MIL finalizes its football schedule; Molokai plays Kamehameha Maui in nonleague game Aug.10
Kahale
Figueroa
Kahale
Figueroa
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Maui fans will get a look at what Maui Interscholastic League football may look like in a couple years on Aug. 10.
Molokai High School, the four-time defending champions in MIL eight-player football, will travel to face Kamehameha Maui at Kanaiaupuni Stadium in a preseason 11-player nonleague game on that date.
The matchup developed after Pahoa on the Big Island pulled out of a scheduled 11-player game that was supposed to take place on the Friendly Isle on Aug. 10. Last season, a scheduled 11-player home game for the Farmers was called off when Honokaa, also of Hawaii island, cancelled.
The Farmers will make their 11-player debut on Aug. 3 at Nanakuli, Oahu.
"After Pahoa cancelled on us, I just was scrambling around and just trying to reach out," Molokai coach Mike Kahale said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I reached out to (Kamehameha Maui athletic director) Jon Viela and he forwarded the email to their coach (Ulima Afoa), then he gave me a call. They had nothing scheduled.
"They have a first-class, top-notch stadium. We were looking to host, but when Pahoa pulled out we just decided to go there to play Kamehameha Maui just to get that game in."
The Aug. 9-10 weekend date opened up for Kamehameha Maui when the MIL moved back its league schedule recently -- a tentative schedule had Kamehameha Maui playing Maui High in the league opener on Aug. 9. The MIL was able to push back its schedule because Division I and II state tournament games begin on Nov. 15-16, later than originally anticipated.
"We're excited, we're really appreciative," Kahale said. "It's just how things kind of turned out because there was a shift in things and they had an open week. ... I asked Lee (DeRouin, Molokai's athletic director) and my coaches and said, 'We have this opportunity' and we just took it because there's some familiarity there in the MIL."
With 51 players on the roster last season and more than that expected this fall, the Farmers are clearly looking at joining the MIL 11-player ranks. Kahale said that DeRouin was told at a recent AD's meeting that the MIL eight-player ranks will be down to three teams this fall -- Molokai, Lanai and Hana -- after Seabury Hall decided not to field a team for the 2019 season.
"If we look to transition, whether it's this year or the year after, whatever happens for us in the future, at least we're competing against another MIL team (at Kamehameha Maui)," Kahale said. "I was informed that Seabury is not going to have a team. ... And they are in charge of eight-man football."
The 7-year-old MIL eight-player league has dwindled from six teams three years ago; St. Anthony, Kihei Charter and now Seabury Hall have pulled out. The Big Island Interscholastic Federation, the only other league to play at the eight-player level in the state, recently moved all of its teams into the 11-player format for this fall.
"We were part of the original thing here, starting eight-man, and the last thing I want to do is leave a situation that we were fighting for and vying for, but when it comes down to it with St. Anthony dropping, Kihei Charter dropped, Seabury's dropping now -- and our numbers growing -- it is pushing us in that (11-player) direction, whether we're ready for it or not," Kahale said. "We're just going to have to step up if that's the case because I have no idea if Seabury is going to rejoin us the following year or not.
"We feel like maybe it's the time."
The finalized 11-player schedule sent to The Maui News on Wednesday by Viela, the MIL football coordinator, shows that the nonleague schedule will not change except for the addition of the Molokai-Kamehameha Maui game.
The league slate has moved back two weeks and will now begin with Baldwin at Kamehameha Maui on Aug. 23 and Lahainaluna at King Kekaulike on Aug. 24.
The new slate has a few quirks, most noticeably perhaps that first- and second-round play will not be in the same order as it has been in the past. The second round begins on Sept. 27 with Lahainaluna vs. Baldwin at War Memorial Stadium.
A possible Division I playoff game is set for Nov. 1, while a D-II championship game would be played on Nov. 2 -- both would be at War Memorial.
Because of its preseason matchup slated at Kauai on Aug, 24, Maui High will use its first-round bye that weekend but will not get its final bye until Oct. 18-19, forcing the Sabers into eight straight weeks with games from Aug. 24 to Oct. 12.
MIL practices are allowed to begin July 15.
"I kind of like that, moving (the league schedule) back," Maui High coach Rodney Figueroa said. "It gives us time to work the kids in.
"It's a long wait to play your first game, but we'll schedule to get this team ready for that first game."
Figueroa, who said Wednesday that his health is good after he moved down from head coach last season due to medical concerns, is not worried that his team will play eight straight weeks, the final seven of which are league games.
"What it says on the schedule, we're going to play with it," Figueroa said. "I'm OK with it, playing consecutive weeks. We will adjust as we go along with the practice schedule and focus on keeping these kids healthy."
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.
2019 MIL Football Schedule
NONLEAGUE
Saturday, Aug. 3
Damien at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.
King Kekaulike vs. McKinley at Farrington, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 10
Molokai at Kamehameha Maui, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 16
Baldwin vs. Edison (Calif.) at War Memorial Stadium, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 17
Kwansei Gakuin (Japan) at King Kekaulike, 6 p.m.
Kapaa at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 24
Maui High vs. Kauai at Vidinha Stadium, 7 p.m.
LEAGUE
First Round
Friday, Aug. 23
Baldwin at Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 24
Lahainaluna at King Kekaulike, 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 30
Maui High at Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Baldwin at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 6
Maui High vs. King Kekaulike at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7
Kamehameha Maui at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 13
Baldwin vs. Maui High at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 14
Kamehameha Maui at King Kekaulike, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 20
Baldwin vs. King Kekaulike at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Maui High vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Second Round
Friday, Sept. 27
Baldwin vs. Lahainaluna at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Maui High vs. Kamehameha Maui at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 4
Lahainaluna at Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 5
Maui High at King Kekaulike, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 11
King Kekaulike at Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Maui High vs. Baldwin at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 18
Baldwin vs. Kamehameha Maui at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19
King Kekaulike at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 25
Baldwin at King Kekaulike, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Maui High at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1
Division I playoff, if necessary, at War Memorial Stadium, time TBA
Saturday, Nov. 2
Division II playoff, if necessary, at War Memorial Stadium, time TBA