They’ve been worn out, blown out and they’ve had their hearts ripped out, and that’s just the past three seasons.
They’ve been attacked through the air, bullied on the ground, beaten up and down and betrayed by special teams.
They are seemingly forever undaunted, and for the second consecutive season the Hilo Vikings aren’t likely to be undermanned. Here they are again knocking on the door of the revamped HHSAA Division I football playoffs.
“This time the difference has to be we’ve got to finish,” Hilo coach Kaeo Drummondo said. “What we’ve been preaching to the kids all week is we need to block all the distractions out. They’re are no excuses.”
There is, however, a chance at vindication.
For the fifth consecutive season during their dynastic run, the Vikings (8-1) will try to win one for themselves, their school and the Big Island – the BIIF is 0-19 all-time in the state D-I tournament – in a semifinal against Maui High at 7 p.m. Saturday at Wong Stadium.
“We’re trying to get past this one and try and have everyone remember us,” said Hilo senior center Koa Kapahu, a veteran of three state playoff games. “Anyone can win the BIIF.
“This would be a steppingstone and show it’s possible that Hilo guys can do it. All you have to do is believe, put in the hard work and fight through.”
The winner will become the first neighbor island school to reach the championship game in D-I – which is the middle tier of the state’s three-pronged playoff system. The run-heavy Sabers (5-5) enter their first state playoff game since 2014 and third overall.
In 2014, Kapahu was on a kickoff unit as a freshman as Hilo took a lead into the fourth quarter before succumbing to the OIA’s Kahuku 20-10 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. In 2015, Mililani of the OIA overwhelmed the Vikings 62-18.
“It is a better game (at states), but you just have to stay focused,” Kahapu said, “be in the game, mentally and physically and remember they are human across from you.”
Leilehua of the OIA was mortal last season. Sparked by Kahale’s Huddleston 200-yard performance, Hilo led wire-to-wire until the Mules rallied to take the lead in the fourth quarter and blocked a last-second field-goal attempt to deny the Vikings 26-25 in the quarterfinals.
“We let it get away,” senior defensive end Kuresa Toledo said. “We let it slip out of our hands. Hopefully we don’t let this one slip, too.”
The last time the Sabers played on the Big Island they were short-handed and absorbed a 23-0 preseason loss at Kamehameha on Aug. 12 – the Vikings beat the Warriors 28-14 six weeks later – but Toledo and Drummondo cautioned against drawing any conclusions from those results.
If fact, Drummondo doesn’t pay attention to any scores.
“It’s getting them to understand that you need to execute the way you’re supposed to, and when you execute your game plan and your fundamentals are prefect, that’s a complete game,” Drummondo said.
After an 0-4 start, Maui, under first-year coach Rodney Figueroa, began to turn its season around with a 55-0 victory against King Kekaulike, winning five of six to get to states, including two victories against Baldwin. The only loss during that stretch was at the hands of defending HHSAA Division II state champion Lahainaluna.
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the MIL D-I champion is 6-19 all-time at states, though the league has never opened against a non-OIA foe.
Neither team has played in two weeks, a layoff that was a little long for Drummondo’s liking.
“We’re at the point now, the game plan is in, you just want to play the game,” he said Thursday. “We’re just itching to get the ball kicked off.”
When it is, Hilo hopes Huddleston continues to be the x-factor.
When the Vikings have the ball, the matchup to watch is Maui’s front seven against Huddleston and his rugged offensive line.
The senior running back has amassed 1,310 rushing yards – on an eye-popping 10.7 yards per carry – and totaled 32 touchdowns (24 rushing, 3 receiving, four kickoff returns, one TD pass). By way of comparison, Huddleston has accounted for 192 points, while Maui has 235 on the season.
Running the read-option, first-year quarterback Kaleo Apao has thrown for four scores and run for five more, and receivers Makana Kanehailua (17 catches, four TDs), Kainalu Tiogangco (15 catches), Guyson Ogata (10 receptions, four TDs) and Huddleston (three TDs) have helped the Vikings become more balanced.
“The season has been great,” Kahapu said. “Great memories, really great grind. It’s a great experience. My last four years with this program have been a huge change.”
The Vikings just want one more.