Tired of bringing a knife to a gunfight, Pahoa is ready to try something different.
With pomp and circumstance in 2014, the Daggers restored their football program and were intent on overpowering foes. Instead, offenses from Ka’u and Kohala simply ran around and passed over them.
Last season, Pahoa turned to a passing offense and tried to protect the outside defensively. The Trojans and Cowboys detected a soft spot up the middle and pounded away on the ground.
“We were just getting eaten up,” coach Chris Midel said.
Still looking for its first victory against its two BIIF rivals, the Daggers are ready to go with the flow, and in eight-man football that means a heavy dose of running the ball.
“I think we’re all going to come back with running games,” Midel said. “The boys got a good feeling when they beat a JV team last year, and that was fine, but the challenge is to beat another eight-man team.
“Ka’u won it two years ago, and Kohala took it last year. Hopefully, the boys believe that this can be their year.”
The cast on offense is experienced, led by feature backs Kaniala Harris, a 5-foot-3, 140-pound senior, and Keala Harris, a 5-7, 140-pound junior, and they’ll be joined in the backfield by Justin Castro. The senior is in his third year in the program, and though he’s taking his first stab at quarterback after primarily playing defense, Midel likes his decision-making and ability to offer a run-pass mix.
The Daggers may have gotten schooled the past two years, but they are ready to show they’ve been taking notes.
“We are going to run tight formations,” Midel said. “We’ve learned the outside is not that far (to get to) in eight-man. You want to draw the defense inside and shoot for the outside.”
He has a handful of players who have been with him for all three seasons, including Randolph Rowan, a 6-1, 266-pound senior who will anchor the line at center. Outside are senior Poe Tuaefe and sophomore Josiah Waiolama, who will also play defense.
“We can depend on our line, so we can run dives and sweeps with our RBs,” Castro said.
William Stinnett (6-0, 185) has the speed and athleticism to make big plays at wide receiver, but where the senior really thrives is on the other side of the ball at linebacker. Stinnett also plays rugby for Hilo Reign.
He calls rugby practices “way harder” than football, and going up against older players on the Reign helps him refine his tackling skills, especially since he has to go pad-less.
“Rugby players think we’re nothing,” Stinnett said. “Rugby makes football easier. Conditioning, tackling and a lot of footwork.”
With the graduation of big-play wide receiver Joaquin Ridgway, the go-to man this season could be junior Duane Correa.
Playing in front of Stinnett on defense will be sophomore ends Matthew Meyer and Josiah Anderson-Letreta, and senior Kealen Sibucao-Kamakaeaina will fill in at linebacker.
The defensive mantra is simple: read the run and, most importantly, seal the edge.
When that didn’t happen last season, Castro and Stinnett saw their teammates’ frustration get the best of them.
“The mentality was to lose hope in the second half,” Stinnett said. ‘This season, if someone gets down on themselves, we have to bring them back up and teach.
Midel teaches building construction by trade, and his first point of emphasis, even before winning games, is on grades. Academic issues took a toll last season when Pahoa showed up for a game at Kohala with only 17 players.
“We have more potential this year, because the team has a better attitude,” Castro said. “The team used to put its heads down, but I don’t think we’re going to do that this season.”
Schedule
Saturday
Ka’u at Pahoa, 1 p.m.
Sept. 10
Kohala at Pahoa, 11 a.m.
Sept. 17
Pahoa at Ka’u, 1 p.m.
Oct. 1
Pahoa at Kohala, 1 p.m.
Oct. 15
Ka’u at Pahoa, 1 p.m.
Oct. 22
Pahoa at Kohala, 2 p.m.
