D-II finalist Konawaena to face Kahuku to kick off preseason football

Two teams that made it to the state championship game in their respective divisions have agreed to open the 2018 prep football season against each other.

Division II state runner-up Konawaena will travel to the North Shore of Oahu to play Open Division state runner-up Kahuku in one of 11 games scheduled for opening week Aug. 3-4, the Star-Advertiser has learned.

Kahuku will host the Wildcats at 6 p.m. on Aug. 4.

The Wildcats and Red Raiders have played once in the past 45 seasons. Kahuku beat Konawaena 47-14 at Aloha Stadium in the quarterfinals of the first state tournament, in November 1999.

Kahuku, the three-time defending OIA champion, has not lost its season opener since 2013 against Saint Louis.

Konawaena has won six of the past seven BIIF Division II titles.

At least five games have been confirmed for opening night on Aug. 3. Kaiser, which was forced to forfeit all but one game last season due to a lack of players, will play Aiea in its first home game since Kaiser Stadium was upgraded last year.

Tim Seaman will make his coaching debut for the Cougars, who have had four head coaches in the past six years.

Aiea coach Wendell Say will open his 27th season as head coach of Na Alii with a 122-122-1 overall record.

Farrington coach Daniel Sanchez will debut in his new role, replacing Randall Okimoto on Aug. 3 when the Govs travel to play Leilehua. Waianae will open at Waipahu.

On Aug. 4, ‘Iolani and Kalani will play at Kaiser Stadium and Roosevelt will open its season at Nanakuli.

Kalaheo will travel to play Kamehameha-Maui and Pearl City will travel to the Big Island to take on Kealakehe.

Defending Division II state champion Lahainaluna will open with Kapaa at Vidinha Stadium.

Saint Louis coach Cal Lee, whose team will open its season on Aug. 10 against Waianae at Aloha Stadium, has agreed to host Narbonne (Calif.) at Aloha Stadium on Aug. 17.

It will be a rematch of last year’s 56-50 win by the Crusaders.

All games scheduled are tentative. More games could also be added.