One empire rises as another falls, especially if one is new to the neighborhood. At least, that’s what the BIIF history books tell us. ADVERTISING One empire rises as another falls, especially if one is new to the neighborhood. At
One empire rises as another falls, especially if one is new to the neighborhood. At least, that’s what the BIIF history books tell us.
Keaau joined the football landscape in 2001, finished 0-8, and four years later played in the first of consecutive BIIF championships.
The Cougars have yet to win a BIIF crown, but for reference they can look at their Division I rival, Waiakea, which debuted in 1978 and captured its first coveted trophy in 1994.
Keaau’s last BIIF championship appearance was in 2011, another title loss to Kealakehe. The Cougars eliminated Waiakea in the semifinals and finished with a 4-4 record.
Since then the Cougars have gone hungry. They went 0-8 in 2012, ’14 and last season. The Cougars were 1-7 in 2013. They beat Honokaa, a 1956 BIIF charter member, which finished winless for the first time in its long history.
Keaau has suffered a sharp decline in roster depth. In 2014, four games into the the season the junior varsity was quickly promoted to the varsity.
Leo Abellera, a math teacher at the school, has returned as coach. He was calling the shots, from 2005 to ’09, when the Cougars were climbing up the mountain but couldn’t knock off Kealakehe.
Last season, Keaau’s JV team had a turnout of 74 players and was forced to make cuts for the first time since 2001.
A number of those youngsters were on the Puna Panthers’ Pop Warner midget (ages 12-15) championship team in 2014. And the former Panthers, who are now Cougars, know the feeling of being a champion.
The Cougars have 45 players on their roster. Even better, they have 65 players on the JV team, which serves as a farm system.
Unlike other sports, depth is extremely critical in football, where collisions occur every day, even in practice, and injuries are inevitable.
Can the Cougars capture that elusive BIIF Division I title with three-time defending champion Hilo, three-time runner-up Kealakehe, and improving Waiakea standing in the way?
Anything is possible. As evidence, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team down 3-1 to pocket the NBA championship.
However, it’ll be tougher than ever. The BIIF axed the four-team playoffs, also known as the postseason free ride. Only the top two in Division I and II advance to the championships.
One former Puna Panther expected to make an impact is Kaimi Like. But he’ll be the starting sophomore quarterback at Kamehameha, not Keaau.
Also, two Cougar athletic playmakers, seniors Dreq Agliam and Damion Scandrick, left the Big Island and transferred to other schools.
There are 17 seniors, and the goal is not one giant leap for BIIF history but rather one small step to return to the win column.
Defensive lineman Styrus Mercado-Silva and linebacker Noa DeMotta-Cobb are two starving seniors.
“We look way better than last year. Coach Abs is on us, and he’s organized and knows what to do,” Mercado-Silva said. “To win a game, it’s going to take intensity and hustle. Losing is never any good. My thought is I want to get better and help my team get better.”
Mercado-Silva, who wants to go into a forestry program or become an electrician, saw a different vibe from his fellow Cougars during the summer.
“I think our strength is working together,” he said. “We had way more guys turn out for summer workouts than last year.”
Mercado-Silva was promoted to the varsity at the end of his sophomore year and started on the D-line last year.
DeMotta-Cobb started at linebacker the last two years and will play receiver. He, too, is itching to experience the thrill of victory after getting run over by the agony of defeat.
Keaau’s last victory was against Honokaa, 14-6, on Oct. 12, 2013 during homecoming at the Cougars Stadium.
“Losing is sad. As a team you long to have fun,” DeMotta-Cobb said. “But you have to stay positive and keep that confidence every day at practice and keep doing it to get better.”
Like Mercado-Silva, DeMotta-Cobb is goal-oriented. He wants to join the Marines and follow his brother Eric DeRego.
It’s always a good thing when players have goals. They’re the ones at summer workouts, making themselves and their teammates better, as coach Abs pointed out.
“Noa is a team leader in school and on the field,” Abellera said. “He’s got good field composure, and he’s a good kid.
“Styrus leads by example. He doesn’t say much. He just leads.”
Kamalei Cabral, Paula Tauhelangi, and Ioane Kanakaole will also start on the D-line, a weak spot in the past when gaps weren’t closed for big rushing gains.
Bronson Castro and Dallas Iliwaalani-Salve will start at linebacker, with Kaina Vierra, brothers Chris and Christian Mamone, and Dilan Santos in the secondary.
“Our defense is undersized but tough,” Abellera said. “I think we’ll be competitive with other schools.”
On the offensive line, Abraham Antonio, Evan McIntosh, Bruce Owens, Jim Hisaiah, and Bryson Aguinaldo will be anchors.
Caine Lunsford will start at quarterback. His brother is Chance Lunsford, a 2008 Keaau graduate, former running back, and 2015 Hawaii Police class recruit.
Vierra will pull double-duty at running back like Santos, DeMotta-Cobb, and Tauhelangi (he’s a transfer from Kauai) at receiver. Ryan McGraft will also be a pass catcher.
Antonio, McIntosh, Owens, and Cabral are all sophomores. All are on the line, a good place to build a nucleus, whether to block or plug holes.
But as coach Abs knows the best way to reach the mountain top is to keep climbing.
“When guys like Dreq and Damion left, the players were sad that they lost a friend,” Abellera said. “But then, the guys thought, ‘It’s next man up, and I’m next.’ They have a good attitude, and they’re resilient.”
Schedule
Week 1
Aug. 27
Hawaii Prep at Keaau, 6 p.m.
Week 2
Sept. 2
Konawaena at Keaau, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 3
Sept. 10
Keaau at Waiakea, 11 a.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 4
Sept. 16
Keaau at Honokaa, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 5
Sept. 22
Kamehameha at Keaau, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 6
Oct. 1
Keaau at Kealakehe, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
Week 7 (tentative schedule)
Oct. 7
Hilo at Keaau, 5 p.m. JV, varsity follows
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
Nov. 18-19
HHSAA championship
