Walter Young is only in his second year as head coach at Waianae, but already all the cylinders are running smoothly. It’s mid-August and he has the Seariders playing like the most amazing team in the Oahu Interscholastic Association not named Kahuku.
He receives a text from a reporter in the morning. He’s a busy man on Waianae’s campus. He asks that the interview be at 3 p.m.
He picks up his phone at precisely 3 o’clock. But he’s in the middle of the drive-through lane at McDonald’s, just a few blocks from campus. His son is in the car. The Seariders are riding high at 2-0 already, including a road win at Kamehameha and last week’s decisive victory over Kapolei. Two Top 10 opponents. Two triumphs.
What does son No. 1 order? What else? A Happy Meal.
Waianae is humming on both sides of the ball, and with seemingly one-dimensional Moanalua coming to town tonight, it would be no surprise if some of the younger Seariders take the 0-1 Na Menehune lightly.
Fourth-ranked Waianae, Young promises, is not about to get out of its lane.
“Morale is good and the kids are enjoying a 2-0 record, but we take it one game at a time. We can’t look past Moanalua,” Young said. “Offensively, there’s no secret. We’re going to try to run the ball. We can also be balanced. Their quarterback likes to throw the ball around.”
That QB would be Alaka‘i Yuen, who has thrown for 474 yards and eight TDs despite an uneven start to the year. Yuen began slowly in his first game, tossing three first-half picks against Damien before catching fire and leading Na Menehune to a 46-24 nonconference win. Last week, Yuen was disciplined and didn’t play until the second half against Kailua.
The first-half sit-down was the result of an in-house incident that would’ve been perhaps tolerable for most coaches regarding most players. Yuen, though, is a co-captain and held to a higher standard.
Moanalua has done its best to be balanced offensively. Yuen and backup Ezra Grace have accounted for 53 of the team’s 54 pass attempts after two games. Moanalua’s running backs, led by Kea Rodrigues, have gotten 44 carries. However, that includes 13 runs by Yuen, who can be crafty and slinky when he scrambles out of the pocket. Coach Savaii Eselu would probably prefer to see his offensive line grind out a steady rushing attack, the better to keep the ball out of the hands of Waianae’s potent offense.
Besides, if Yuen ends up throwing the ball more than 30 times — Ryan Ramones (16 receptions, 344 yards, six TDs) has been his favorite target — there might be one too many chances for the ferocious Seariders defense to get clean lanes to the QB.
“They can run the ball. We prepare for whatever we might see. We’ll switch it up. We have faith in our linebackers,” Young said. “We lined up in a 2-4-5 last game. We treat our linebackers as linemen, so it doesn’t change our game plan.”
One of those playmakers up front is defensive end Kanai Mauga, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior who received a scholarship offer from Oregon State over the weekend. It won’t be about Mauga, though, or anything else that distracts the big, red “W” from anything but unity.
“We try to focus on everything being a team effort,” Young said. “Our linebackers are flying around only because the D-line does their job, and the D-line does their job only because our secondary is doing theirs.”
Waianae’s mastery of the traditional wing-T option attack and four-wide shotgun spread is real. Personnel matchups are a real issue for any defense facing QB Jaren Ulu and a seasoned offensive unit. Five Seariders have carried the ball at least seven times, including Rico Rosario (173 yards, two TDs).
Ulu, a second-year starter, has modest numbers so far: 229 passing yards, two passing TDs, 34 rushing yards and one rushing TD. But he is the maestro of this orchestra, and two very good defenses have yet to deny him. Waianae is averaging 25.5 points per game.
It’s time for Young to get out of the drive-through lane. Boise, his 4-year-old son, has his Happy Meal. The chocolate milk, the blue watch, the plain cheeseburger. Life doesn’t get much better.
TODAY’S GAMES
Aiea (1-0) at No. 1 Kahuku (1-0)
The Red Raiders of 2015, battling injuries, turned to a bulldozing, red wall of pound-until-they-cry-for-mercy blockers on nearly every play. In 2016, they have evolved. That’s what a relatively healthy roster can do, and they’re doing well enough to get rest time for starters and playing time for reserves.
Last week’s battle with Leilehua was tight enough in the first half — before the visiting Red Raiders prevailed 49-15 — to convince a few Top 10 voters to jump ship and hand their No. 1 votes to Saint Louis, which has yet to play an official game.
It hardly matters to the defending state champions, who have a child prodigy at quarterback: freshman Sol-Jay Maiava, who has an offer from Michigan. They are stocked at just about every position, led in the backfield by returnee Harmon Brown, who rushed for 123 yards and two TDs against Leilehua.
The look that coach Vavae Tata wanted last season, before injuries depleted the roster, is taking form this fall. Kahuku threw the ball 23 times and ran it 36 times against Leilehua. That’s a pass attempt on 39 percent of their downs, a vast difference from last year’s 90-percent-plus rushing approach.
Kesi Ah-Hoy, who led the offense last year despite nagging injuries, is entrenched now at safety, seeing some snaps at wide receiver.
Aiea hung on for a 27-14 win at Nanakuli last week, with backup Zelius Maae-Liupaono and starter Kobe Kato splitting time at quarterback. Both relied heavily on a smurf crew of skilled pass catchers, including Sam Okamoto (eight catches, 105 yards, TD). The last time Kahuku lost a game at home, though, it took a tough-nosed, big and physical QB, Mason Koa, to lead the way. Kapolei was the last team to beat Kahuku at Carlton Weimer Field — Oct. 26, 2007.
Na Alii will face a defense that features defensive end Aliki Vimahi (6-4, 250, 10 offers), cornerback Kekaula Kaniho (6-1, 170, seven offers), Ah-Hoy (6-0, 195, four offers), DTs Sekope Lutu Latu (6-3, 250, BYU commit) and Enokk Vimahi (6-4, 250, two offers), DE Samson Reed (6-2, 240, three offers) and LB Miki Ah You (6-0, 165, one offer).
Campbell (0-2) at Kaiser (1-1)
The Sabers have struggled with the graduation of several key performers, but coach Amosa Amosa continues to air the ball out while trying to establish a ground attack. Campbell has run the ball 56 times — Tasi Faumui has 84 yards on 30 carries — in two games while airing the ball out 73 times. Kawika Ulufale has capable playmakers in Markus Ramos (eight receptions, 67 yards) and Zayne Barr-Rauschenburg (10 grabs, 66 yards).
Kaiser QB Kainoa Torres withstood a shellacking by a relentless Mililani defense last week, and still managed to make good decisions most of the night. The Cougars will welcome the return of their players who sat last week due to academic probation, but the biggest boost might come from two-way standout Andrew Kaufusi (hamstring).
Konawaena (0-0) vs. St. Francis (1-0), at Leilehua
The Saints have been building from the intermediate level, winning an ILH D-II crown a few years back. They challenged hard last season, and with a 31-9 victory on the road against Kauai last week, momentum is all forward for Coach Kip Akana’s squad.
The visiting Wildcats, led by junior QB Austin Ewing, are the defending BIIF D-II champions.
Pearl City (1-1) at Roosevelt (1-1)The Chargers rebounded from a shutout loss against Lahainaluna with a 35-20 win over Kalani in their OIA D-II opener last week. Coach Robin Kami has been willing to air the ball out in the past, but with Charles Freitas (45 carries, 112 yards, one TD) at running back, Pearl City has made its preference for ground and pound very clear this season.
The Rough Riders opened league play with a 41-14 win over McKinley last week. First-year head coach Kui Kahooilihala’s commitment to running the ball has been fruitful. Three Rough Riders (Charvis Paia, Shastyn Kekahuna, Isaiah Rosa) have gained at least 126 yards each. Kekahuna, their returning starter at QB, has thrown the ball just 15 times. Roosevelt has run the ball on 87 percent of their snaps so far.
McKinley (0-2) vs. Kalaheo (0-2), at Kailua
Second-year Tigers coach Sam Cantiberos is trying to crack the code. He’s got one line down: Numbers are up significantly for a program that forfeited its last two games of the 2015 campaign. But without a consistent feeder program in the district over the past several years, playing in Division I was brutal.
Kalaheo has always been a D-II player, capable of making the playoffs, sometimes overachieving with superb two-way players. The Mustangs last played McKinley in 2011, a 40-0 win by the Tigers. Coach Darrell Poole’s team lost its conference opener to Waipahu 44-21 last week. Mark Lerhner, a baseball standout, has thrown the ball 48 times (259 yards, two TDs) and run the ball a team-high 21 times (57 yards, one TD) in two games.
No. 2 Saint Louis (0-0) at Hilo (0-0)
In the end, it was much ado about … the nearly unbearable heaviness of day after day, week after week with hardly any competition from the outside world. When Tua Tagovailoa lit up the social media world with a single, quickly deleted tweet — “Farewell to the Lou” — the reaction near and far nearly put this part of the prep football world into tilt mode.
That was Tuesday.
By this weekend, the mighty Crusaders, defending ILH champions, will have a chance to do something just about every team in the islands has already done: play an entire game, four quarters, against another team. That opponent will likely not be well embraced, but the Vikings probably won’t mind.
Hilo has been back to hard-nosed, old-fashioned, backyard-banging old-school football in recent years.
The biggest obstacle for Hilo, though, is that very few teams in the BIIF air the ball out with the regularity and efficiency that Alabama-bound Tagovailoa possesses. When was the last time an SEC-committed football player set foot in Wong Stadium?
While Tagovailoa and that spectacular offense may draw ticket buyers, it’s the Crusaders defense that will be in lockdown mode. Dylan Toilolo is the lesser-heralded of the linebacking crew — Isaac Slade-Matautia has eight BCS program offers — but could turn out to be equally active.
Castle (2-0) at No. 6 Mililani (1-0)
The Trojans were in stealth mode against Kaiser last week, a machine that churns out yardage, sacks, completions, receptions, deflections without ceasing.
Check out the big numbers on the men of Troy: 75 points in two games. No. Wait. Wrong team. Those are Castle’s numbers. Castle is back to the future? Coach Nelson Maeda’s 20th season at the helm has begun with the kind of production that marked some of his finest offensive teams. Makana Smith and Jaylen Uyemura-Lee have combined for 294 passing yards, three TDs. The Knights have actually run the ball 65 times and thrown it just 43.
The bad news? They’ve yet to play a D-I team, and Mililani is quite the D-I team. Dillon Gabriel was gangbusters in less than one half against Kaiser: 127 passing yards, three TDs, more than 10 yards per pass attempt. Those are Kenzie-ish stats to be sure.
No. 8 Kailua vs. No. 7 Farrington, at Roosevelt
Mark Lagazo is a name that may not be entirely familiar to the Governors, but his number certainly is.
“The key for us is No. 10. He’s a good runner,” Okimoto said.
Kailua has been consistently in balanced-attack gear with Joe Wong as head coach. The big, blue bruisers up front are a Kailua-Waimanalo staple, but running out of that spread formation is still a stunning look for old-time Surfrider fans. It simply works.
“Our offensive line, we’ve got some good size and depth at all positions,” Wong said. “It’ll be like last year’s game: hard fought and whoever makes the mistakes, we made a few more and it cost us the game. It’s going to be a heavyweight bout. We’ll be swinging and they’ll be swinging.”
Lagazo, who spent most of his time at cornerback last year, rushed for 100 yards and a TD on 24 carries against Moanalua.
“He’s bulked up some,” Wong said of Lagazo, who is now 160 pounds on a 5-9 frame. “That will help him through the season. He runs smart, doesn’t take the big hits and he gets down.”
Farrington’s defense, with fullback Freedom Alualu now at mike ‘backer full time, expects to meet the challenge. Defensive tackle Tainano Gaulua (6-2, 260) anchors a balanced unit that includes Saint Louis transfer Iosefa Noga at safety and athletic cornerbacks in T.J. Tautolo and Christian Acorda. They won’t overlook Kailua’s first-year starting QB, Keoni Serikawa (6-3, 195).
“He seems like he’s finding his way,” Okimoto noted. “He made some nice reads in their last game (against Moanalua), checking down from his primary to his secondary (target).”
The Govs’ offense has been on fire whether it’s Justin Uahinui or Bishop Rapoza at QB. They’ve alternated the two for one to two plays at a time. The O-line has produced despite injuries to Poa Moananu (6-2, 412) and center Tofiga-Toleafoa Sagapolu (5-8, 268).
“The O-line did a helluva job considering the situation last week,” Okimoto said.
Kailua’s defense will have its eyes on Farrington playmaker Challen Faamatau, who will be spelled at running back by Tautolo when he lines up in the slot.
No. 9 Kapolei (1-1) at Leilehua (0-2)
Injuries couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Hurricanes, who couldn’t keep up with Waianae after halftime last week. Their next three games are away from home.
Leilehua has already faced elite teams Punahou and Kahuku, and now Kapolei QB Taulia Tagovailoa (497 yards, seven TDs, no picks) will test the Mules. WR Jaymin Sarono (21 catches, 172 yards, four TDs) is a favorite target.
The Mules haven’t had much breathing room and if the ’Canes are somewhat healthy, it will still be tough sledding. However, Kona Andres has endured (63 percent completion rate) and S/WR Charles Moku Watson (eight catches, 118 yards, TD) has continued to be stellar on both sides of the ball.
Waimea (1-0) at No. 10 ‘Iolani (1-0)
It’s been a long two weeks for the Raiders since their lopsided win over Radford. Waimea blanked Waiakea 38-0 last week and could stir up more debate about the Division II picture statewide with a strong performance at Eddie Hamada Field. The Menehune will have to curtail the skills of Raiders QB Tai-John Mizutani, who passed for 245 yards and three TDs in one half against Radford.
Kealakehe (0-0) vs. Damien (1-1) at Aiea
The Monarchs are riding momentum after a decisive win over Maui last week. Marcus Faufata-Pedrina has already accounted for 520 yards of total offense and eight TDs against two D-I teams.
Kalani (0-1) vs. Kaimuki (1-0), at Kaiser
The Falcons saw some offensive sparks in a loss to Pearl City with 224 passing yards by Seth Tina-Sobarano. Ikaika Andaya had four receptions for 152 yards and a TD. The Bulldogs, though, were aeronautic in an overtime win over Waialua. Jordan Solomon passed for 331 yards and three TDs, connecting with seven receivers. Fifty-five of Kaimuki’s 70 plays from scrimmage (79 percent) were passes, keeping Andries Toussaint (seven receptions, 107 yards), Daniel Nguyen (six, 102, three TDs) and Saia Maiava (six, 80) busy all game long.
