High school football: Chalk Talk All-BIIF picks

With Kamehameha-Hawaii losing to Lahainaluna in the semifinals of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament Saturday, the football season is officially over on the Big Island.

The 2014 Big Island Interscholastic Federation season was one to remember, with Hilo playing out a second-straight undefeated season, Kamehameha-Hawaii knocking off three-time defending champion Konawaena, and everything in between.

During the season, a handful of players made a statement and stood out — some expected and other not. Since the BIIF plays an integrated divisional schedule, the Chalk Talk All-BIIF selections do not take into consideration divisions, making it a tighter race to make the list.

Leading the first-team offensive unit is Kamehameha quarterback Micah Kanehailua. The three-year starter passed for nearly 2,000 yards and propelled the Warriors to their first BIIF title since 2010.

But Kanehailua did not stop there. The senior gunslinger put his name among the BIIF’s best ever with a historic four-touchdown performance against Nanakuli in the first round of the HHSAA tournament. It was just the third win for the BIIF at the state level, and first for the Warriors.

Kanehailua’s top target Bailey Manlingus also garnered first team honors, as well as offensive linemen Pono Davis and Russell Montibon.

From the BIIF Division I champions Hilo, Tristin Spikes earned a first-team selection with his huge season on the ground. The senior came into the year with a target on his back, and picked up big yardage despite teams loading the box. Powerful offensive linemen Seth Fukushima and Kacey Hall, as well as wide receiver Cohlby Espaniola, accompany Spikes on the first team.

It was hard to find a spot for Bubba Ellis-Noa, considering he played so many roles in the explosive Konawaena offense. The senior Wildcat had 14 total touchdowns on the season, making him the first-team ulility player. In the second-team spot is Cameron Howes, who played an equally diverse roll for Konawaena. Breakout junior Algene Kelekolio landed the backup role at running back.

HPA’s 6-foot-5 receiver Nicky Palleschi was a mismatch most of the season, towering over defensive backs. He and younger brother Anthony Palleschi are the only HPA representatives on the first team.

Ofa Fahiua was far and away the defensive MVP of the BIIF. The Hilo linebacker led a Hilo defense that allowed less than a touchdown a game during the BIIF season. The opportunistic senior backer had a nose for the end zone, scoring four defensive touchdowns and averaging more than 10 tackles per game.

Overpowering defensive tackle David Pakele and electric defensive back/return man Donovan Faoa-Kelley also landed on the first-team.

Two-way Kamehameha defensive lineman Pono Davis wreaked havoc in the opposition’s backfields all season. Fellow first-teamer Joseph Kaopua played a similar role for BIIF Division I runner-up Kealakehe. Kaopua is the Waverider’s lone first-team selection.

Along with Davis, stellar sophomore linebacker Wayne Amps Nurial Dacalio and athletic defensive back Preston Kalai represent the Warriors on the first-team defense.

Tate “Baba” Hing led Konawaena in tackles this season, edging fellow Wildcat linebacker Ellis-Noa for first team honors. Konawaena shutdown corner Luca Vartic also got the nod for first team. Making the list as second teamers were Wildcat pass-rushers Kevin Medeiros and Torin Tuppein, and defensive back Kaneala Kaaihue.

HPA’s Alex Brost showed off his leg in Ka Makani’s stunning upset of eventual Division II champion Kamehameha. He booted four field goals that game, earning him first-team kicker. Hilo’s Kiliona Pomroy, the only punter one the list, pinned opponents deep with his booming leg on punts all season. Faoa-Kelley and speedy Kealakehe senior Louie Garcia round out the special teams unit as return men.

Coach of the Year went to Kamehameha skipper Dan Lyons, edging Hilo’s David Baldwin by a hair.

While there were a lot of close calls to make, keeping HPA ironman Koa Ellis off the first two teams was the hardest. The senior QB/DB played on both sides of the ball all season and left it all on the field.

But with Kanehailua’s incredible year, and Hilo QB Sione Atuekaho leading the Vikings to another undefeated season, the win count is what ultimatley won out.

Ellis leads the honorable mention unit, along with running backs Pono Auwae (Waiakea) and Kobe Antolin (Kealakehe). Honokaa standouts Keaka Swift and Sione Epenesa made the honorable mention list, along with the lone Keaau Cougar Justin Quesada.

CHALK TALK PICKS

First team offense

QB: Micah Kanehailua, Kamehameha

RB: Tristin Spikes, Hilo

WR: Nicky Palleschi, HPA

WR: Bailey Manlingus, Kamehameha

WR: Cohlby Espaniola, Hilo

Utility: Bubba Ellis-Noa, Konawaena

OL: Pono Davis, Kamehameha

OL: Kacey Hall, Hilo

OL: Kelii Montibon, Kamehameha

OL: Seth Fukushima, Hilo

OL: Tony Finau, Konawaena

Second team offense

QB: Sione Atuekaho, Hilo

RB: Algene Kelekolio, Konawaena

WR: Riggs Kurashige, Kealakehe

WR: Alapaki Iaea, Kamehameha

WR: Justin Perry, HPA

Utility: Cameron Howes, Konawaena

OL: Peni Kalavi, Kealakehe

OL: Zachary Kaiwi, Konawaena

OL: Mafu Tei, Waiakea

OL: Icher Pule-Annes, KS-Hawaii

OL: Isaiah Young, Hilo

First team defense

DL: Pono Davis, Kamehameha

DL: Joseph Kaopua, Kealakehe

DL: Davis Pakele, Hilo

DL: Anthony Palleschi, HPA

LB: Ofa Fahiua, Hilo

LB: Tate “Baba” Hing, Konawaena

LB: Wayne Amps Nurial Dacalio, Kamehameha

DB: Luca Vartic, Konawaena

DB: Preston Kalai, Kamehameha

DB: Hali Mahoe, Hilo

DB: Donovan Kelley, Hilo

Second team defense

DL: Kiliona Pomroy, Hilo

DL: Kevin Medeiros, Konawaena

DL: Nicky Palleschi, HPA

DL: Torin Tuppein, Konawaena

LB: Bubba Ellis-Noa, Konawaena

LB: Malu Lapillo, Hilo

LB: Kainoa Piltz, Kealakehe

DB: Kui Mortensen, Hilo

DB: Isaiah Tauati, Kamehameha

DB: Kelvin Kikau, Hilo

DB: Kaneala Kaaihue, Konawaena

Special teams

K: Alex Brost, HPA

K: Tyler Kerr, Waiakea

P: Kiliona Pomroy, Hilo

KR: Donovan Kelley, Hilo

KR: Louie Garcia, Kealakehe

Honorable mentions:

QB/DB: Koa Ellis, HPA

Utility: Justin Quesada, Keaau

RB: Kobe Antolin, Kealakehe

WR/LB: Sione Epenesa, Honokaa

WR: Grant Shiroma, KS-Hawaii

OL: Kanaueka DeCoito, KS-Hawaii

RB: Pono Auwae, Waiakea

DL: Howard Cosare, Kealakehe

LB: Keaka Swift, Honokaa

DB: Keoki Meyers, Kealakehe

DB: Shaden Lewi, Kealakehe

Offensive MVP: Micah Kanehailua, Kamehameha

Defensive MVP: Ofa Fahiua, Hilo

First team coach: Dan Lyon, Kamehameha

Second team coach: David Baldwin, Hilo