The four high school football teams playing for state championships tomorrow have varied backgrounds in geography, physical and ethnic makeup, socio-economics and style.

But they share one important quality, maybe the most significant of them all: Their players hit the books as hard as they hit opponents.

And that's saying something.

If nothing else, Iolani, Radford, Kahuku and Punahou have proved this season that finding success both on the football field and in the classroom is a realistic goal, and one well worth pursuing.

"Academics and football go hand-in-hand," said Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai, whose team is ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media. "We've always believed that, but a lot of times the academics gets overshadowed by the football."

At least for today, it won't.

BRINGING THE 'A' GAME

At 5 feet 8, 185 pounds, Iolani's Matthew Kohatsu looks like a typically undersized Raiders starting offensive lineman.

But Kohatsu is not your typical student. As one of 78 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists from Hawai'i, he ranks in the top one-half of one percent of high school seniors in the United States who took the 2004 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test.

Like the rest of his teammates, he has football practice every day after school from 3:30 p.m. till dusk, then showers and heads home. By the time he walks through his front door in Hawai'i Kai, it's usually 7 or 7:15 and then after dinner he does homework, sometimes until midnight or 1 a.m.

"There's no watching TV on weekdays," said Kohatsu, whose courses include advanced placement calculus and AP economics.

Kohatsu and his teammates are able to keep pace academically at a school where 34 seniors are National Merit semifinalists — representing 45 percent of the state's total and more than all other O'ahu private schools put together.

Linebacker Jon Takamura (4.3 grade-point average) is considering playing for Harvard, Brown, Yale or Cornell, and running back Mike Hirokawa (3.8) has Cornell, Princeton and Dartmouth on his list of prospective colleges.

"We've got a lot of smart guys on this team," Kohatsu said. "(Quarterback) Kiran Kepo'o takes AP statistics and AP biology, (defensive backs) Landon Patoc and Daniel Takami are about 4.0 (students), and our whole offensive line averages about 3.5, 3.6."

Nineteen of Iolani's 51 football players made the school's Headmaster's List (minimum 3.5 GPA, no grade below B-) for the first quarter, and 20 others made the Honor Roll (minimum 3.0 GPA, no grade below C-).

Like Livai, Raiders coach Wendell Look said he sees the connection between academic and athletic performance.

"Takamura has always been an intelligent player, and I think that carries over from the classroom," Look said. "He brings the same attitude he has in class onto the field."

'ON THE SAME PAGE'

Kahuku's football dominance has been well-chronicled over the past few years, but lost in the attention has been the Red Raiders' success on their report cards.

While several other O'ahu Interscholastic Association teams struggle yearly with 10, 15 or up to 20 players starting the season on academic probation, Kahuku never seems to be affected by ineligible players.

And it's not by accident.

"No. 1, our athletic director, counselors and coaches are all on the same page when it comes to that," Livai said. "Before I even issue the pads, the players have to turn in a clearance form which the counselor has to sign. Before the end of spring practice, we know every player's status and if they have to go to summer school or take correspondence courses, we follow through and make sure they register."

In season, the Red Raiders have grade checks every Wednesday and Livai reviews a list of players who are struggling in class.

"We have two types of study halls, one from 2:30 (p.m.) to 3 and another one from 3 to 4, every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday," Livai said. "We divide them into five groups, and we have separate study halls for English and math."

Like Iolani, Kahuku has several starters who also excel off the field, like two-time all-star defensive end B.J. Beatty, who carries a 3.2 GPA.

"(Quarterback) Kaulin Krebs and (running back) Malosi Te'o are taking AP calculus, and we have other players who are on the speech and debate team," Livai said. "Our school has great academics, but people don't always recognize us for that."

The colleges do, as Kahuku routinely leads the state and is one of the top programs in the West region when it comes to producing NCAA Division I football players. And almost all of the Red Raiders have no problem meeting the NCAA's requirements for freshmen.

"After doing it a while, by the time they're seniors the kids know what we expect from them," Livai said.

COMMITMENT, SACRIFICE

Like Iolani, Punahou's college preparatory curriculum demands a lot of attention to schoolwork from all of its athletes.

And like the Raiders, the Buffanblu are well represented at some of the nation's top colleges.

This year, starting defensive back Jay Angotti is receiving interest from several Ivy League schools, according to Punahou coach Kale Ane.

"We've got other players who are looking at playing at some of the smaller schools that are academically strong, like Occidental or Pomona-Pitzer," Ane said. "We try to get them to balance academics and athletics. The school challenges the kids in the classroom, and most of them respond well."

As with Iolani's student body, many of Punahou's students live in outlying areas like Mililani, Pearl City, Windward O'ahu and Hawai'i Kai, and they spend much of their time every day commuting to and from school.

"It's a long day for them, but that's the sacrifice their families are willing to make," Ane said. "That's the commitment they make to education, so it's part of the expectation they have."

LIFETIME REWARD

When it comes to emphasizing academics, Radford head coach Fred Salanoa talks the talk, and then walks the walk.

The Rams' team GPA in the first quarter was 3.1.

"My coaching philosophy is, 'Family first, school second and football third,' and I stand by that," Salanoa said. "I make sure the kids' academic achievements are recognized during practice. The most excitement I get from this team is from the things they do in the classroom."

Salanoa's players have given him plenty to cheer about.

Receiver Joe Brundidge is taking three AP classes, has a 4.2 GPA and is student body president. Defensive end Vasa Kuresa has a 3.6 GPA and is a National Honor Society member. Guard Ramsey Feagai has a 3.5 GPA, as does linebacker Fil Samson, who also belongs to the chess club and wants to become an engineer.

Offensive lineman Ian Scheuring is taking two AP classes and has a 3.0 GPA.

"Our guys may not know it, but they are role models by the way they carry themselves around school," Salanoa said. "Doing well in school makes them more level-headed, and I always tell them that education is one thing that can never be taken away. In football, something can happen to your leg and then all of a sudden, it's over. But once you earn that diploma, it's yours forever, and nobody can ever take it away from you."

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