The most exciting time of Hawaii’s high school football season is rapidly approaching.
Just two weeks remain before island playoffs begin, and teams across the Big Island are expected to be playing their best football and ending the regular season on a high note. Four games across the island take place this week, including Thursday night’s battle between Kamehameha-Hawaii and Hilo.
See the paper in the coming days to read the results from Thursday’s game.
Dragons rematch Waveriders
At 6 p.m. tonight at Waverider Stadium, the Honoka‘a Dragons will visit the Kealakehe Waveriders in a rematch from their Aug. 22 matchup, in which Honoka‘a won 26-6.
But much has changed for the ‘Riders since late August, going 4-3 since then. The team has found an identity as a tough, physical group that can beat you in the air and on the ground. Currently at 4-2 in league play, Kealakehe is led by sophomore star quarterback Kanoa Castillo-Simmons — a signal caller that has veteran-like pocket presence and the running ability to escape the pocket if need be. The ‘Riders also do a fair amount of damage in their backfield, led by Gabriel Chong. The senior is a powerful north-south runner that can also display shifty elusiveness while in space.
Kealakehe averages 17.7 points per game. Tonight will be the ‘Riders last game of the regular season, and will look to finish strong in head coach Brian Hill’s first season.
The Dragons head into tonight’s game off two straight convincing victories. They currently stand at 3-2 in league play and 4-3 overall, cementing themselves as one of the more dangerous teams in BIIF Division II.
Honoka‘a (4-3) runs a two-quarterback system with Kage Yadao and Josyah Napoleon-Umeda, who each possess different traits that benefit the Dragons’ high-scoring offense. The team averages nearly 30 points per game while allowing under 17. The Dragons have scored over 40 points thrice, which includes a 51-0 rout over HPA on Aug. 28, a 46-6 beatdown over Ka‘u on Sept. 27 and a 48-0 shutout over Kohala last weekend.
Honoka‘a has a three-headed snake in its backfield, as Blaize Jardine, Chrys Coelho and Napu Silva have combined for 619 yards and 13 touchdowns.
2025 marks Dragons head coach Zachary Tadio’s second season leading the team.
Wildcats, Cougars clash
For the second time in four weeks, BIIF Division I’s best in Konawaena (6-2) and Kea‘au (4-4) will battle it out on Saturday at Julian R. Yates Field.
The Wildcats are peaking at the perfect time in the season, as they’re no strangers to knowing what it takes to go the distance in the postseason. Kona has won six straight, each scoring 35 or more. The Wildcats are coming off a 66-0 shutout of Kealakehe last week in the annual crosstown clash — their first time allowing no points this season.
The green and white average 39.4 points per game, primarily led by their lethal passing attack. Junior Keenan Alani remains the island’s best quarterback, throwing for 15 touchdowns and two interceptions thus far. But due to some missed time, freshman Elston Hooper has taken a considerable amount of snaps at quarterback — giving Wildcats fans a glimpse into the future. The young star has made the most of his opportunities, as he’s thrown for 11 touchdowns and just 1 interception across 83 attempts.
Kona also has a strong backfield, as junior Kainalu Alves and freshman Shayden Domingo each average over six yards per carry. Their contrasting playstyles leave defenses confused and scrambling, as Alves is a more patient, elusive runner, while Domingo is a pure north-south runner.
Defensively, the Wildcats allow 16 points per game. Highlighting the unit is the defensive line, led by junior edge rusher Zane Fujihara-Faavesi, who already has interest from NCAA Division-I programs.
The Cougars haven’t played in two weeks, but are coming off two straight losses to Kona and Hilo. Nonetheless, Kea‘au has looked strong this season after losing some star power to graduation in the spring. First-year starting quarterback Trustin Gomes has turned heads across the island, as the senior set a state record for the most touchdown passes thrown in a single game with nine against HPA on Sept. 20. He’s currently thrown for 1,708 yards, 18 touchdowns and five picks this season.
Running back Charleston Salazar has also been a force for the Cougars, as he’s rushed for 771 yards and eight touchdowns on five yards per carry. Josiah Nihoa is the team’s top receiver, who has logged 441 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 17 yards per catch.
Warriors, Trojans meet for first time
Waiakea and Ka‘u will meet for the first time this season at 1 p.m. Saturday in Pahala. The two schools were originally scheduled to meet in late August, but the game was forfeited by the Trojans.
Waiakea is in a rebuilding phase with first-year head coach Keli‘i Kailipaka, as the team currently sits 3-4 overall. The team’s most impressive win was against Pahoa on Aug. 20, where the Warriors won 34-24 in Puna.
Ka‘u is 1-6 overall, but has a signature win over Pahoa from Sept. 6, winning 54-32. The Trojans average 14 points per game.