And the bands did not play on

By Fred Guzman
MauiNow.com

Where were the bands? That’s a question many fans were asking following last weekend’s MIL football games.

The Baldwin band was missing in action for Friday’s game against traditional rival Maui High.

We have been told that a change in venue was the reason for the band’s absence. The game originally was to be played Upcountry because a major rock concert was scheduled for War Memorial Stadium.

But when the concert was postponed, the game was moved back to War Memorial Stadium, which both Baldwin and Maui High call home.

Seems to me that traveling Upcountry is more difficult logistically than having to literally walk from the campus band room to the neighboring War Memorial Stadium.

Another caller suggested that a late notice in the change in venue may have prevented the band members to sign required travel waivers.

My response: The football team was there. The cheerleaders were there. The fans were there. And the band should have been there, as well.

After taking Baldwin’s band to task for its absence during our mid-day sports talk show yesterday, someone texted me saying that Kamehameha’s band also did not perform … at its own Homecoming game, no less.

My point is this: Bands play a key role in pageantry of prep football. The atmosphere at the games is simply not the same without them.

PREP FOOTBAL ROUNDUP

After all the talk about parity in the MIL, order was restored to what had been a football season filled with surprises. During the past weekend, both of the league’s traditional powers posted decisive victories.

On Friday, Brock Shishido threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns, distributing his 16 completions to seven different receivers, and his scoring passes to four different players as Baldwin romped to a 41-6 win over Maui High.

The result enabled the Bears to gain a share of first place in D-I with idle King Kekaulike, both at 2-1. The Sabers dropped to 1-2.

On Saturday, Lahainaluna took the steam out of Kamehameha’s homecoming by rolling up 369 rushing yards en route to a 29-6 road victory. Jostin Carbajal led the Lunas with 154 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

The Lunas moved into first in D-II with a 2-2 mark, while Kamehameha fell to 1-2.

This week’s games will be held Upcountry in deference to the County Fair. Baldwin visits Kamehameha on Friday and Maui High visits Kekaulike on Saturday.

The biggest shocker of the weekend took place on Oahu, where D-II power Iolani spanked defending state D-I champ Punahou 35-12, handing the Buffanblu their fourth loss of the season. Leilehua rallied to a 47-28 road win over Waianae, top-ranked Kahuku blanked Kaimuki 28-0 and Mililani routed Nanakuli 47-0.