New ILH schedule still needs tweaking
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By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Interscholastic League of Honolulu coaches feel the revised schedule — splitting the league based on strength — is a move in the right direction, but the implementation still needs work.
The six-team league will split into divisions. Division I will have St. Louis, Kamehameha and Punahou, essentially the teams with the large squads; Division II has Iolani, Pac-Five and Damien.
The revision came in wake of Damien's announcement that it would forfeit games against St. Louis. After the revised format was implemented, the Monarchs rescinded their decision to forfeit.
"To make two divisions in a six-team league doesn't make sense," one coach said. "A team like Iolani might be a small school, but it's as good as anybody in Division I, yet they're playing in Division II. The intention is good, but in a six-team league like ours doesn't seem like it's workable."
Two coaches felt the classification is good, but would work better if the O'ahu Interscholastic Association schools were involved.
Since 1992, the OIA has used a classification within its league based on teams' strengths. The league has historically resisted suggestions to combine with the ILH. Many forget the reason the Honolulu public schools left the ILH after the 1969 season was in part because of a major imbalance of strength between private and public schools. (See above list of ILH titles by teams.)
Because of the revised ILH schedule, which resulted in three fewer regular season games, came so late, teams had to scramble to find non-league opponents. But it helps a team such as Pac-Five, which has been decimated by injuries.
"The bye is a welcome thing for us," Wolfpack coach Don Botelho said.
Besides the reduced schedule, rosters for games are limited to 65 players. The rule only affects St. Louis and Kamehameha, both of which carry at least 100 players.
St. Louis coach Cal Lee has not been in favor of the roster reduction because the ILH has no junior varsity competition to develop players after the intermediate level.
"Using varsity years as a JV year, in the long run, will hurt," Lee said. "It shows when kids come up (from intermediate to varsity)."
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ILH football schedule
At Aloha Stadium, unless noted
Friday, Sept. 7
Iolani vs. Damien, 4:45 p.m.
Punahou vs. St. Louis, 7:30 p.m.
Bye—Pac-Five, Kamehameha
Saturday, Sept. 15
Pac-Five vs. Damien, 4:45 p.m.
Kamehameha vs. Punahou, 7:30 p.m.
Bye—Iolani, St. Louis
Saturday, Sept. 22
Pac-Five vs. Iolani, 4:45 p.m.
St. Louis vs. Kamehameha, 7:30 p.m.
Bye—Punahou, Damien
Sept. 28-29
Bye—all teams
Friday, Oct. 5
Damien at Punahou, 3:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6
Pac-Five vs. Kamehameha, 4:45 p.m.
Iolani vs. St. Louis, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 12
Pac-Five vs. Iolani, 4:45 p.m.
St. Louis vs. Punahou, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13
Kamehameha vs. Damien at Iolani, 2 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 19
Damien at Iolani, 3:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20
St. Louis vs. Pac-Five, 4:45 p.m.
Punahou vs. Kamehameha, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27
Pac-Five at Punahou, 3:15 p.m.
Kamehameha vs. Iolani, TBA
Damien vs. St. Louis
Friday, Nov. 2
Punahou at Iolani, 3:15 p.m.
Damien vs. Pac-Five, 4:45 p.m.
St. Louis vs. Kamehameha, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 8
Playoff, if necessary
