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