Nabarro gives Hilo a running start in defense of its D1 title

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Since the inception of the state tournament in 1999, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation has been represented by five different schools. That should provide an idea of how this year's races will be.

Kawelu

"Division II is wide open this year," Konawaena coach Todd Brown said.

The BIIF opens its 49th season tomorrow. Each division will pit teams that have been annual contenders. In Division I, Waiakea will visit Kealakehe tomorrow and in Division II, Konawaena will travel to Hawai'i Prep on Saturday. The league also welcomes Kamehameha, which will not have its first graduating class until 2006.

Defending Division I champion Hilo, which opens at Kohala on Saturday, is coming off an impressive 27-7 win against Kaua'i power Waimea last weekend.

"We're rebuilding, but they're out to prove that they're not rebuilding," Kawelu said of his players. "I like this team. It's a bunch of scrappy guys."

The Vikings return the BIIF Offensive Player of the Year in running back Royden Nabarro, the BIIF single-season rushing record holder with 1,845 yards.

"We took him out a lot by the first half (last year)," Kawelu said. "Otherwise, he easily could've broke 2,000 (yards) if we left him in the game."

Kawelu said Nabarro will be rotating at running back more because he also will be used on special teams.

Kealakehe, the top seed entering the last two BIIF playoffs, only to fall in the championship game, is expected to contend along with Waiakea. Kea'au is hoping to finish among the top three to qualify for the league playoffs.

"The kids are believing now what the coaches are trying to accomplish," second-year Kea'au coach Kaliko Iopa said. "We're still low in numbers, but what we lack in numbers, we make up in spirit and determination."

Division II might be more volatile than Division I because there are two teams — Hawai'i Prep and Konawaena — that have demonstrated in recent years the ability to compete in Division I. Before the two-division format, HPA won the 2002 BIIF title, while the Wildcats won in 1999 and shared the title with Waiakea in 2001.

"Between HPA and Konawaena, it's hard to say between the two as far as who will be better," Kohala coach Beldon Kealoha said. "HPA won (the) division the last two years and Kona is always consistent. But never count out Kamehameha. Down the road, they will be a force to be reckoned with."

The Warriors have the BIIF's only other nonleague win, a 17-14 decision against its sister school from Maui.

Hawai'i Prep lost a core of seniors that led the team to the state Division II tournament. But it might be more balanced.

"We'll be able to mix it up more on offense," coach Tom Goodspeed said. "Last year, we relied heavily on the run. This year, we'll open it up more (with passing)."

Konawaena also was hurt by graduation, but Brown is hopeful.

"Physically, we're much bigger than the last couple of years," he said. "Last year, we got beat by teams with bigger lines. This year, we should match up size-wise with anybody in our league. We have good experience in our skill positions."

Honoka'a and Kohala hope to grab one of the top three seeds to advance to the BIIF Division II playoffs.

"I'm optimistic we'll go ahead and be a good team," Honoka'a coach Paul Purdy said. "However, because we do lack some experience, that will hold us back from the big game, the big play. But the team has a great attitude and work ethic. They are very coachable."

Kealoha likes his Cowboys' attitude, too, but with no nonleague games scheduled, his players will have to learn quickly.

"But we're untested," he said. "It's hard to tell until our first game to see if we made some progress. We're very green."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.

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