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After spending the last few years in Division 2 of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Football league, the NHIS Golden Hawks Varsity Football team has moved up to Division 1 in the 2016-2017 season.

But with this transition comes new challenges.

Andrew Moody, NHIS Athletic Director, said, “In the Division 1 conference you have more of the bigger schools, so I think one of the other challenges is being outnumbered.”

Another change for NHIS and all high school football teams is in the playoff format.

In previous years, there were only two distinct ranking status. Division 1 had the highest ranking teams based on past records and Division 2 for the rest. Championships were given to each of the Division Winners.

But a new state football playoff format is now in place. An Open Division has been added that will comprise of two ILH and four OIA teams as well as a Division 1 and 2 with eight teams each.

The NHIS Football team has also seen changes on the field.

“We’ve been trying to adapt to the new training this year. There are new people and new teams we have to face. So we have to put new strategies for Division 1,” said Varsity Linebacker, Kristopher Seumanutafa-Noa.

The Football team also faced some early challenges as the team was not at full strength with players not eligible due to injures and academic issues. The Varsity team lost their first two games to Waipahu, 12-20, and to Aiea, 14-27.

But according to players and coaches, the win lost record is no indication of the work the whole team puts in to represent the school and the community.

Moody said, “Their strengths are their worth ethic, their commitment, and their perseverance to hang in there and keep fighting at this point.”

Varsity Linebacker, Kaimakana Aipoalani-Scanlan said, “This is an opportunity to be recognized as players but also a chance to be recognized as a community.”

Seumanutafa-Noa, said, “Overall, our football program is about turning young men into gentlemen and scholars.”

And although on August 27, the NHIS Golden Hawks lost to the Leilehua Mules, 13-48 to make their record to 0-3, Moody has a message for the school and community.

“Keep being supportive, keep being positive, keep supporting our kids.”

With Homecoming this week on September 2 against the Kailua Surfriders, the team is looking forward to seeing the stands filled with support in getting their first win.