There’s an old saying that actions speak louder than words, and that’s fitting for Hilo, a football team that’s playing with a silent championship focus.
There’s an old saying that actions speak louder than words, and that’s fitting for Hilo, a football team that’s playing with a silent championship focus.
The Vikings had more than a half-dozen stars in their 51-0 win against Honokaa in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation game last week on the road.
There were other highlight performances by players from other BIIF teams as well from Division I, Division II and 8-man football.
But for Week 3, there’s no BIIF Player of the Week. That’s because no candidates were nominated by any coach from Division I, Division II or 8-man football.
The weekly honor is available to any player – quarterback, running back, defensive lineman, kicker, punter, etc. – for any level: Division I, Division II or 8-man football.
Despite the absence of a BIIF Player of the Week, there are other things to highlight, the biggest are a pair of huge matchups: Hilo at Kealakehe, and Hawaii Prep at Konawaena.
The main prize for each winner is a leg up in the standings, a chance for a No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in the BIIF four-team playoffs. If two teams are tied at the end of the regular season, the edge goes to the head-to-head winner.
Throw that out and basically the season boils down to two games: the BIIF semifinals and championship.
With that in mind, especially with the everyone-makes-the-playoffs deal, sometimes teams don’t bring their full playbooks. Why run a trick play or a favorite scheme that always nets 12 yards and have it filmed?
In any case, let’s call Week 4 the BIIF championship reunion week. For those with a sharp memory, last year Hilo defeated Kealakehe 21-10 for the league’s Division I title, and Kona beat HPA 27-19 for its third consecutive Division II crown.
HPA (1-2 BIIF D-II, 2-3 overall) at Kona (2-1 D-II, 3-1), 7 p.m. Friday
The Wildcats probably know that receivers Nicky Palleschi and Justin Perry are top targets for Ka Makani quarterback Koa Ellis, who found his pass-catching buddies in a 37-0 win against Keaau.
One guy is tall while the other is shorter, but they’re both productive. The 6-foot-5 Palleschi caught six balls for 102 yards and a touchdown, while Perry had three receptions for 90 yards and a score.
The most effective way to neutralize someone’s aerial attack is to sack the quarterback, usually with a heavy pass rush or blitz.
Will the Wildcats save their best pass-rush or blitz package for later or do they risk having it on tape, not just for another possible reunion, but for Kamehameha’s benefit, if a scout is sent, as well?
Waiakea (1-2 D-1, 1-4) at Kamehameha (2-1 D-II, 2-1), after 5 p.m. JV Friday
Kamehameha public address announcer Stan Atkins has to be mindful to not call either team by its nickname. That’s because they’re both nicknamed the Warriors.
The only thing more troublesome for a PA announcer is having a team’s roster with a number, but no name next to it. That was the case in Kamehameha’s 35-21 win against Kealakehe last week, when he announced a number (Atkins: “No. 42 carries the ball for 2 yards”) and no name.
It’s a good thing Atkins can climb stairs fairly fast because he got the name at halftime, and all was good.
Even better, the Warriors – the private-school ones – had a fine display of run defense and stuffed the Waveriders.
The Warriors – the public-school ones – lost to Kona 44-3 and didn’t have key running back Pono Auwae (out with injury). They’re still holding auditions at quarterback.
Hilo (3-0 D-I, 4-0) at Kealakehe (2-1 D-1, 2-2), after 5 p.m. JV Saturday
For years and years, there were always two things you could count on for Waverider football: big offensive linemen and a bruising running game.
Well, 1 for 2 is quite wonderful, if the sport is baseball.
Too often in Kealakehe’s loss at Kamehameha, the Warriors got angle blocked at the line of scrimmage, a ball-carrier found a hole, and a defender or two quickly turned and still made the tackle.
That’s a case of one or two things or maybe both: O-linemen not finishing their blocks or running backs not exploding through the hole, no matter how small or big it is.
The Vikings don’t like to talk about their glory. But they’re the top tackling team – sound technique and better alignment – in the league. They put on a clinic, and no Honokaa rusher went for more than 25 yards – not on a single play, but in the game.
Keaau (0-3 D-1, 0-4) at Honokaa (1-2 D-II, 1-2), after 5 p.m. JV Saturday
Last season, this matchup was about the Dragons trying to get a first win against another underdog opponent. The shoe is on the other foot a year later.
As far as the remaining schedule for the young-and-rebuilding Cougars after the Dragons, it’s not a bed of roses. Next week Hilo visits, then Keaau is on the road at Kealakehe. That’s not a lot of time to heal against physical bullies with Kamehameha following.
Like Division I, everyone is in the playoffs for Division II – Kamehameha, Kona, HPA and Honokaa – so there’s less at stake for the Dragons, who could experiment with schemes to find what works best, on offense and defense.
Unlike the four teams in BIIF championship reunion week, the Dragons don’t have to worry about anyone filming their game.
8-man football
Pahoa (0-2 BIIF, 0-3) at Kona JV, 5 p.m. Friday
The main thing for the junior varsity teams that play in 8-man games is that the youngsters can learn all about speed, space and angles. Of course, it’s the same thing for the league’s three 8-man teams: Pahoa, Kohala and pioneer Ka‘u.
It’s basically a free geometry class on a slightly smaller field that offers a lot of open space. If a defender doesn’t know how to take a proper angle when charging a ball-carrier, it’ll be a lesson learned after a long touchdown.
Editor’s note: Division I, II and 8-man football coaches are asked to nominate a BIIF player of the week candidate with stats and brief summary. Email to kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com.