Wednesday, July 11, 2001

KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Andrew Canoy of Damien ran ahead for a gain after
making a reception against St. Louis in yesterday's
pass league game on St. Louis' campus.

ILH firms up
football schedule

The league addresses
concerns that too few
games led to title

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By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

After some tinkering, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu football schedule is finally complete, and every game will count toward the league championship.

The league will employ a two-tiered format for the upcoming season with each team playing seven games.

Under the original plan announced last month, games played within the two divisions would not affect the ILH standings. But after discussion by the league's coaches, those games will now count toward the championship.

"It's the same basic format with a slight refinement," said ILH executive secretary Clay Benham.

The league will be split into two divisions. Kamehameha, Punahou and St. Louis make up the top division, while Damien, Iolani and Pac-Five comprise the second division.

KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
St. Louis's B.J. Batts jumped ahead for extra yardage
against Damien defender Gavin Mason (back left)
during yesterday's pass league game.

The teams will play two intradivisional games followed by a round-robin involving all six teams.

If a Division II team finishes the season with the league's best record, it will play the Division I champion for the overall title.

Under the original plan, only the round robin games would have counted in the league standings. And some coaches expressed concern that the two divisional games would amount to little more than extra preseason contests.

"Before you know it you'll have teams that don't play (the non-league games)," said St. Louis coach and ILH football coordinator Cal Lee. "They'll just play the five and that's not good."

The league format will be employed for at least one season and will be evaluated after the state tournament.

The season opens Sept. 8 with a doubleheader at Aloha Stadium. Damien plays Iolani in the first game, while St. Louis and Punahou meet in the second game.

The changes to the schedule were adopted after Damien's administration announced last month that the school would forfeit its two games against St. Louis. The Monarchs are now scheduled for a single game against St. Louis on Oct. 28.

Damien officials have said the school still intends to forfeit the game, but hasn't completely eliminated the possibility of playing the Crusaders.

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