KAILUA-KONA — What’s a good catalyst for an early-season bounce back? How about a revved up, cross-town rivalry game.
Both Kealakehe (0-2) and Konawaena (0-2) are looking for a pick-me-up in Week 1 of the BIIF season, which starts in a hurry with the rivalry matchup at Waverider Stadium tonight. Kickoff is slated for around 7 p.m., after the JV contest concludes.
“We are moving forward, and I think this is a good game to have after our start,” Konawaena head coach Brad Uemoto said. “There is no lack of motivation facing Kealakehe. There will be a lot of relationships between guys who played Pop Warner together but are on different sides of the ball now. It’s a little more personal.”
Kealakehe head coach Sam Kekuaokalani echoed Uemoto’s sentiments.
“When we play against each other, it’s always an intense week of preparation,” Kekuaokalani said. “We live in the same community, and respect each other a lot, but we have to go out there and battle. We always do, no matter the sport.”
Lately, it’s been a one-sided rivalry in favor of the Wildcats.
The game was eliminated from the league schedule for a number of years due to the two schools playing in different divisions. The most recent hiatus was for two seasons, from 2011-12.
Since returning in 2013, the matchup has been heavily skewed in Konawaena’s favor. The Wildcats — who have reeled off five BIIF D-II titles in six years — are 4-0 and have outscored the D-I Waveriders 140-52 in those games. The last time Kealakehe beat Konawaena was a 44-0 preseason romp in 2010.
This time around, both teams have stumbled out of the gate with identical 0-2 records against non-league opponents. The two Big Island squads were outscored a combined 126-54 — Kealakehe to California squad St. Margaret’s and two-time ILH D-II champ Damien, while Konawaena saw lopsided results against a strong Kapaa team out of the KIF and D-II contender Saint Francis (ILH).
“It’s always good to complete against teams like that. It gave us an assessment where we’re at,” Kekuaokalani said. “There was some good and not so good, but mostly we just know better now where we can improve.”
The Waveriders’ biggest improvement can come in the passing game, which has been lacking of late. Kealakehe recorded a 76-yard score through the air against the visiting Tartans last week, but that’s been the only passing score and even completions have been few and far between.
Seniors Kekoa Ilagan-LeBlanc and Anthony Trevino have split time so far behind center in the ‘Riders spread offense, but it’s unknown who will get the starting call against the Wildcats.
The back-to-back losses were the first in the two-plus year Uemoto-era of Wildcat football. While it’s an unfamiliar feeling, Konawaena will have the benefit of welcoming back more than a half-dozen starters to the fold who were out in the first two games due to injuries and grades. Kealakehe faces a similar situation, as well.
“We don’t have a ton of depth, and a lot of guys got some good reps. Ultimately, it forced some urgency to correct some things we haven’t done well,” Uemoto said. “Last year, we won a lot of games and many of our problems didn’t get addressed. We are fixing things, and it’s more about us than our opponent right now.”
The key for the Wildcats on offense will be balance. Austin Ewing has thrown the ball 106 times in two games, including a carrer-high 64-attempt outing against the Saints.
They face that task without running back Dominic Delacruz, who has received the majority of the carries so far this season but was injured in the game against Saint Francis. With the senior back sidelined, Chauncey Mariani-Louis will move over from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive backfield.
“We have been a bit lopsided in play-calling, and we need to establish the run,” Uemoto said. “Kealakehe is athletic in the secondary and match-up with us well. We just have to find the mismatches and take advantage.”
Defensively, it’s all about stopping the run for the Wildcats, who have allowed back-to-back 200-yard rushers.
“There’s a feeling that the entire state has written us off and that’s perfect,” Uemoto said. “Our focus is just on taking care of business week-to-week here.”
Waiakea (1-2) at Honokaa (1-0), 7:20 p.m. Friday
The Dragons won the preseason battle Aug. 12 at Waiakea, getting 117 yards running from Klayton Gascon and 122 yards passing from Ocean Guerpo-Beamer, who also threw for a touchdown.
Honokaa’s defense pitched a shutout into the fourth quarter, then matters for the Warriors went from bad to worse last weekend as they were shutout, 56-0 at Kamehameha.
Quarterback Ka‘io Kon had all three of his passes intercepted, but Waiakea coach Kalei Young is hopeful the converted defensive starter will be able to grow from the onslaught and bounce back against Honokaa.
“For him to feel this pressure, he’s going to take this into the next game,” Young said after the loss. “What else are they going to bring that he hasn’t scene? I feel like he’s going to have a lot of confidence.”
It’s only Week 1, but with trips to Hilo and Konawaena looming in the next two weeks, a win here could be crucial for Honokaa to stay in Division II race.
Hilo (1-0) at Hawaii Prep (1-0), 3 p.m.
Hawaii Prep alum Daniel Te’o-Nesheim makes his BIIF coaching debut against the four-time defending Division I champion.
The teams have similar records courtesy of preseason road victories, but the similarities end there.
On Aug. 12, the Vikings scored a rousing 62-35 victory against perennial ILH contender Iolani as Kahale Huddleston scored six touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Ka Makani travelled to Maui last Saturday for Seabury Hall’s first 11-man game and ultimately took care of business with a 27-14 victory.
According to the Maui News, HPA took the lead for good late in the third quarter when Umi Kealoha found Kamuela Lindsey for a 51-yard touchdown strike.
Sheldon Aribal finished with 168 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Lindsey and Kealoha also each ran for a score as Ka Makani generated 320 yards of offense.
The game was just a test run for the Spartans, who will play eight-man this season and have a game scheduled against Pahoa on Sept. 1 at Keaau High.
Keaau at Kamehameha (2-1), 7:20 p.m.
While the Warriors were busing during the preseason, the Cougars haven’t played a game, relying on practice to instill the spread offense.
Coming off a two-win season and with coach Leo Abellera entering his second season, the Keaau might be somewhat of an unknown, but Kamehameha coach Dan Lyons knows Abellera, a former Warriors assistant, well.
“A good coach and a friend,” Lyons said, “and you’re know his team is going to prepared.
“They are going to be better, so we better be prepared.”
The neighboring schools are playing for the seventh annual Kipimana Cup, with W.H. Shipman, Ltd providing $500 to each of the school’s booster clubs following the game as well as a trophy to the winning team.
“I appreciate the aloha shared between the two schools and not making this event a rivalry,” Keaau athletic director Iris McGuire said in a release. “Both schools are active in our community.
“Our relationship with Kamehameha continues to grow in a positive way. Over the years we have worked together in other aspects both academically and athletically. We may have different colors and different mascots, but when it comes down to it, we are still one community. Mahalo WH Shipman for your support!”
Eight-man
Pahoa (1-0) at Ka’u, 1 p.m.
The Trojans started their eight-man program in 2013, giving them a head start on the Daggers and Kohala – who came along a year later – and it’s no coincidence that Ka’u has won two of the three BIIF crowns.
In 2014, Pahoa started from behind since they hadn’t fielded a football team the previous 12 seasons, and it’s no coincidence the Daggers’ only two victories to date came last season.
However, if a 34-27 preseason victory against Molokai is any indication, Pahoa may finally be ready to catch up to the Trojans, who are the only BIIF team other than Keaau that doesn’t have a game under their belt.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald’s Matt Gerhart contributed to this report.
