7 Neighbor Islands teams do some clinching

Six football teams from the Neighbor Islands have clinched a spot in the postseason and another has wrapped up at least a tie for a league title.

Here is a look at the playoff situations (and regular-season standings) on the Big Island, Maui and Kauai.

MIL

Lahainaluna Lunas
(6-1 overall, 5-0 Maui Interscholastic League, 4-0 MIL first round, 1-0 MIL second round)

The defending Division II state champion Lunas fought back for a 24-17 overtime win over Division I Maui High last weekend to start the league’s second round at 1-0. The defending D-II state champions had already clinched a spot in a playoff, if necessary, by finishing the first round at 4-0. If either of the two other MIL D-II teams, Kamehameha-Maui (3-3 overall, 2-2 MIL first round, 0-0 second round) and King Kekaulike (0-5 overall, 0-4 MIL first round, 0-1 second round) rally to capture the second round, they would move on to play Lahainaluna in the MIL D-II championship game for a spot in the state D-II title game. No playoff would occur if the Lunas add the second-round title.

Maui Sabers
(2-5 overall, 2-3 MIL, 2-2 MIL first round, 0-1 MIL second round)

The Sabers finished with the same 2-2 record as Baldwin in the MIL first round, but were awarded the first-round championship by virtue of a 32-21 victory over the Bears. If Baldwin (3-4 overall, 3-2 MIL, 1-0 MIL second round) wins the second round, it would move on to play Maui in the MIL D-I championship game for a spot in the state D-I title game. No playoff would occur if the Sabers add the second-round title.

Molokai Farmers
(4-1 overall, 3-0 MIL 8-man)

The Farmers beat all three MIL 8-man opponents to nab the regular-season title, and they will face second-place Lanai in the league championship game at home Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. Molokai is going for a third straight overall league title. On Thursday at 7 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium, Hana and Seabury Hall play in a consolation game for third place.

Lanai Pine Lads
(3-1 overall, 2-1 MIL 8-man)

The Pine Lads’ only loss was to Molokai, 72-38 on Sept. 16. They get another chance at the Farmers in the league title game. If they win it, it will be their first 8-man championship.

BIIF

Konawaena Wildcats
(5-2 overall, 5-0 Big Island Interscholastic Federation)

After two nonleaague losses (33-13 to Kapaa and 39-20 to St. Francis) the defending BIIF D-II champion Wildcats have won five straight in the league to clinch a spot in the BIIF’s D-II championship game against Kamehameha-Hawaii on either Oct. 20 or 21. The two teams are also battling for the regular-season title and it could go down to their matchup on Friday at the Warriors’ home field. Konawaena is also the owner of an impressive 24-14 victory on Sept. 15 over BIIF D-I frontrunner Hilo, which was ranked No. 6 in the state at the time.

Kamehameha-Hawaii Warriors
(6-2 overall, 4-1 BIIF)

The only two blips on the Warriors’ record are a 10-7 nonleague loss to Kauai Interschostic Federation frontrunner Kauai High and a 28-14 loss to Hilo last Friday. The Warriors have clinched a spot in the BIIF D-II title game against defending league D-II titlists Konawaena and are also gunning for the regular-season crown with a crucial test against the Wildcats on Friday.

Ka’u Trojans
(4-1 overall, 4-0 BIIF 8-man)

With two wins each against Pahoa (1-2) and Kohala (0-3), the defending BIIF 8-man champion Trojans have clinched at least a tie for the league crown. Ka’u can wrap up the title outright if Kohala beats Pahoa on Saturday. If the Daggers win that game, Ka’u will get another chance to clinch Oct. 7 against the Cowboys. No playoffs or league championship game are scheduled. If Pahoa comes back to tie Ka’u in the standings, the two teams would end up as co-champions. If the Trojans prevail, it will be their third championship in four seasons.

KIF

It’s a crapshoot in the Kauai Interscholastic Federation. Three-time defending champion Kapaa (3-2 overall, 1-2 KIF), which made the state D-II title game two years in a row, is in last place.

The other two teams, first-place Kauai High (2-1 KIF) and Waimea (2-2), are also 3-2 overall.

So, all four remaining regular-season games are pivotal. It is conceivable that all three teams could end up at 3-3, which is believed to have never happened before. In that case, two playoff games would be needed to break the tie for the championship and a berth in the D-I state tournament.

The fun continues this weekend when Kapaa plays Kauai High at Vidinha Stadium.

Standings