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Maybe it is the old-is-the-new-new format of Oahu’s public and private schools clashing on the football field in regular-season play.
Or maybe not. The new “Open Division” left perennial powerhouse Kahuku longing for action. For months, with new head coach Sterling Carvalho in charge, the Red Raiders were the prom attendee without a date.
“I surrendered to the fact that we weren’t going to have a preseason game. We called every Division I team on Oahu and the neighbor islands, and nobody wanted to play us. Everybody was booked or they had prior games,” Carvalho recalled.
Note that Kahuku and other Open Division teams aren’t lining up for one another in nonconference play, and sensibly so. But Carvalho got a glimmer of hope one day in June. His former head coach, Reggie Torres, had a chat with Brad Uemoto, head coach of Division II powerhouse Konawaena.
“Then Brad called me,” Carvalho said. “I give props to Konawaena. It’s the level of play everyone is looking forward to, the competitive nature across the state. Konawaena wants to get better.”
Instantly, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation defending D-II champions were scheduled to fly to Oahu and make their inaugural trek to the North Shore. The teams kick off on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Carleton Weimer Field. Of course, Uemoto conferred with his staff before committing. The decision wasn’t quite instant. Konawaena has a long, proud history on the football field, but walking into the hornets’ nest voluntarily had to be borderline insane.
“Originally, when I had a meeting with our staff and I wanted to do it and make sure our staff was behind me,” Uemoto said, “the consensus was, ‘You’re crazy, Coach, but whatever you decide we’re all in behind you.’ It was going to be the way we went about the Kahuku game. If we talked about being afraid or overmatched, coached or practiced like it, it wasn’t going to work. But we’re all on board with it. Truthfully, I took it because there were way more positives than negatives.”
Carvalho knows his team has double the roster size and almost double the physical size on paper. It’s an unusual task for anyone entering his first game as Kahuku head coach.
“When they put their 2s in, we’ll be gracious hosts and get a look at our 2s. We’re going in there to win anytime we step on the field,” he said. “We’re diligent on our end as far as never taking any opponent lightly. We have film on them and we’re scouting them. We have our offense and defense scout teams. Our players know, week-in, week-out, we have our grind and we prepare for our opponent. We’re looking at this game to assess all our players. Everyone knows with this (Open Division) schedule, you have to develop depth.”
So what exactly are the benefits of facing many of the state’s premier athletes, who have more bulk and, in many scenarios, equal or better agility, explosiveness and speed?
“I really like when Pat Hill was over at Fresno State, it was anytime, anybody, anywhere. When he turned that program around, it gave them that moxie,” Uemoto said. “Not arrogance, but it became an identity that they weren’t going to back down. They were going to give everyone their best shot. At Konawaena, we’re always outsized, outmatched, and at the end of the day, we’re going to compete to the end and give it our best shot.”
Konawaena’s freshman slinger, Sheyden Nahale, is in for a memorable career debut. He has two physical specimens to face off either edge. Carvalho is excited about defensive ends Tausili Fiatoa (6-2, 230) and Tuia Tupuola (6-4, 220). Kaonohi Kaniho also returns to bring an advantage at cornerback.
While Uemoto hearkened back to Fresno State, there’s one distinct difference. The Bulldogs cashed in with big road-game paydays while knocking off giants during Hill’s peak years as coach. Konawaena? No cut of revenue. Not even bus rental money.
“We’re getting nothing. We’re even paying for our buses. The hope is they come to Konawaena next year with a return trip and give us a good gate. I think a lot of people would come to the game. I can’t remember them ever coming to the Big Island,” Uemoto said. “It’s Sterling’s first game, it’s an audition, and I think the (Kahuku) community will turn up. Kahuku fans are known for being hostile, and that’s part of why we took this game, to get that experience.”
BEST OF THE REST
Farrington vs. Leilehua
7:30 p.m., today at Leilehua
Former Govs assistant coach Daniel Sanchez makes his debut as head coach. Freshman quarterback R.J. Tagase has looked promising in scrimmages, which is a big plus with senior QB/WR Chris Afe recovering from a hand injury. Defensively, the graduation of safety (and All-State second team utility) Chasen Castilliano leaves a void.
The D-I Mules have some big shoes to fill, as well. Kona Andres’ mobility and grit at QB led the team to a 6-3 record in 2017, but he graduated. James McGary (746 rushing yards) returns for his senior year, running behind a group of first-year starters on the O-line.
Farrington and Leilehua last met in 2016, a 19-7 win by the Governors at Aloha Stadium. Challen Faamatau amassed 207 yards from scrimmage that night. In ‘12, Abraham Silva rushed for 178 yards in the Govs’ 52-26 victory.
Leilehua last defeated Farrington in ‘09, 9-7, at Aloha Stadium. Since losing six in a row to the Mules during a stretch from the ’70s to the ’90s, Farrington is 9-4-1 in the past 14 meetings.
Castle vs. Kapolei
7:30 p.m., today at Kapolei
A lot of questions will be answered in the near future for Kapolei, which had a mini-exodus of transfers in the offseason. Among them were both of last season’s top QBs, Lonenoa Faoa and Kaniala Kalaola.
The stingy defense will also be tested following the graduation of key players like Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Aaron Faumui and Dylan Toilolo. Longtime coach Darren Hernandez continues to churn out Division I college talent, however. Julius Buelow, a 6-7, 300-pound senior offensive lineman, has 19 scholarship offers. Linebacker Peni Naulu (6-2, 220) has nine offers.
Castle is in its second season under John Hao, the former Saint Louis coach, and former Saint Louis and UH quarterback. The Knights were 3-6 overall last season, including 3-4 in OIA Red. Two key playmakers, QB Jaylen Uyemura-Lee and WR Makana Smith, graduated.
Waianae vs. Waipahu
7:30 p.m., today at Waipahu
The Seariders saw key contributors like running back Rico Rosario (872 yards, 12 TDs rushing) complete their prep careers. All-State defensive player of the year Kana’i Mauga is in a USC uniform now. Waianae has the task of corralling Waipahu’s wide-open attack. It’s a fitting matchup; Waianae meets Saint Louis next weekend.
Walter Young enters his fourth season as head coach (25-14 overall).
Defending OIA D-II champion Waipahu is in transition. Braden Amorozo (2,533 yards, 29 TD passes) graduated, but running back Alfred Failauga (1,495 yards, 21 rushing TDs) returns for his junior year. The talented back enters his third season as starting RB and has three of the top four single-game rushing yardage marks in school history: 282 vs. Konawaena (‘17), 239 vs. Roosevelt (‘17), 238 vs. Pearl City (‘17).
After three seasons under Bryson Carvalho (19-11 overall), the Marauders move up to D-I this fall.
Hilo vs. Campbell
6 p.m., Saturday at Campbell
It’s a changing of the guard for Hilo’s potent offense with the graduation of key blockers and prolific RB Kahale Huddleston. The Vikings’ defense will contend with what could become the OIA’s top passing attack.
With an influx of talent up from the JV and via transfer, one question is whether two-way standout Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa — a first-team All-State selection as a returner — will get more looks at WR or DB.
Veteran coach Darren Johnson, now in his second year as head coach of the Sabers, likes balanced offense. That lends itself to the kind of rest time that Adkins-Kupukaa saw when his team had the ball in the latter part of the ‘17 season. If he returns to the massive WR reps he saw in the first half of ‘17, he could rack up numbers like this again: 47 receptions, 810 yards, 10 TDs.
Last year’s starting QB, Krenston Kaipo, is battling for the starting job, thanks to the arrival of talented transfers.
Kailua vs. Mililani
6:30 p.m., Saturday at Mililani
The Surfriders line up with explosive intentions, but controlling the line of scrimmage is always at the top of the priority list. That would be essential against the high-scoring Trojans and their master playmaker, QB Dillon Gabriel, who recently committed to Army.
Gabriel was superb as a junior last year, passing for 2,973 yards and 32 TDs with just eight picks in 368 attempts. The southpaw also rushed for 236 yards and six more TDs. Among his returning receivers: Ryan Chang (37 catches, 679 yards, 10 TDs).
Coach Rod York’s squad lost some outstanding players to graduation, including All-State utility (LB/RB) Jalen Tuivaiave-Olomua.
D-I Kailua, meanwhile, was 4-4 last season. QB Aaron Mejia graduated, but RB Samson Rasay (610 yards, two rushing TDs) returns.
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Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser
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