PAHOA — Iselle yesterday, Lane today.
Lava flows close to town, lava just down the road.
At Pahoa High, having to deal with impending doom kind of just gets ingrained in one’s mentality.
“Oh, these natural disasters,” eight-man football coach Chris Midel said Tuesday, shortly after learning the Daggers’ nonleague game at Lanai on Saturday had been wiped out, along with a slew of practices, because of the hurricane threat.
Midel is mindful no one is going to feel sorry for Pahoa when it comes to athletics, and the feeling is mutual.
So when the lower Puna eruption began in early May, any thoughts that year 5 of Pahoa football might be in danger never entered his mind.
“I knew Pele wasn’t going to stop us,” he said.
It didn’t in 2014, when the June 27 lava flow threatened to practically cut Puna in half. An eighth-grader then, linebacker Junior Meyer remembers half the school taking up classes at Keaau High. Also that year, Tropical Storm Iselle ravaged Puna.
This time, “we’ve had multiple kids affected by (the lava), but it doesn’t affect anyone in practice,” he said. “Once they get on the field, they change their mindset. Once we’re on the field, it’s just football.”
Under Midel, the program endured three years of survival status before finally reaching a level playing field with Ka’u and Kohala in 2017 behind a breakout season from then-senior Keala Harris, the co-offensive player of the year. The Daggers doubled their win total from their three previous seasons combined, missing out on their first BIIF title with a season-ending loss to the Trojans.
“We are slowly and gradually moving along,” Midel said. “Trying to win them all is always the goal.
“The kids have to not take wins for granted and know they have to work hard for that win.”
Midel is a CEO-type coach who trusts his assistants (Robert Clifford, offense; Wallace Aweau, defense) with most of the Xs and Os. For the staff, Cody Raymond is on board this year as well, getting a team to learn to deal with success is certainly a welcome problem to have for once.
Meyer knows.
He’s the Daggers’ first four-year player since the program returned, and he’s witnessed a lot since his Pop Warner days with Puna.
“More players have started having confidence coming on to the team,” he said. “The program has also gotten more implemented in the school. The teachers have gotten into it, as far as paying attention to academics, and that’s helped.”
Grade issues kept Pahoa short-handed in its 14-8 loss to Molokai on Aug. 11, but as Midel anticipated then, most of the Daggers on academic probation have done their work in the classroom. He hopes to dress 32 players for the Sept. 1 opener at Kohala.
Trying to replace Harris is a different matter. Quarterback Josiah Waiolama and backs William Velez and Matthew Ortega, three seniors, figure to get the bulk of the carries.
“I’m not going to say we are going to try and fill (Keala’s) shoes,” Midel said, “but they are going to try and work together to try and keep up with him.”
Along with continuity in the coaching staff, the Daggers also have it at quarterback, as Waiolama will become a rare two-year starter at the position for Pahoa.
He’s big enough to play defensive line in a pinch and is the bulldozer of the runners, while Velez is slasher type like Harris.
“They are light on their feet,” Midel said of Velez and Ortega.
The offensive line has a big anchor in sophomore Kumukoa Adolpho, who Midel estimated at 5-foot-11, 350 pounds. Senior Nyles Martinez and junior Kuni Kalani-Kaeha, who relocated from Honolulu, are candidates to play on both ways on the lines.
It remains to be seen how much Pahoa will try to pass the ball, but senior Kalapana Archuleta, Velez and Ortega will be three of Waiolama’s top targets.
Meyer is the top playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, Midel said, and “gets everything stirring.”
“Good, smart kid; awesome in the classroom.”
Senior Christian Omalza returns to start in the defensive backfield and sophomore Duke Palma came away with an interception and a fumble recovery against Molokai.
The Farmers’ passing attack took Pahoa by surprise, but when push comes to shove this season, the Daggers have to be geared to stop the run. It’s no secret that two-time champion Ka’u simply wants to line up and push and shove everyone around with its run game.
Meyer knows.
“It’s no different than anytime else,” he said. “Do your job. Everyone has to be on the same page.”
As he walked back to practice after finishing his media interview, Meyer drew a large applause from his teammates.
He’d probably rather save the cheers for his defense.