By J.R. DE GROOTE
West Hawaii Today
KAILUA-KONA — There’s no easing into the season for Kealakehe and Konawaena.
The cross-town rivals begin their 2019 campaigns with a bang Saturday at Julian Yates Field in Kealakekua — but this time there’s more at stake than just bragging rights.
For the first time in more than 15 years, the two West Hawaii programs stand directly in the way of each other in the pursuit of a championship, with Konawaena having made the jump to Division I in the offseason.
“To start off with a cross-town rivalry is huge. I feel like it’s going to set the tone for the year,” Konawaena head coach Brad Uemoto said. “I feel it’s turned more into a true rivalry now, considering we are in the same division.”
With the new-look BIIF schedule, division rivals will see each other twice during the year, and each time the stakes will be high. With no semifinal round, only two teams make it to the postseason.
“Scores get closer, games get tighter and it turns into more of a coaching battle. A lot of games will be decided by who adjusts, as well as the new wrinkles and schemes implemented,” Uemoto said. “It’s a lot about gamesmanship and not putting certain things on film that teams can prepare for.”
History of success
Both Konawaena and Kealakehe have had success in their particular divisions leading up to the merger, which also saw Honokaa move up from D-II to form a six-team D-I. Waiakea, Keaau and six-time defending D-I champion Hilo are the other squads competing for the crown. Kamehameha, Kohala, HPA, Ka‘u and Pahoa are the D-II teams on the island.
Konawaena has played for a BIIF title every year since 2010, winning six titles over than span. Kealakehe has been in the running for the D-I championship every year but one since division classification started during the 2003 season. The Waveriders won eight titles from 2004-12, but haven’t been able to get over the hurdle of Hilo since 2013.
While Uemoto admits that this time around the matchup with Kealakehe will carry some extra weight, he’s looking forward to the test of keeping his team even-keeled for the emotional matchup.
“For us, we will preach during the week that it’s just another game,” Uemoto said. “To have that kind of test right off the bat is a great gauge to see where you are at as a team.”
Familiar foes
What adds yet another wrinkle to the game is that the sides know each other well, which starts with the coaches. First-year Kealakehe head coach Wyatt Nahale was previously the JV coach at Konawaena for four seasons before taking the gig with the Waveriders.
There are also a handful of players who have swapped sides, primarily at the quarterback position. Sheynen Nahale was under center for Konawaena last season as a freshman, but will now be slinging the ball as sophomore for the Waveriders. Nahale brought his top target with him, too, with wide receiver Hunter Wehrsig — an All-BIIF honorable mention a year ago — transferring to Kealakehe from Konawaena as well.
On the other sideline, junior Kainoa “Boo” Jones was the JV QB for Kealakehe his freshman year, and was an All-BIIF playmaker in the receiving corps a year ago for the ‘Riders. Now, he’ll be running the show as the quarterback for the Wildcats.
Recent history is very much on the Wildcats’ side. Konawaena has dominated since the game returned to the regular season schedule in 2013. The Wildcats are 6-0, outscoring the Waveriders 195-64 in those games. The last time Kealakehe beat Konawaena was a 44-0 preseason romp in 2010. Last year, Konawaena edged Kealakehe 16-3.
But as Nahale points out, none of that matters when the two squads meet up.
“For me it doesn’t matter about the divisions or records,” Nahale said. “Whenever Konawaena and Kealakehe meet up, you are going to expect it’s going to be the game of the year for both sides.”
Kickoff will follow the JV contest and it tenativley slated for 7:30 p.m.
Honokaa (0-0) at Waimea (0-0), 7 p.m.
The Dragons visit the Garden Isle to complete a home-and-home series. Last year, Honokaa beat the Menehune 20-14.
The preseason game marks the return of Fred Lau, who coached Honokaa to the 2009 BIIF championship and last coached at Waiakea in 2010.
The Menehune went 1-7, including 0-6 in the Kauai Interscholastic Federation. The Dragons finished 2-6, including 1-6 in the BIIF Division II level.
“We don’t know anything about them. I heard they have solid returnees and are suiting up 35,” Lau said. “We’re taking 28 kids over.”
Waimea was once the powerhouse of the KIF with 12 straight league titles from 1992 to 2003.
But due to lower enrollments, either Kauai or Kapaa has won the KIF crown since then.
