At a time when teams are feeling the effects of a long football season, the No. 4 Baldwin Bears might just be peaking.

The Maui Interscholastic League champions (8-1), who came within seconds of becoming the first Neighbor Island team to advance to the state Division I championship last year, are hoping for a better fate this time around. They will host No. 6 Farrington (6-3-2) in a opening-round game of the First Hawaiian Bank Division I football tournament 7 tonight at War Memorial Stadium. The Governors are the third-place team from the O'ahu Interscholastic Association.

Since their 22-20 loss in the closing seconds to eventual state champion Kahuku in last year's semifinals at Aloha Stadium, the Bears have encountered an assortment of adversity from injuries, academic issues and a key player leaving the team. But the team has answered the call.

"This will be our first game where we actually have everybody on the field," first-year coach A.J. Roloos said. "During the season, we had guys hurt, had some (players not making their) grades. I think we'll be at full strength for the first time this whole season."

One player happy to have the team intact is senior quarterback Jordan Helle, one of the state's leaders in passing yardage.

"A lot of key guys graduated, so a lot of younger guys had to step up for us, but they've done a great job," Helle said. "I think we're finally hitting our stride where we're peaking at the right time."

After missing the first six games, including nonleague, All-State wide receiver Chase Nakamura is back. Nakamura has played in the last three games after being out with an offseason knee injury. Despite playing just three games, he is third on the team in each category with 10 receptions for 210 yards and four TDs. Just how valuable is the 6-foot-4, 182-pound senior?

"It's like having that security blanket back," Helle said. "With him back out there, you always know he's going to get open. He's going to do a lot of things for us a lot of people can't do. With him back, it just makes us a whole level better."

Helle said while Nakamura was out, the other receivers filled in admirably. Slot Kalei Kamahele is the team leader with 26 catches for 531 yards and five TDs, while all-purpose player Skyler Cabacungan was second at 24 for 362 and eight TDs.

In fact, Cabacungan filled many voids for the Bears. He was second on the team with 406 yards rushing and four TDs. He also returned punts and kickoffs, played on the kickoff and punt teams, was the holder in PATs and field goals and played linebacker and defensive back. He has even played quarterback. Helle missed a game because of a hyperextended elbow. When sophomore Brock Shishido, the backup, also got hurt, Cabacungan was there. That sort of symbolized how the Bears were able to pick up for one another all season.

"(Helle) had to deal with the young receivers with Chase down for six games," Roloos said. "He did good. It was kind of a struggle at the beginning because he had to get used to his receivers. But Skyler kind of took the load off of him and Kalei Kamahele stepped up. All the receivers stepped up when Chase went down."

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Helle, who completed 93 of 199 passes for 1,508 yards and 18 TDs, said he and his teammates could not wait for the season to start after last year's devastating loss.

"We were happy to get back on the field (because of) the way last season ended," Helle said. "(We want to) forget about it and put it behind us and hopefully make another run at it this year."

NOTES

The Bears' offensive line is anchored by returning guard Sean Tesoro (6-3, 297), who has been offered a scholarship by Hawai'i and UNLV, Roloos said. Also doing well up front are senior Dylan Puaa (6-1, 253) and junior Makana Hoopai (6-4, 267).

Baldwin's defense lost second-team All-State linebacker Kyle Ka'aihue-Kaimiola, who left the team early after a nonleague game against San Clemente (Calif.). But defensive ends Troy Aoki (5-10, 215) and Mana Rosa (6-3, 248), tackle Leti Langi (5-10, 225), linebacker David Kaanana (5-9, 173) and defensive backs Mikie Webb (5-5, 155) and Kainalu Garso (5-10, 153) have been consistent performers, Roloos said.

While the Bears are intact for the tournament, the Governors are not. They will be without their top rusher in Joshua Fernandez (personal reasons), the second-leading rusher in the state among Division I teams with 621 yards. But they do have Dayton Kealoha (bruised shoulder) and Matt Stowers (ankle) back; both missed last week's OIA third-place game with injuries. Linebacker Apelu So'oalo (5-10, 170) filled the void with 145 yards and three TDs. He even kicked a 29-yard field goal in a 37-19 win against Kapolei. Stowers actually is a receiver, who filled in at running back, and will be back at that position, Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said.

"The key for us is to stay injury-free because our numbers have dwindled," Okimoto said.

Of course, the Govs are a threat to throw, too, with quarterback Alefosiu Iu, who is among the passing yardage leaders among Division I teams.

Defensively, the Governors have a strong secondary with backs Kalei Stevens (5-8, 170), James Smith (5-10, 170) and Jimmy Robinson (5-11, 170), and linebacker Isaiah Iuta (5-11, 210).

"The four have been solid for us," Okimoto said.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.