Semifinal Round of HHSAA Football State Championships

FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK    13TH ANNUAL FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

                                                       SEMIFINAL ROUND – NOVEMBER 18-19, 2011

Eight teams remain as they vie for their respective divisional crowns in the 13^th annual First Hawaiian Bank Football State Championships.

The Division I semifinal rounds at Aloha Stadium features MIL champion and third-seeded Baldwin Bears versus the ILH champion and second seeded Punahou Buffanblu in the 4:00 p.m. game, Friday, Nov. 18. Following that game, OIA third place Leilehua Mules will be pitted against the OIA champion and top seeded Kahuku Red Raiders at 7:00 p.m.

 The Bears are looking to make Division I state championship history by becoming the first neighbor-island team to advance to the finals in the history of the state championships. In 2006, they were 10 seconds away from achieving that goal in the semifinals, but the Red Raiders played spoiler  in that game with a 43-yard hail Mary into the end zone, with a final score of   22-20.

 The championships conclude next Friday, Nov. 25 at Aloha Stadium with the Division II/Division I doubleheader. Kickoff for the Division II game is at 4:00 p.m.

                  THIS WEEK’S TELEVISION COVERAGE:

OC16 will broadcast the Division I semifinal doubleheader live from Aloha Stadium on Friday, Nov. 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. In the early game, Kanoa Leahey will call the play-by-play with Coach Larry Price providing color commentary. In the late game Howard Dashefsky will have the play-by-play with Kapolei football head coach Darren Hernandez and Lori Sant providing color commentary.

Three simple ways to keep your brain healthy in your Golden Years

The aging process takes enough of a toll on the human body without having the mind share the same fate. As we age, the brain is susceptible to various degenerative processes, from simple lapses in memory and concentration to outright cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s. Fortunately, there are simple ways to keep your brain healthy into your golden years. Here are three brain boosters to keep you on your mental toes:

Feed It: Your brain needs sound nutrition to function optimally. The outer membrane of brain cells requires a constant supply of fatty acids. That’s where omega-3s can help. Choline, a B vitamin present in high amounts in eggs, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, wheat germ and tofu, may also be important for brain neurotransmitter function while benefiting mood and mental performance.

Exercise It: Research suggests consistent physical activity can help people maintain memory and cognitive function as they age. According to at least one study, the exercise necessary to achieve brain benefits involved simple activities such as walking, gardening, cooking and cleaning. Another recent study showed that after a year of lifting weights twice a week, elderly women performed significantly better on tests of mental processing compared to women who participated in a balancing and toning program instead.

Challenge It: In a sense, if you don’t challenge your brain, stagnation can set it, leading to all sorts of problems over time. The solution is simple, research suggests: challenge your brain. How? Try crossword puzzles, chess, word problems or other strategies to keep your brain alert and engaged. The moral is simple: Take care of your mind and your mind will do the same for you.