These Surfriders come in huge waves

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

When the University of Hawai'i football team takes on Boise State Saturday, it will be facing an offensive line that averages 6 feet 4, 283 pounds.

The Kailua Surfriders' offensive line is big and mobile with Kapena Richardson (front), along with (left to right) Daniel Bukurau, Larry So'oalo, Marques Kaonohi, Willie Salakielu, Kahai LaCount, Pat So'oala, Xavier Ho'olulu and Sam Satele. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

And several of Kailua's offensive linemen may soon be playing for UH or other Division I programs. The Surfriders' gigantic boys up front are a key reason Kailua's ground attack was able to amass a mind-boggling 403 yards in last Saturday's 34-14 playoff victory over Mililani, a team that allowed only 122.4 rushing yards per game during the regular season.

"We pretty much knew what they were going to do (on each play) and where they were going to go," Mililani coach James Millwood said, "but we couldn't do anything to stop them."

Kailua's line actually consists of nine players who rotate in and out of the lineup over the course of a game, adding to the wear and tear applied on opposing teams. Seniors Kahai LaCount (6-3, 300) and Sam Satele (6-4, 290), both tackles/guards, and senior center Marques Kaonohi (6-2, 250) all are being recruited by UH.

The unit, which includes tackles Daniel Bukurau (6-1, 286, Jr.), Willie Salakielu (6-3, 320, Jr.) and Larry So'oalo (6-5, 301, Sr.), tackle/guard Xavier Ho'olulu (6-4, 307, Jr.), center Kapena Richardson (6-0, 287, Jr.) and tight end Pat So'oalo (6-6, 245, Jr.), also is drawing interest from Nebraska, Washington, Brigham Young, Colorado and Arizona, among others.

"A lot is put on their shoulders, but they've gotten better every week," Surfriders coach Darren Johnson said.

Millwood said what impressed him most about Kailua's linemen was their athleticism.

"They move well for their size, and they're very good at picking up their blocks," said Millwood, a former all-OIA West lineman for Mililani. "I thought their center (Kaonohi) was outstanding. They pull him, and you usually don't see teams pulling their center.

"There's no weak link on that line. Even the tight end (Pat So'oalo) is a strong blocker."

The biggest beneficiary of this wall of talent is senior running back Brenton Harbottle, who rushed for an O'ahu season-high 284 yards against Mililani and was the OIA Red Conference rushing champion (794 yards) despite not starting until the fifth game. Harbottle is a scatback who darts through on counters, dives and "isos" and often bounces outside once in the secondary. And at 5-5, 170, he's the perfect compliment for the huge line.

"Our linebackers were saying they couldn't see over their line, that he was just firing through," Millwood said. "The whole year, we were able to stop the run, but against them we couldn't. It was hard to try to get them off the field."

Harbottle says the biggest reason for his success is his teammates' improvement.

"They're the best linemen in the state," said Harbottle, who attended St. Louis as a sophomore. "They're clicking more now, they're connecting and making all the right calls."

The Surfriders' offense evolved since the beginning of the season, from a pass-oriented attack based around quarterback Taleki Mailau to the ground attack giving Harbottle 20-plus carries a game. Johnson said Kailua's game plans are dictated by "what the defense gives us," but recently no one has been able to shut down its running game.

The result is a ball-control offense that ran 60 plays each against Castle and Mililani.

"We finally realized we can smash people," LaCount said. "It's all technique and footwork; we work hard to come out fast. We're more together now."

Johnson compares this year's line favorably to the 1991 Surfriders unit that featured future UH standouts Marcus Malepeai and Joe "Hauoli" Wong, along with halfback Lanakila Dudoit.

"These guys are better all-around," Johnson said. "They're more physical. And it's not enough to just be big — you gotta be smart, you gotta be agile and you gotta be able to run to the right spots."

"Of course," Johnson added, "the size helps."

OIA CO-CHAMPIONSHIPS

'AIEA vs. KAHUKU

• When: Tomorrow, 5:05 p.m.
• Where: Aloha Stadium
• Records: 'Aiea 10-0 overall, 8-0 White Conference; Kahuku 10-0, 8-0 Red Conference
• Seeds: 'Aiea White No. 1; Kahuku Red No. 1
• Advertiser state poll ranking: 'Aiea No. 6, Kahuku No. 1
• National poll ranking: Kahuku No. 15 by Dick Butkus Football Network; 'Aiea unranked
• Last week: 'Aiea defeated Wai'anae 21-10; Kahuku defeated Roosevelt 42-18
• Series record: Kahuku leads, 11-4
• Last meeting: Oct. 28, 1999 — Kahuku 35, 'Aiea 14 (OIA quarterfinals)

• Key factors: 'Aiea passed a major test last week against Wai'anae, arguably the most physical team Na Ali'i faced all season. But Kahuku is another story altogether. The Red Raiders' starting offensive line averages 293 pounds. Kahuku defeated Kailua, the OIA's second-most physical team, 48-7 six weeks ago. ... Na Ali'i's defense played particularly well last week, allowing Wai'anae's traditionally vaunted ground game to just 37 yards. The Seariders were limited to 48 total yards. 'Aiea's performance was even more impressive considering it lost starting defensive lineman Andrew Mauga to an injury in the first quarter. Linebackers Keali'i Kekawa and Warren Tauanuu and defensive end Leon Lautalo picked up the slack. Lautalo made 17 tackles, including 13 solo and one for a loss, and had one hurry. Kekawa had eight tackles, seven solo, and Tauanuu had nine tackles (seven solo), caused one fumble and had two sacks. ... 'Aiea's offense, which passed for an O'ahu-high 2,221 yards and 32 touchdowns during the regular season, stumbled for the second straight week. Quarterback Lole Laolagi threw only five interceptions in his first eight games, but he has had seven picks in the past two weeks. Na Ali'i passed for a season-low 117 yards against Wai'anae and finished with only 198 total yards. ... Kahuku's all-state running back, Mulivai Pula, has picked up major steam. Pula has rushed for 331 yards and six touchdowns in the past two games. In nine games against OIA competition, Pula has rushed for 988 yards on 92 carries, an average of 10.7 yards per carry. ... Kahuku quarterback Inoke Funaki also has been eating up huge chunks of yardage, except through the air. In nine OIA games, Funaki has passed for 1,582 yards on just 85 completions, a whopping average of 18.6 yards per completion. He also has thrown 21 touchdown passes against only five interceptions. ... Turnovers and penalties continue to plague Kahuku. Against Roosevelt, the Red Raiders were flagged nine times for 65 yards, lost three fumbles and had one interception. That was part of the reason they led only 26-12 at halftime and 34-18 with 11:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. ... 'Aiea's 10 wins are the most in school history; Na Ali'i have never won an OIA football championship. Kahuku is aiming for a share of its 11th OIA crown, and its sixth in the past nine years.

CASTLE vs. KAILUA

• When: Tomorrow, 7:35 p.m.
• Where: Aloha Stadium
• Records: Castle 8-2 overall, 7-1 Red Conference; Kailua 8-2, 6-2
• Seeds: Castle Red No. 2; Kailua Red No. 3
• Advertiser state poll ranking: Castle No. 3, Kailua No. 4
• Last week: Castle defeated Waipahu 14-13; Kailua defeated Mililani 34-14
• Series record: Kailua leads, 29-20
• Last meeting: Oct. 19 — Castle 36, Kailua 29

• Key factors: Just three weeks ago, these two Windward O'ahu rivals played a classic game filled with high drama and non-stop action. Kailua rambled to a 17-3 lead in the first 22 minutes before Castle rallied for two touchdowns in 90 seconds just before halftime. The Knights took the lead for good on a 40-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter, but held on only after intercepting a two-point conversion pass that would have given Kailua the lead with about two minutes remaining. ... The teams also met in last year's OIA playoffs, with Castle edging Kailua 7-6. ... The Knights' offense, led by dynamic quarterback Joel Botelho, grabbed most of the attention during the regular season, but their defense stole the show in last week's win over Waipahu. Castle yielded 302 yards against the Marauders, but also came up with two interceptions and three fumbles. "Their defense bends but doesn't break," Kailua coach Darren Johnson said. ... The Knights will again be at a clear size disadvantage on the line of scrimmage, but Johnson said Castle is not too be taken lightly. "Their kids play so hard," he said. ... Botelho, who threw only two interceptions in eight regular season games, had three picks last week. ... Like Kahuku, Kailua has hurt itself with penalties and turnovers. The Surfriders were flagged 14 times for 99 yards against Mililani. Against Castle on Oct. 19, Kailua had a fumble which the Knights converted into a touchdown just before the half, and the Surfriders had two interceptions and a fumble in the final seven minutes, including an interception with under a minute left to preserve the Castle victory. ... The Knights have never won an OIA championship. Kailua's last OIA title came in 1965, when the league was called the Rural OIA.