys feel that winning this homecoming game and breaking the losing streak against the mules is a must.

“I want to win very badly because we have a big rivalry, and our backs are against the wall in a must win situation,” said offensive line Douglas Westbrooke Jr.

On Friday September 30th, the Seariders were given a chance to break that streak. The game started close, with a 7 to 7 tie in the first quarter. However, by the end of the third the Mules took a commanding 20 point lead. Despite their best efforts, the Seariders were not able to come back and the night ended with another loss 20-34.

Homecoming or not, the team does not deny the defeat.

"We knew they were going to be a tough team and we were just having a lot of miss assignments and it all added up; came up short," said Towne.

Although the streak did not end that night, the boys believe that future varsity players will be able to rise to the occasion. Until then, the Searider-Mule rivalry will continue.

With clenched fists of determination, the Waianae High School varsity football team spent the last week of September anticipating the seventh game of the season. This game meant more than most, it was the Seariders’s 51st homecoming game. On top of that it was a chance to beat long time division rivals the Leilehua Mules.

For the past six seasons the Seariders have lost to the mules, two times at their homecoming.

“Ever since I’ve been here we’ve lost to the Mules. Hopefully this year we will get that first victory against them,” said senior captain Leighton Panui.

In order to get that victory, the team spent the week practicing their best plays and figuring out ways to combat the other teams plays.

“The boys have been practicing hard, and we’ve been having some good practices this week,” said varsity head coach Danny Matsumoto.

With the team’s hard work, Matsumoto expects a close game, and hopes that the team can overcome their rivals.

Even though Waianae has not seen a homecoming victory since the 2006-2007 school year, the team has not given up hope.

“I feel real good, we had a good week of practice, I feel confident coming into this game,” said varsity running back Jason Towne.

The boys feel that winning this homecoming game and breaking the losing streak against the mules is a must.

“I want to win very badly because we have a big rivalry, and our backs are against the wall in a must win situation,” said offensive line Douglas Westbrooke Jr.

On Friday September 30th, the Seariders were given a chance to break that streak. The game started close, with a 7 to 7 tie in the first quarter. However, by the end of the third the Mules took a commanding 20 point lead. Despite their best efforts, the Seariders were not able to come back and the night ended with another loss 20-34.

Homecoming or not, the team does not deny the defeat.

"We knew they were going to be a tough team and we were just having a lot of miss assignments and it all added up; came up short," said Towne.

Although the streak did not end that night, the boys believe that future varsity players will be able to rise to the occasion. Until then, the Searider-Mule rivalry will continue.