Friday, August 21 | Kickoff 4:00 PM | Surprise Stadium, Truckee
Season openers are always special. This one is something more.
On Friday afternoon, the Truckee Wolverines welcome the Konawaena Wildcats — all the way from Kealakekua on Hawaii’s Big Island — to Surprise Stadium for one of the most unique home games in program history. It’s a matchup that exists because Coach Josh Ivens saw something special in connecting two programs that, despite being separated by 2,400 miles of Pacific Ocean, share the same DNA: small towns, deep tradition, and communities that live and breathe their football.
Last August, our boys made the trip to the islands. Under the lights at Julian R. Yates Field, in front of a passionate Kona crowd, the Wolverines opened their season with a hard-fought 25-17 win over the Wildcats. Our players came home with more than a victory, they came home with an experience they’ll never forget, and a genuine respect for a Konawaena program that plays with heart and pride.
Now it’s our turn to return the hospitality.
Make no mistake, the Wildcats are bringing a serious football team over the water. Konawaena rolled through their Big Island league schedule undefeated last season and finished 10-3 overall, reaching the Hawaii state tournament. They’re well-coached, physical, and they’ll be hungry to even the score.
But Friday is about more than the scoreboard. It’s about showing a visiting team of student-athletes, coaches, and families what Truckee Pride looks like from the home side, packing Surprise Stadium, bringing the noise, and giving the Wildcats the kind of mountain-town welcome they gave us in Kona.
So come early, wear your Truckee gear, and bring the whole family. A 4pm Friday kickoff in August at Surprise Stadium, against a team from Hawaii, to open a new season, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Mahalo to Coach Ivens for building this special relationship, to the Konawaena program for making the long journey, and to everyone in Wolverine Nation who makes games like this possible.
Let’s fill the stands. Let’s make some noise. Let’s go Wolverines!