ILH team capsules
| • | St. Louis coach ready for last crusade |
| • | New ILH schedule still needs tweaking |
| • | List of ILH football champions |
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
DAMIEN MONARCHS
• 2000: 2-9 overall, 2-8 ILH
• Coach: Chris Bisho, 2nd year, 2-9
• Top players:
OL Kea Toledo (6-4, 270, Sr.)
WR Mike Lau (5-10, 180, Jr.)
MLB Daniel Chaves (5-7, 190, Jr.)
DL Gaison Ganiko (5-10, 260, Sr.)
AP Tuese Mauga (6-2, 220, Jr.).
• Outlook: Nearly half of the Monarchs' 47 players are sophomores in an obvious foundation-setting season.
"We'll make a lot of mistakes," conceded Bisho. "We're not a real fast team, not a real big team by any means, but we're working on the basic things: blocking, tackling. The simple things. We're building the foundation for our future."
The Monarchs will start all sophomores at skill positions on offense. Last year's quarterback, Destin Alameida, has shifted to receiver. But a broken hand suffered during practice will sideline the senior — one of eight on the squad — for six weeks.
The defense had as many as 10 sophomores on the field in the non-league game against St. Anthony several weeks ago.
Part of the school's rebuilding process begins at the intermediate level, where nearly half of its 115 freshmen are on the team.
• Fun fact: Comedian Frank DeLima is a Damien alumnus.
• • •
IOLANI RAIDERS
• 2000: 6-6 overall, 5-5 ILH
• Coach: Wendell Look, 11th year, 67-54-1
• Top players:
WR Ikaika Goo (5-8, 160, Sr.)
RB Teo Bennett (5-6, 180, Sr.)
QB Kila Kaaihue (6-4, 205, Sr.)
DL Donny Mateaki (6-6, 260, Sr.)
DL Ryan Kilborn (5-10, 215, Sr.)
WR Jay Marcoullier (6-0, 175, Sr.)
DL Kawika Nakoa (5-11, 190, Sr.)
LB Kala Kaaihue (6-1, 210, Jr.)
LB Blake Wong (6-1, 185, Jr.)
OL D.J. Tano (5-11, 225, Jr.)
OL Daniel Aipa (5-8, 180, Jr.).
• Outlook: The core of the offense returns with quarterback Kaaihue, receivers Goo and Marcoullier, and running back Bennett behind returning linemen Tano and Aipa. Bennett and sophomore Raynold Stowers are excellent runners to complement Iolani's passing attack.
"We're pretty set in all areas, except offensive line," Look said. "But our offensive line has been coming around. They're progressing real nicely."
Defensively, the Raiders return one of the best linemen in the state in Mateaki, who has already been offered scholarships from USC, California, Utah, Washington, Arizona, Oregon and Hawai'i.
Joining him on the front seven are linebackers Kala Kaaihue, Kila's younger brother, and Wong, as well as lineman Nakoa.
The Raiders lost ILH first-team all-star defensive back Bronson Melemai, who transferred to Castle.
• Fun fact: Wendell Look, at 5 feet 10 and 170 pounds, was the shortest and lightest defensive lineman on The Advertiser's ILH all-star team in 1977.
• • •
KAMEHAMEHA WARRIORS
• 2000: 9-2 overall, 8-2 ILH
• Coach: Kanani Souza, 6th year, 45-19
• Top players:
DB Preston Lingaton (5-7, 165, Sr.)
RB Kelena Ho'okano (5-11, 187, Sr.)
DB/SB Keano Noa (5-9, 165, Sr.)
RB Dane Montez (5-7, 170, Sr.)
DB Tyler Perkins (5-10, 160, Sr.)
DB Pili Kitashima (5-9, 165, Sr.)
QB Caleb Spencer (5-11, 150, Jr.)
DL J.P. Kennedy (5-9, 225, Jr.)
DL Brandon Ala (6-3, 210, Sr.)
DL Abu Ma'afala (6-2, 270, Sr.)
LB Brandon Tom (6-1, 195, Sr.)
OL Kekoa Vincent (6-2, 235, Sr.)
OL Enoka Lucas (6-3, 285, Sr.)
WR Keoni Ruth (5-9, 155, Jr.).
• Outlook: Most of the Warriors' returnees are on a defense led by linemen Ala, Tom and Kennedy and the secondary of Kitashima, Perkins and Lingaton.
"We're relying on (our defense) to play real well for us," Souza said.
The offense will be run by Spencer, who played sparingly last season, but has shown promise. Running backs Ho'okano and Montez should provide the Warriors a strong running game to complement their passing attack. Ruth and Noa are good receivers. Key returning linemen blocking for them are Vincent and Lucas.
Noa will be one of the rare two-way players in recent years for the Warriors, who have some 100 players on their varsity. "He's a very good one," Souza said of Noa.
• Fun fact: Kamehameha is the only ILH school to win Prep Bowl titles at Honolulu Stadium and Aloha Stadium ... and one of the school's athletic directors, Blane Gaison, was the quarterback of those teams in 1974 (old stadium) and 1975 (Aloha).
• • •
PAC-FIVE WOLFPACK
• 2000: 0-12 overall, 0-10, ILH
• Coach: Don Botelho, 37th year, 141-267-12 overall, 141-196-8 at Pac-Five ('74-present)
• Top players:
DB Chad Rayno (5-8, 160, Sr.)
LB Alika Durington (6-0, 230, Sr.)
QB McShane Dator (6-2, 205, Jr.)
DB Ryan Leong (5-5, 138, Jr.)
OL Michael Hom (5-11, 275, Jr.)
WR Matthew Friedman (6-4, 180, Sr.)
LB Ryan Penaroza (6-2, 207, Sr.).
• Outlook: The extra byes from the revised schedule are a blessing for the Wolfpack, who were decimated by injuries in non-league competition.
Returning quarterback Dator (thumb) should be ready for the ILH opener against Damien. But junior receiver/slotback Waikoloa Noa (ACL) is out for the season after a non-contact injury in the Dana Hills game on Aug. 25.
With Dator back, he will have tall targets as receivers in Friedman and sophomore Travis Tyler (6-2, 180).
Although predominantly a passing team through the years, the Wolfpack might have the personnel for a more balanced attack. Running backs Rayno and Michael Yamauchi-Yamate, a 5-foot-5, 138-pound sophomore, "gives us a running threat," Botelho said.
The Wolfpack have benefitted from players from Redemption and World of Life academies. Linemen Dennis Moku and Dustin Pilialoha are from Redemption and Yamauchi-Yamate, DB Shane Lawrence, Koa Pickard and William Fetu represent the Firebrands.
• Fun facts: Retired sumo wrestler Konishiki, Nanakuli's Saleva'a Atisanoe, was an ILH all-star offensive lineman in 1979 for the Wolfpack ... Don Botelho was a quarterback/running back for the Rainbows from 1954-1957.
• • •
PUNAHOU BUFFANBLU
• 2000: 5-6 overall, 5-5 ILH
• Coach: Kale Ane, 3rd year, 10-12
• Top players:
QB Todd LaFountaine (6-0, 185, Sr.)
RB Jason Ching (5-10, 165, Sr.)
RB Tamatoa Hackney (5-10, 185, Jr.)
TE David Marsh (6-3, 210, Sr.)
TE David Dowsett (6-4, 220, Sr.)
C Koa Robinson (5-11, 220, Sr.)
G Chris Overton (6-0, 215, Jr.)
T Dane Uperesa (6-5, 315, Sr.)
P Drew Monohan (6-0, 175, Jr.)
AP Jason Sakata (59, 150, Jr.)
LB Kawika Fiddler (6-0, 198, Sr.)
LB Alex Fergus (6-3, 185, Sr.)
LB Kynan Pang (5-10, 180, Sr.)
DL Wes Scott (6-2, 185, Jr.)
DL Derek Turbin (6-3, 200, Sr.).
• Outlook: The Buffanblu will continue their single-wing offense. LaFountaine, the quarterback, is called the trigger of the throwback scheme that uses a lot of misdirection. Players like Monahan and Sakata "play all over the place" on offense, Ane said.
LaFountaine combined for 1,382 yards in offense, rushing for 14 touchdowns while passing for four. Hackney and Ching will have to pick up for D.A. Weick (7.2 yards per carry last year), who was lost to graduation.
The defense returns Pang, an ILH second-team all-star linebacker.
"We're expecting to do well and looking forward to the season," Ane said.
• Fun fact: Assistant Charlie Ane, who played for the NFL's Detroit Lions from 1953-1959, still receives autograph requests on his football cards.
• • •
ST. LOUIS CRUSADERS
• 2000: 14-1 overall, 10-0 ILH champions, runner-up state
• Coach: Cal Lee, 21st year, 231-31-4, state's winningest coach
• Top players:
SB Ross Dickerson (5-11, 175, Sr.)
QB Bobby George (6-0, 185, Jr.)
DB Timo Paepule (6-0, 195, Jr.)
DB Jonah Lakatani (5-6, 145, Jr.)
DB Chad Adviento (5-11, 190, Sr.)
RB Prince Brown (5-10, 230, Sr.)
DL John Siofele (6-0, 255, Sr.)
DL Isaia Robins (6-1, 250, Sr.)
LB Taualai Fonoti (6-1, 240, Sr.)
OL Troy Esera (6-1, 285, Sr.)
OL Mesepa Reed (6-5, 237, Sr.)
WR Kainoa Fernandez (5-10, 170, Sr.)
WR Jason Rivers (6-2, 185, Jr.)
DL Tolifili Liufau (6-3, 290, Jr.).
• Outlook: Opposing ILH coaches say the Crusaders look in midseason form. But the coach of the 15-time ILH champion disagrees.
"We're so far away," Lee said. "The evaluation process is ongoing. We still have a lot of things to look at. I'm not satisfied with our overall performance."
The Crusaders were dominating in their two non-league games (42-0 against Nanakuli and 40-7 against San Clemente, Calif.). George, a junior, will have a strong supporting cast with receivers Dickerson, Fernandez and Rivers, brother of UH receiver Frank Rivers. Brown is the prototypical big back that keeps defenses honest against the pass.
St. Louis lost five all-state players on defense, but the ones it got back — linemen Siofele and Robins, linebacker Fonoti and defensive backs Paepule, Lakatani and Adviento — have filled in nicely, so far.
• Fun fact: After graduating from Kalani in 1964, Cal Lee went on to become an all-America linebacker at Willamette.
