Chase for the Championship
Hilo looks to get over postseason hump against Maui




Regardless of who comes out on top, history will be made Saturday night at Wong Stadium.

Hilo will have a chance to earn its first-ever win in the state tournament when it hosts Maui in the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I Football state tournament this weekend.

The Vikings (8-1) are no strangers to the postseason, having won the past five Big Island Interscholastic Federation D1 titles, but they haven't been able to capitalize in the past four tournaments.

It's not like Hilo wasn't competitive. In 2014, the Vikings held a 10-0 lead over Kahuku at halftime, but lost 20-10. Last season, Hilo had a 15-0 second quarter advantage over Leilehua only to fall, 26-25.

Hilo coach Kaeo Drummondo is hoping that this is the year that the Vikings get over the hump.

"We're excited," he said. "I think the kids are excited for the opportunity. All we've been talking about is finishing. We're here again, we need to finish this time."

While the Vikings have plenty of postseason experience, the Sabers (5-5) are relatively fresh to the big lights as they are making their third appearance in the tournament in school history — their first since 2014.

"It feels good, it feels good for the kids," said Maui first year coach Rodney Figueroa. "A lot of these kids have never been in the state tournament so it's a big thing for them."

If the Sabers can stay in the moment and get past the Vikings, they will also have the honor of being the first Maui Interscholastic League team to represent the league in the Division I title game.

"These kids have worked really hard and that's their goal, to make it to the championship game," said Figueroa.

Maui dropped its first four games of the season, which included non-league losses to Kapaa and KS-Hawaii, but has rebounded nicely with five wins in its last six games.

"(In the) preseason, we knew what we were up against with injuries and other things beyond our control," said Figueroa. "Once the team started coming back and these kids believed in one another and played for another, it became a true team and followed the rules that we had and the goals that we set and it kind of took off."

The Sabers will have their hands full when they take on the Vikings. Hilo senior running back Kahale Huddleston has rushed for 1,310 yards and 24 touchdowns. Huddleston has also scored three times on receptions and has returned four kickoffs for a TD.

"He works hard all offseason, has been ever since he's been in high school," Drummondo said of Huddleston. "I think a lot of his success is a by-product of all the work that he's put in. As a football player, he's phenomenal. He has all the attributes that you look for in a running back. Great burst, great vision, great balance."

Beat the line at the gate and purchase tickets ahead of time at https://gofan.co/app/school/HHSAA

Prices are $6 for student and senior citizens, $8 for adult, plus $1.25 convenience fee for student/senior and $1.30 for adult. This is the only way to use a credit card. Must have internet service on phone to redeem at gate.

Figueroa said that whoever wins the battle up front will decide the outcome of the game.

"Whoever wins that battle, wins that game, I always tell (the kids)," Figueroa said. "We got to be physical with them in front of us, and we have to move them. We have to move them to gain yards."

Leading the charge defensively for the Sabers is junior linebacker Atu Falekaona. Offensively, Maui will rely on sophomore running backs Naia Nakamoto and Solomone Tongi. The duo has combined for for 1,140 yards and 14 TDs during the regular season.

"(We just have to) play mistake free, control the ball, move the line of scrimmage and just play tough football," said Figueroa. "Get out there and put your head down and let's go play some ball because Hilo is going to bring it."

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Maui News reporter Rob Collias contributed to this report.



Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




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