As an August football practice winds down at Kamehameha, it’s the final question, one that deals with his biggest on-the-field concerns entering the regular season, that seems to stump coach Dan Lyons. ADVERTISING As an August football practice winds down
As an August football practice winds down at Kamehameha, it’s the final question, one that deals with his biggest on-the-field concerns entering the regular season, that seems to stump coach Dan Lyons.
Lyons thinks and contemplates … and … nothing seems to come to mind.
That can only be a good sign, right?
“Either that or I’m really stupid,” Lyons said.
Not likely, considering the Warriors in 2014 became just the second BIIF team to win a game at the HHSAA championships.
However, there were occasions in 2015 that Lyons felt the Warriors weren’t as prepared to enter games as they needed to be. The mental breakdowns were one of the reasons why Konawaena won the Division II championship last season and then became the third island team to win at states (of course, quarterback Austin Ewing and the Wildcats had a lot to do with that result as well).
“A lot of us, we weren’t disciplined last season,” Warriors junior slot Israel Bowden said. “Once they scored first, everybody’s head dropped. This year, it will be better.”
It will have to be if Kamehameha is to go as far as senior outside linebacker Ethanjames Ramos thinks the Warriors can go.
“This year, we have a motto, ‘Play the next play,’” Ramos said. “If we get a pass interference or we get a penalty, it doesn’t matter, we just focus on hustling and going out and playing hard.
“We learned that it’s not given to us. We’re hungry this year and we’re going all out. Not just for the BIIF championship, we’re going to try (to be) the first Big Island team to win a state championship.”
To Bowden’s point, the Warriors’ problems snowballed on them in last season’s BIIF title game as Konawaena jumped out to a 30-8 third-quarter lead. Kamehameha probably didn’t take it as much of a consolation prize at the time, but backup quarterback Kaimi Like came off the bench and shined to make the contest more respectable, throwing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter of a 44-21 loss.
Like has the keys to run the Warriors’ spread offense this season, and though just a sophomore, he’s well-versed in the position and brings a championship pedigree, having quarterbacked the Puna Panthers to a Pop Warner midget title in 2014.
Bowden likes his strong arm, and Lyons loves his makeup.
“Nothing flusters him, very low key and smart,” Lyons said. “I think he reads things well. He has a clear idea of what we’re trying to do offensively. He’s very talented and he’ll do very well for us.”
One of the Warriors’ strengths is its abundance of playmakers.
Kaeo Batacan was the feature back last season, but the Warriors will rely on more of a running back by committee this time around, and Lyons doesn’t expect Kamehameha to skip a beat.
Elijah Campbell, a senior, subbed for an injured Batacan last season against Waiakea and surpassed 250 yards on the ground, and sophomore Paniau Lindsey almost reached 100 yards against Waiakea a few weeks ago in the preseason opener.
Junior Abishai Campbell and Bowden are in line for carries as well.
“The reality on offense is, when you have what we have, we have to figure out a way to get (everyone) the ball,” Lyons said.
A pair of talented all-BIIF receivers graduated, but senior Makana Manoa will be a prime target and freshman Kilohana Haasenritter is another former Pop Warner standout who could make an instant impact. Bowden, who Lyons says will be amazing, will get his fair share of catches, as will junior Ayston Motta and sophomore Nainoa Carvalho.
“It makes it really easy,” Like said of all the firepower. “They know the routes and they know where to settle and what windows to sit in. They are all good.”
A 280-pound rock-solid left tackle is a luxury in the BIIF, and the Warriors had one last season in Kelii Montibon. He and all the other four starters on the 2015 line graduated, but Lyons sees capable replacements in sophomore Teva Reynolds, senior Joe Hooper and juniors Aukea Hooper, Grayson Cosier and Jeremiah Schubert.
Reynolds started in the playoffs last season and will man center, and Joe Hooper will take over at left tackle and has experience opposite Schubert at right tackle. The guards are Cosier and Aukea Hooper, and sophomore Tinan Rocha-Younce provides quality depth.
While Kamehameha is deepest in skill players, its strongest unit could be a defense that features a plethora of experienced impact players at each level: seniors Nainoa Rosehill and Sedric Mahi on the line, seniors Wayne Decalio and Ramos at linebacker, and junior defensive back Kailikea Kekuawela.
Goose eggs are the goal, Ramos said.
“It’s a mental thing. Once somebody sets the tone, it’s over, there is no chance of the offense even scoring,” he said. “We all try to succeed. If a person makes a big play, everybody wants to make a big play. Everybody wants that pick-six.”
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound Rosehill moves piles and rushes the passer at nose guard. Mahi is a playmaker at one defensive end spot and junior Jashen Mathieu moves up from the junior varsity to be the other end.
“The defense is super strong,” Bowden said. “Being able to practice against them every day has made us much better.”
Lyons calls the disruptive Decalio a Division I-type college talent and said he was good enough last season to be named BIIF Division II Player of the Year. Decalio had to settle for All-BIIF, and he’ll move to the middle this season alongside Ramos, a team leader, and junior Richard Lindsey at linebacker.
Junior Justin Kenoi got seasoning last season at safety, and junior Isaac Ysaguirre will fill a roll at either corner, safety or linebacker.
Kenoi was the place-kicker in the Warriors preseason opener, and Bowden and Ramos will lend a hand in the return game.
“I think we’re on a really good path,” Lyons said. “We got better organizationally. We want to be accountable to our players because they want to work hard, win and play with integrity.
“It should be a fun year.”
That doesn’t sound stupid at all.
Schedule
Saturday
Kauai at Kamehameha, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 1
Aug. 26
Waiakea at Kamehameha, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 2
Sept. 2
Kamehameha at Hilo, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 3
Sept. 9
Honokaa at Kamehameha, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 4
Sept. 16
Kealakehe at Kamehameha, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 5
Sept. 22
Kamehameha at Keaau, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 6
Oct. 1
Kamehameha at Konawaena, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 7 (tentative schedule)
Oct. 8
Kamehameha at Hawaii Prep, 2 p.m.
Oct. 21-22
D-I and D-II championships, at higher seed
Oct. 29
Eight-man: Championship, if necessary
Nov. 4-5
HHSAA first round
Nov. 11-12
HHSAA semifinals
