In a sense, Pahoa was just happy to show up last season.
In a sense, Pahoa was just happy to show up last season.
After a 12-year hiatus, the Daggers were going to be a feel-good story no matter what, even as they took their lumps in their eight-man football debut.
“Me, honestly, I was just happy to play,” senior quarterback Lava Benn said. “I wouldn’t mind winning. Good sportsmanship Just enjoy the game.
“I feel more determined this year.”
Football might have been back last season Pahoa, but sound defense was not.
The Daggers allowed 57 points per game last season in going 0-6. In a 71-6 loss to Kohala in the home opener, the Cowboys essentially turned Pahoa’s side of the field into the red zone, trying to score on every play.
“And they almost did,” Benn said. “We only stopped them on one or two drives.
“We have good coaching, and our defense is looking a lot better this year.”
Coordinator Chris Kelau is tasked with shoring up the defense this season, and Benn says the unit is playing smarter in preseason practice.
“We need to improve tacking and (to penetrate) more,” senior defensive tackle Shadwick Pia-Lemmon said. “We’re being more aggressive.”
Pia-Lemmon is entering his first season of high school football, but he, like Benn, played Pop Warner football with the Puna Panthers.
The Panthers are potentially a great resource as the Daggers try to grow their program. But the pipeline has been slowed as some Panthers alums opt to play 11-man football with Keaau.
“This is not as good as 11-man but it is still something,” Benn said. “I thought about playing for Keaau and 11-man, but Pahoa is my home. I could never leave.”
At least not now. Benn would like to play in college and figures scouts will find good players no matter the format.
Count Pia-Lemmon as one who wants to make his hometown proud.
“Pahoa is my home; I like to represent where I come from,” he said. “It’s an honor and an awesome experience. I want to be a role model for the younger ones.”
While one of Pahoa’s defensive mantras is less chasing, more containing, Jay Adolpho coordinates a Pahoa offense that will try to put together more drives this season to chew up the clock.
Whether the blocking and tacking improves this season remains to be seen, but another nagging concern from 2014 has definitely been erased: the June 27 lava flow.
“Looking out there you’d see that smoke (in practice) everyday,” coach Chris Midel said, “wondering if it was going to come.”
It didn’t, of course, and Midel said a Year 2 for Pahoa football was never in doubt.
Fittingly, Midel teaches building and construction at the school. The way he sees it the Daggers are on schedule.
“My intention was to help get this program off the ground and running smoothly,” he said. “Theses coaches are in it for the long haul.”