First-year Kamehameha-Hawaii coach Shaun Perry will look to guide the defending BIIF Division II champion Warriors in a new-look league. Brien Ing | SL

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KEAAU — The Big Island Interscholastic Federation is getting a new look this season and so are the defending Division II champion Kamehameha-Hawaii Warriors.

Earlier in July, it was announced Dan Lyons would be stepping down as head coach with assistant Shaun Perry taking over to helm the program. Perry previously spent time as an assistant with the junior varsity before making his way to the varsity staff.

"It's important for me for it to feel a little bit different for the kids especially," Perry said. "Making it really, really hard for them so that they got to grow, and all the growth that they're going to get is going to come from how difficult we can make it for them. It might not be really different, but it's about the way it feels."

KS-Hawaii is coming off a thrilling BIIF Division II title win over Konawaena followed by a narrow one-point loss to Kaimuki in the state quarterfinals.

But the Warriors' path through those feats was a bit unorthodox after forfeiting their final regular season game against Hilo (D1). The two teams were originally slated to open against each other last season, but the threat of Hurricane Lane re-scheduled the match to the final week. Team standings would not be affected by the outcome as both schools were already set to play in their respective league division championship game.

Citing player safety, KS-Hawaii opted to forfeit the game — and home-field advantage — to give them an extra week of preparation.

"We got to be better as coaches. Our kids put out," Perry said. "I want us as coaches to know this year is on us. We need to make sure we are doing everything in our power to be better every day. Setting the example: preparation, teaching, corrections."

If the Wildcats were looking forward to a revenge game against the Warriors, they won't be getting it in 2019.

Earlier this year, it was announced the BIIF's three 8-man football teams — Kohala, Pahoa, Kau — transitioned to 11-man football, joining the league's Division II while Konawaena and Honokaa moved up to Division I.

"Who we have to play is out of our hands at this point. We are going to compete, we are going to execute and we expect that they will do the same," Perry said. "At the end of the season, we hope to be BIIF Division II champs playing for that first round and second round and our goal is Division II state champions."

There can only be one champion. Whether or not it's the Warriors hoisting the koa trophy in the end is yet to be seen, but Perry's ultimate goal rests on the shoulders of the senior class.

"Their legacy is how they leave the young ones. The most important thing to me is how they groom the younger group. You can leave and you can be great, but if you didn't set the foundation right for the younger ones, then it wasn't worth anything," Perry said.

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Find out more about the BIIF realignment in our 60-minute ScoringLive 2019 Prep Football Preview Special presented by Hawaii Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, premiering August 1, 7 p.m. on K5/Hawaii News Now and later on demand at ScoringLive.com.

Also check back later for more details on how you can obtain a physical print copy of our annual 2019 Prep Football Preview with team breakdowns, predictions and preseason Player of the Year picks.