The goal is to put Big Island high school football players in the spotlight, and Las Vegas is a pretty good start.
The goal is to put Big Island high school football players in the spotlight, and Las Vegas is a pretty good start.
Panaewa Athletics Combined Hawaii leaves Wednesday for Sin City to compete in the Pylon Elite 7v7 Football tournament and an opportunity to gain a pipeline to recruiters at the next level.
“There are usually several hundred scouts and recruiters there, and this is the first time a Big Island team is going,” team director Derek Kalai said. “All kinds of media organizations: Scout, Rivals, ESPN. Every sort of sports apparel company.
“It’s the Olympics of high school football.”
Football seven-on-seven style is like it sounds, though in effect there are only six offensive players (not counting the center) – a quarterback and five skill players – and it’s touch not tackle, using compression helmets, and linemen take a seat.
There are only three downs to make a first, but this isn’t small change — it’s the big business of high school athletics, Kalai said.
“Everybody wants to do high schools sports, because there are millions of ways to make money,” he said.
PAC Hawaii and its roster of 15, can in turn, gain exposure and attention in the offseason.
It’s Networking 101.
“A coach or scout may see a player and call his friends,” Kalai said.
Kalai’s son, former Kamehameha-Hawaii standout Preston Kalai, was playing in a seven-on-seven tournament on Oahu two years ago when he got spotted and was invited to the Polynesian All-American Bowl in California.
Preston Kalai now plays for UH-Manoa.
“His big break came in seven-on-seven,” Derek Kalai said. “That’s how he was extended the opportunity.
“I’ve made a lot of contacts since those days and now I want to share it with the kids.”
PAC Hawaii will play one of the three Oahu schools in the tournament on the first day of competition, and that afternoon it will face Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman.
Kalai was an assistant coach on the 2014 Kamehameha team that won a game at the HHSAA tournament, and though Konawaena duplicated the feat this past season, breakthroughs at states have been few and far between for the BIIF.
“For our island to get better, we need to embrace opportunities like this,” Kalai said. “It gives them the opportunity to become better football players. Coverage skills, reading, pretty much football IQ.
“They get to play against some of the best players in the nation.”
On the team are Kamehameha’s Ethan James Ramos, Justin Kenoi, Israel Bowden, Ekolu Jumalon and Kailikea Kekuawela; and Hilo’s Beau Ramos, Ka‘ale Tiogangco, Kainalu Tiogangco, Kahale Huddleston, Rylen Kaniaupio, Joshua Whisler, Kalei Tolentino-Perry, Ka‘aina Lewis, Kamuela Mamone and Lukas Kuipers.
Kalai is assisted by Sergio Mamone, Kaeo Drummondo, Maurice Silva, Maui Ramos and Kawika Kekuawela.