Division I Football League Semifinal Games Switched

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation announced a change to their Division I football semifinal schedule Tuesday, swapping games to make sure that all schools involved do not miss class time.

Originally scheduled for Friday, October 19, the game between fourth-seeded Kea`au and top-seeded Kealakehe has been moved to Saturday, October 20. Kea`au is already missing most of the school day this Friday to travel to West Hawai`i for a regular season game against the Waveriders. Both schools agreed to the date change. Kickoff time remains at 7:00 p.m.

The #3 vs. #2 matchup between Waiakea and Hilo, originally scheduled for October 20, has been moved to the open date on October 19 since both teams would not miss class time for the 7:00 p.m. start at Wong Stadium.

However, the seeds for the two teams are not set. Hilo’s 3-2 record is a game better than Waiakea’s, who will enter the last week of the regular season with a 2-3 mark. Hilo can clinch the second-seed with a win this Friday when they visit Wong Stadium to take on the Warriors. However, Waiakea can grab that seed with a win by at least eight points, based on the league’s tiebreaking rules.

To complicate matters, Hilo can lose the game by six points or less and still take the second seed. The league’s tiebreaker starts with head-to-head play, but a Waiakea win would negate that tiebreaker, so the next tiebreaker is point differential between the two teams. Hilo defeated 21-14 in their first meeting this year.

If Waiakea defeats Hilo by seven points, the tiebreaker then goes to points allowed between the two teams.

All four Division I teams will be playing for the BIIF’s lone berth into the First Hawaiian Bank / Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Football Tournament. The league champion is slated to host the first round game at their home site.