Leagues look at 8-man football

It wasn’t long ago when Kamehameha-Hawaii athletic director Bob Wagner pointed to Division III athletics as one of his visions for the future.

D-III might never arrive, but the future of football for the state’s smallest schools is alive and well. The Maui Interscholastic League continued with its 8-man football schedule this season. Two weeks ago, Molokai defeated St. Anthony in an exhibition game in Wailuku.

Over the past weekend, St. Anthony and Seabury Hall played a scrimmage. That brings a smile to MIL executive director Joe Balangitao, a former varsity coach. Balangitao, Big Island Interscholastic Federation chief Lyle Crozier and Blane Gaison of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu engaged in a chat about the 8-man game during a break at the HHSAA executive board meeting yesterday.

“I’d love to see our league play 8-man football,” said Crozier, a former player and assistant coach at Konawaena. “There’s Makua Lani, Parker and Hualalai Academy. On the other side, we have Laupahoehoe and Christian Liberty.”

Crozier noted that it would take at least three teams to make a sport official in the BIIF.

A minimum of three leagues are required to make any sport eligible for a state championship.

Look out for Hurricane Misty

Kamehameha senior Misty Ma‘a is on a Hurricane watch.

The returning Star-Advertiser player of the year in girls volleyball has committed to play for the University of Miami, according to a report in the Miami Herald. Ma‘a has done modeling work, which may have factored in her decision.

“She has a lot of things on her plate besides volleyball, so it’s definitely a great opportunity for her,” Kamehameha coach Chris Blake said of Ma‘a, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter. “They’re a top-20 program and they’re doing great things there.”