It's a clash of Kamehameha
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Come Friday afternoon at the Kamehameha-Hawai'i campus in Kea'au, there will be a lot of "Go, Warriors!" cheers. But the question is: Which team are the cheers for?
The Big Island's newest football team will take on Kamehameha-Maui in both team's varsity debuts. Kickoff is 4 p.m.
Like the teams on their fellow campus on O'ahu, both Kamehameha teams are nicknamed the Warriors, making it interesting for the game's public address announcer.
"It's a friendly competition," Kamehameha-Hawai'i coach Ulima Afoa said. "Both (programs) are in the same stages. Neither of us have a senior class. It will be good so see how far we've come along. It will be good to pit ourselves against someone else."
Both schools opened two years ago with just a freshman class. Last year, both entered junior varsity programs with sophomores and freshmen. With their first junior class, they will test themselves at the varsity level.
"There's a lot of excitement, yet a lot of nervousness about going to varsity," Kamehameha-Maui coach Leo Delatori said. "But they're excited about (the season)."
Both teams had winning seasons last year at JV. Maui went 4-3-1, while Hawai'i went 6-0. Both varsities are in Division II of their respective leagues.
Since neither team can claim returning varsity starters, neither has an advantage when it comes to experience. But both can set precedence.
"The one thing I told them was that they were going to set the standard," Afoa said. "It will be a special time and place for our juniors, sophomores and freshmen. They are in the process of making history and establishing traditions. That's something they can hang their hats on. They get to determine the direction of this program."
Both teams will field about 30 to 40 players, mostly juniors with a few sophomores.
Kamehameha-Maui will use the I formation on offense.
"We'll try to mix it up," Delatori said. "We like to throw the ball as much as everyone else, but we'd also like to establish the run."
Kona Plunkett, a junior coming off a sprained ankle, is the quarterback. Sophomore running back Jordan Rego "has real good instincts," Delatori said.
Rego's brother, Jason, is a senior running back for Kamehameha-O'ahu.
Blocking for the Regos will be junior Walter Kahaiali'i, who is 6 feet 4 and 290-pounds.
Defensively, Maui's base is a 4-3.
Afoa said his team will use multiple offenses.
Junior quarterback Mana Silva will have some speed receivers in Ikaika Mahoe, Kupono Kaleohano and Chris Kegler.
"We have some pretty decent skills guys," Afoa said.
"We'll spread the field," Afoa said of his offense. "We'll force people to defend the whole field."
Defensively, Afoa said his team will employ some version of a flex.
But expect growing pains. Afoa added a number of his players will have to play offense and defense.
Both schools already have their own stadium. The Hawai'i campus has FieldTurf, while Maui's has PolyTurf.
The Hawai'i campus is still waiting for its lights, while Maui is still waiting for approval for use. Kamehameha-Maui was scheduled to play another non-league game at home, but a game against Otay Ranch (Chula Vista, Calif.) has been moved to Sept. 2 at War Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m.
Coincidently, Otay Ranch, of the California Interscholastic Federation San Diego Section, is like the Kamehameha teams. Otay Ranch is fielding its first varsity team and happened to call around Maui looking for a game. It was directed to Kamehameha, Delatori said.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
