From winless to favorite, Hilo will start the new-look HHSAA Division I football tournament in an unfamiliar position.
The Vikings were awarded the top seed Monday in the eight-team field and will host Leilehua (4-7) of the OIA on Nov. 4 in the quarterfinals at Keaau High School.
“When it first came out I was surprised by the top seed because there are a lot of good teams in Division I,” coach Kaeo Drummondo said. “But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter, because we just to go out and take care of business.”
Hilo (8-1) wrapped up its fourth consecutive BIIF championship Friday with a 40-3 rout of Waiakea, securing its third unbeaten league season during that stretch.
That success has never translated to states, where Hilo has lost in the first round the past three seasons, dropping the BIIF’s mark all-time to 0-17.
The landscape changed this season with advent of the inaugural Open Division, which will take the top three teams from the OIA and ILH. The brackets for the Open Division and Division II tournaments haven’t been announced yet. BIIF champion Konawaena owns a spot in the D-II field.
When the Open Division was unveiled in August, Drummondo said the competitor in him wanted the Vikings to compete with the best of the best, but he said the three-tiered system makes sense for the sake of parity.
“If teams want to play in the (Open Division), then go out and win the D-I tournament,” he said.
Waiakea (3-8) plays at No. 2 seed Campbell (6-4) on Nov. 4 and is expected to be severely short-handed without two of its prime offensive playmakers.
Makoa Andres suffered a season-ending injury in the Warriors’ regular-season finale and quarterback Gehrig Octavio is scheduled to attend a baseball showcase during his team’s quarterfinal.
Drummondo said he and his staff guessed Hilo’s opponent was going to be Moanalua, but preparation for the Mules was to start Monday night
Leilehua lost at Mililani 63-42 last Friday in an OIA consolation game that determined the league’s pecking order at states.
The Trojans play No. 4 Baldwin on Maui on Nov. 4 with the winner advancing to a semifinal against the Hilo-Leilehua winner.
Last year at states, Mililani beat Hilo 62-18 in the first round of what was a six-team tournament.
The other quarterfinal matches No. 3 Iolani of the ILH against the fourth OIA team in the field, Moanalua.
Drummondo didn’t entirely rule out the return of injured all-league quarterback Ka’ale Tiogangco for the state quarterfinal, but he said Hilo was preparing as if freshman Kyan Miyasato again would carry the load.
Since Tiogangco was injured in a game Sept. 23 at Honokaa, Miyasato has helped Hilo reel off five easy victories.
“That night at Honokaa was a crossroads in our season, and we could have went two different ways,” Drummondo said. “I’m proud of the way everybody has responded in all three phases. Our special teams has steadily improved, and our defense, and our offense, really, have also gotten better.”
Hilo is set to host its second state game at Keaau. In 2013, the Vikings hung with Campbell before losing 42-27. In 2014 at Aloha Stadium, Hilo raised eyebrows when it held a second-half lead against Kahuku in what was a respectable 20-10 defeat.
This season, the Vikings figure to face higher expectations.
