Officially, Kamehameha calls it the double wing, and at its essence it’s smash-mouth, stop-us-if-you-can football. Having already tried to defend it once, Hawaii Prep coach Kaluka Maiava compared the offensive approach to “rugby.”
The Warriors certainly don’t mind getting into a scrum, and that they imposed their will the last time the two teams met left a mark on Ka Makani, even in victory.
“They rushed for almost 200 yards, and we took that personally,” Maiava said. “They basically told us they were running, and we didn’t stop it. We were on the receiving end. Like I said before, you meet force with force. If we’re ready, we should be able to stop it.”
Call it force squared, Part 2 when the rivals collide again Saturday in the BIIF Division II championship game, which is set for a 2 p.m kickoff in Waimea with the league’s lone spot in the HHSAA championships hanging in the balance.
The Warriors are no doubt stressing ball security this time around. On Nov. 27 at HPA, Kamehameha controlled parts of the game, finishing with more yards (203-194), more plays (54-41) and more first downs (14-8), but also far more turnovers (5-1). Kamehameha stubbed its toe by losing four fumbles.
Everything, Maiava said, is lining up for HPA (6-0) to go out and grab its first BIIF title since 2010. Ka Makani had a two-week break before the teams’ first meeting, and it was able to substitute younger players into last week’s 50-0 victory against Ka’u in the semifinals, giving starters rest.
“For having played six games, our health is as good as can be,” Maiava said. “We’ve been very lucky with our schedule, and we should be firing on all cylinders.”
In its semifinal, Kamehameha (5-1) won a slugfest 7-6 against Honokaa, though coach Kealoha Wengler told the Tribune-Herald after the game that his team was missing “a lot of players” whom he was expecting to return for the title game. Wengler could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Not surprisingly, the Warriors compiled all but eight of their total yards in the first game against HPA on the ground, with Spencer Yoshizumi running for 92 yards. The senior also was force in the semifinals, scoring his team’s touchdown on a 20-yard run and providing big plays on defense from his spot at linebacker.
In another force vs. force matchup, Kamehameha, which is vying for its third consecutive Division II title, held HPA’s rushing attack to just 50 yards on 24 carries in the first meeting an forced seven punts. Ka Makani countered by finding success through the air in their mid-range passing game, which is becoming a theme.
Quarterback Tre Walker completed 11 of 17 passes for 144 yards and a go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Braeden Samura. Walker followed that up by going 13-19 for 156 yards and two scores against the Trojans.
As HPA builds trust, it’s also building balance Maiava said.
“The trust our guys have with each other is amazing,” he said, “and you’re really starting to see it with the success we’ve had this season.”
