Honoka`a Forfeits BIIF DII Semifinal

The Konawaena Wildcats have moved on to the championship game of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II football tournament.

That’s because the Honoka`a Dragons decided to forfeit Friday night’s semifinal game, which was scheduled to be played at Julian R. Yates field in Kealakekua.

“The numbers was real low,” said Honoka`a athletic director Keith Tolentino. “On Monday, we only had 16 guys, then the next day we had 21, and Wednesday we had 22. I cannot go to Kona to play with 22 guys.” The longtime athletic director cited injuries among several reasons why the Dragons couldn’t suit up enough players to face the Wildcats.

Konawaena defeated Honoka`a 45-0 on Sept. 6 at Yates Field in the only meeting between the two teams this season. The Dragons will fall to 0-8 overall and 0-7 in league play with the forfeit.

According to BIIF Executive Director Lyle Crozier, Honoka`a will pay a forfeiture fee of $100 to the league. The BIIF receives all gate revenues from postseason contests.

Crozier also announced that the league’s Division II championship game will be played on Fri., Nov. 1 at Yates Field. Konawaena,  the top seed in Division II, will host the winner of Saturday’s semifinal between Hawai`i Preparatory Academy and Kamehameha-Hawai`i.