KAILUA-KONA — With a new coach, a sophomore quarterback and coming off a year without a BIIF title, not many people had Konawaena pegged as a state title contender coming into the season.
But when it was all over, the Wildcats left little question they could play with anyone.
Konawanea knocked off Kamehameha-Hawaii for its fourth BIIF Division II title in five years, and defeated Damien for the program’s first ever HHSAA state tournament victory before falling to eventual state champion Radford 48-46 in the state semifinals.
While some didn’t see it coming, the Wildcats knew their potential all along.
“From the beginning we felt we could compete for a state title,” Konawaena head coach Brad Uemoto said. “We felt we were that caliber of a team.”
The historic run landed Konawaena 10 players on the Division II All-BIIF first team — including some at multiple positions — and a clean sweep of the league’s top honors.
Sophomore quarterback Austin Ewing was named the BIIF Division II Offensive Player of the Year, Cameron Howes captured Defensive Player of the Year, and Uemoto earned Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm at Konawaena.
“I think this was one of the most memorable seasons in Konawaena history,” Uemoto said. “For us, it was all about setting goals and achieving them.”
Stellar sophomore
Austin Ewing
Ewing guided Konawaena’s explosive offense to nearly 40 points per game in his debut season as the starter, racking up 2,250 yards passing with 30 touchdowns. However, his most impressive stat is what he didn’t have much of — interceptions. He threw just six in 11 games he played in this season. and when he threw an interception, he rarely threw another. He had just one game with multiple picks (two against Kamehameha-Hawaii on Oct. 23).
“I don’t play to not throw interceptions,” Ewing said. “You want to take chances so you don’t go three and out. The key is letting it go when you do throw one.”
The sophomore signal caller only had one game where he threw a single touchdown pass — a 54-0 win against Keaau where his usual antics were not needed. He tossed three or more touchdowns on five occasions, including two five-touchdown performances.
Ewing turned a corner after an injury midseason when he was hit hard outside of the pocket against Kealakehe. It resulted in a concussion and he missed his team’s next game against Kamehameha-Hawaii. In his absence, the offense sputtered and the Wildcats were handed their lone loss of the BIIF season on a rainy night in Keaau.
“I knew I would have to take my lumps to get my team some wins, but after that I learned my team needed me and I needed to protect myself better,” Ewing said.
The loss was also a turning point for the whole team.
“I think most teams would have fallen apart, but we wanted to get better and bonded through that loss,” Ewing said.
Ewing’s intangibles are what set him apart from the pack. For the season, he had just 148 yards rushing, but he did a lot more running than that. He showed a great ability to sense the rush and extend plays outside of the pocket. Working with his stacked wide receiver corps, it often resulted in long touchdown scores. But the modest sophomore was quick to deflect the credit for his success.
“My lineman and running backs blocking made it easy for me to help the offense,” Ewing said. “I also had a lot of support from the older guys on the team.”
Luckily for Konawaena — and unfortunately for the rest of the BIIF — Ewing will be back for two more years in Kealakekua. Uemoto thinks the ceiling for his QB is still a ways away.
“Austin is a special kid that doesn’t come around too often,” Uemoto said. “It’s scary to think he’s a sophomore. He is going to get a lot better. He is probably not even half the player he could be yet. “
Mr. Do-it-all Cameron Howes
There was rarely a snap Konawaena played this year where Howes was not on the field. He played out of the slot on offense — running and catching the ball — and roamed the field as a ball-hawking safety, not scared to lower his shoulder and deliver a big hit. Add to his resume kick returns, punting and some PAT duties and Howes is undoubtedly the BIIF’s ironman in 2015.
“I tried to give it my full effort for the whole game, every game — 110 percent,” Howes said. “I did it for my team. All year, they were with me and we did conditioning to be able to play every single snap when it was key.”
Howes also made the first team as a receiver and punter.
Admittedly, Howes saw himself as more of an offensive threat than a defensive one. Proof to that was when he earned the Shawn Lauvao Award (Offensive Player of the Game) at the Life Champion Senior Bowl earlier this month. However, he impressed coaches around the league on the defensive side of the ball enough to garner the POY honor.
“I honestly felt like offense was more of my strong suit, but I feel honored to receive this award and represent Konawaena,” Howes said. “I want to thank my family and the Konawaena supporters for giving me the opportunity to produce on the field, be a BIIF champion and make history.”
At 5-foot-6, Howes was never the biggest player on the field, but that was never apparent through his play. He often made the most impactful plays.
Howes totalled 68 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, 14 passes defended, four tackles for a loss and two sacks.
“I am undersized, but like they say, speed kills,” he said.
Uemoto and defensive coordinator Kalae Lee embraced Howes’ versatility. He lined up as free and strong safety, and even showed up in the box as a linebacker on occasion.
“Cameron did everything for us,” Uemoto said. “He moved around so much and played like our most valuable player all year.”
Best of the rest
The Kamehameha-Hawaii trio of Russell Montibon, Kanaiela Decoito and Joyden Madriaga anchor the All-BIIF offensive line. Konawanea’s Jake Unger and Justin Banagan Brock round out the unit.
Joining Howes at wide receiver are Kamehameha-Hawaii seniors Bayley Manliguis and Kainalu Whitney, as well as speedy Hawaii Preparatory Academy pass catcher Justin Perry.
Left off the first team were Konawaena receivers Kamakana Ching (630 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Tristan Fleming-Nazara (486 yards, three touchdowns). Both were honorable mentions.
Kamehameha-Hawaii workhorse-back Kaeo Batacan and Konawaena ball carrier Algene Kelekolio were the picks at running back.
Montibon doubled up with a defensive line selection and was joined by teammate Wayne Amps Nurial Dacalio. Austin-Santos Johnson, Torin Tuppein and Trey Basque — the core of Konawaena’s strong defensive line — made the first team as well.
Hawaii Prep’s Anthony Palleschi is the headliner at linebacker. He was joined by Logan Canda, from Konawaena, Iokua Manuia and Lukela Chin from Kamehameha-Hawaii, and Kaenan Kaono — Honokaa’s lone first teamer.
Howes and Manliguis pulled double-duty as defensive back selections, in addition to David Kalili (Kamehameha-Hawaii) and Kayson Mahiai (Konawaena). Mahiai garnered first-team kick returner honors as well.
Alex Brost and Jasisten Cabatbat tied as the league’s top kickers.
