Asinsin, Tautofi lead OIA White
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Nanakuli's Ikaika Asinsin and Kaimuki's Daniel Tautofi are the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.
The scary part is if given enough opportunities on the opposite side of the ball, the conference's coaches, who selected the all-star team, could have easily switched the selections. That's how valuable Asinsin and Tautofi were to their teams.
Asinsin, a 6-foot-2, 242-pound senior running back, not only carried the Golden Hawks to a White title, but carried tacklers en route to his conference-leading 920 yards (7.4 per carry). He had speed like most running backs, but was built like a lineman.
"For a big guy, he had speed," Kaimuki coach Ronald Oyama said. "When he breaks away, he's outrunning defensive backs. They might have angles on him and still miss him. Plus, he's a tough runner."
Asinsin was the prototype running back for Nanakuli's option offense.
"I just wished we could have played him two ways more," Nanakuli coach Al Beaver said. "It would have given the colleges more opportunities to look at him on defense. But we gave him the ball 20, 25 times (a game), so it was difficult to put him on defense when he was our workhorse on offense."
Still, Asinsin played outside linebacker at certain times. He had the bulk to solidify the defense against the run, but was quick enough to cover receivers in passing situations, Beaver said.
Tautofi, a 6-2, 230-pound senior who has been on the varsity since his freshman year, was the only player named to the first team on offense and defense (receiver and linebacker).
"He's smart," Oyama said. "You tell him his assignment one time and he'll know it. That was his gift."
Tautofi played linebacker and end on defense and was used in each skill position on offense. Yes, he even took snaps as a quarterback. He scored six touchdowns rushing and two receiving. And he also punted.
Beaver, in his third season at the helm, was selected Coach of the Year after guiding the Golden Hawks to their first playoff berth since 1997.
Kaimuki led the White with six different players in eight different positions on the first team. Shelden Sarcedo was a first-team defensive back and utility pick. Joining Sarcedo and Tautofi are offensive linemen Raymond Taumalolo and Herbert Lee, defensive back Darin Fujimoto and defensive lineman Justin Santos.
Besides Asinsin, Nanakuli was represented by quarterback Albert Distajo, lineman Shane Kealoha, defensive back Kyle Beck, defensive lineman Keala Watson and special teams player Less Schnable.
Waialua placed receiver Grant Yamanouchi, offensive lineman Matthew Suyat, defensive back Brett Guerin, linebacker Justin Barit and defensive lineman Asa Chun.
Newcomer Kapolei landed offensive lineman Jensen Pruse and linebacker Drake Kula, and Kaiser placed receiver Waikoloa Noa and defensive lineman Rane Maumausolo.
Moanalua running back Noah Palmerton rounds out the first team.
