Kapolei's first senior class has high hopes
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
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By their second season in junior varsity football in 2001, they were 11-1. Their only loss came in the championship against Kahuku.
In their varsity debut last year, two points is all that kept them from promotion to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference. But mostly, it denied them a shot to prove themselves against the best this year.
The Hurricanes finished in a three-way tie for second with Kaimuki and Pearl City in the OIA White last season. The one-point losses to each were the tie-breakers that kept them from being one of the top three Whites to advance to the OIA playoffs. They not only return to the White and hold Division II status, they have no shot at a Division I title at either the OIA or state tournaments because of the new scheduling format.
"When we were freshmen, we were dreaming of this day to come," senior cornerback Roland Mason said. "We were dreaming, hoping we'd have a shot at the OIA title. We won't get a shot at the Division I title, but we'll live with the Division II title for now, if we can get to the championship."
Still, this is a special season for the Hurricanes, who will field their first senior class. Twenty-six had been raised through the program since the school opened in 2000. Some have known their coach, Darren Hernandez, since they were eighth graders at the middle school.
"I have an unbelievable bond with these kids, unlike any other class that I've had," Hernandez said. "For the guys who've played all the way, I just have a real strong bond with them. I tell them you're going to make a lot of history. You guys are going to set the standard for tradition and excellence at our school in football. I always tell them it's a heavy burden, but I think they can handle it."
Hernandez enjoyed success as coach at neighboring Campbell from 1994 to 1999, taking the Sabers to the playoffs five times, before moving to Kapolei. Hernandez went in with an open mind. There were no facilities four years ago, just a grass field.
"I hadn't envisioned anything because it was so new and I didn't know what to expect," he said. "I knew as a coach at Campbell that a lot of my really good all-state players — guys like Clifford Russell, Robby Takara and Derek Voeller — those guys came from Makakilo and Honokai Hale."
The talent speaks for itself because Kapolei still is not totally equipped. The football locker is a storage container in the parking lot and the team practices on the baseball field. But with the completion of the gym, they have an air-conditioned weight room.
"What we have now is incredible," Mason said.
But Kapolei is still homeless. A stadium is supposed to be ready by next season. The Hurricanes play all of their games at other venues. Their fans have followed.
"If we had a stadium, I know it would be packed," senior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada said.
The Hurricanes are still buzzing from their 21-0 win over defending West co-champion Wai'anae in last Friday's non-league game. In their varsity debut last year, the Hurricanes lost to the Seariders, 28-0.
"We feel like we're on top of the world," senior linebacker Drake Kula said
Added Hernandez: "There were no excuses this year about having only underclassmen. We had to kind of come out and deliver. There's high expectations, but I tell everybody in the community that nobody has higher expectations for the program than myself. I make sure that they're in class, that they're studying film, lifting weights, doing what they gotta do."
Another note: Kapolei has yet to play at Aloha Stadium. Its only chance to do so is to make the Division II state title game.
"That's something they would like to do as well," Hernandez said.
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OIA White Capsules
'Aiea Na Ali'i
Coach: Wendell Say, 12th season (54-50-1)
2002: 2-6
Top players: SB Ben Ah Mook Sang (5-8, 170, Sr.); SE Alden DeMello (5-6, 140, Sr.); DE Scott Faitau (5-11, 230, Sr.); QB Kali Kuia (5-8, 145, So.); SS Aveni Leung-Wai (6-1, 200, Jr.); LB Lawrence Leovao (5-10, 225, Sr.); OL Sterling Ohia (5-10, 235, Sr.); DL Rocky Savai'igaea (6-3, 290, Jr.).
Outlook: Four of Na Ali'i's losses last season were by a touchdown or less, but they also were hit hard by graduation with only three starters back each on offense and defense. But coach Wendell Say said many returnees who were not starters have playing experience. "A lot of them were sophomores who had a lot of playing time last year," Say said. "They're the ones who are starting now. Our defense is actually way ahead of where we were last year." Kali Kuia, a sophomore, will start at quarterback. "He's very mature for his age," Say said. "He's more of a dropback passer, and he sits well in the pocket. He's pretty accurate." His main target is likely to be Ben Ah Mook Sang, a first-team OIA Red-West selection in 2002. "We want to get him the ball because he's potentially dangerous in the open field," Say said. "But we'll also try to spread the ball evenly." Say said the offensive line is rebuilding. "They're young kids, but they work well together," Say said.
Kaiser Cougars
Coach: David Maeva, 2nd season (3-5)
2002: 3-5
op players: SS Chris Assily, LB Josh Chase, WR Matt Ching, LB Richard LaBoy, OL Rusty LaBoy, SB Blain Ling, LB Chad Nishihira, QB Steven Pratt, OL Chauncey St. Laurent, SB Kainoa Tautaha, OL Sam Shamblin, OL Henry Wassman.
Outlook: Three of the Cougars' five losses last year were by nine points or fewer, and they return seven starters each on offense and defense from that group. "We improved a lot last year, although our record didn't show it," coach David Maeva said. "A lot of those games were decided in the last two minutes, and as a football fan, that's what you like to see. We're not only into wins and losses; our goal is to get these guys as close to reaching their potential as possible." Maeva, in his second year as a head coach, said 2002 was a learning experience for everybody. "It looks good this year, they've all heard the same terminology," Maeva said. "We're probably still undersized, but we're quicker and we're way ahead of where we were last year at this time." Maeva has brought in a pair of former All-State quarterbacks from Iolani to help coach his spread offense. Brian Ah Yat, a former All-American at Montana, is the offensive coordinator and older brother Paul Ah Yat, who pitched for the University of Hawai'i and made it to Triple-A in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, coaches the slotbacks and receivers.
Kalaheo Mustangs
Coach: Tony Tuioti, 1st season
2002: 0-8
Top players: WR Neil Bowers, LB Tyson DeCambra, CB/S Nick Eldredge, MLB Aaron Lewis, LB T.J. Myer, S Jake Myking, QB David Pershin, QB Jared Neufeldt, WR Josh Perry, SB Sean Tobara.
Outlook: The Mustangs' coaching staff looks like a University of Hawai'i football letterwinners club, with head coach Tony Tuioti, offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann, defensive coordinator Jacob Espiau and assistants Thero Mitchell, Alapa'i Andrews, Yaphet Warren and others. "We're trying to train the players as close to how we were trained at UH," said Tuioti, a former standout defensive lineman. "The other thing is, we all graduated from college, so we want them to see that and pay attention to grade issues. We inherited a group of seniors who have been through the struggles, so it reminds me of 1999, when coach (June) Jones got us so positive and excited." Kalaheo has eight starters back each on offense and defense, but projected starting quarterback David Pershin injured his ankle in a skateboard accident a day before fall camp started and is expected to be out another week. In the meantime, Jared Neufeldt has been playing quarterback and will look to Neil Bowers, Josh Perry and Sean Tobara as his main targets. "Neil is more sure-handed, he runs good routes and gets the yards," Tuioti said. "Josh has a lot of speed and he can stretch defenses. And Sean is a speedster who understands the offense. We expect big things from him." Defensively, Tuioti says the Mustangs have a talented group of linebackers and safeties. "We'll have the same philosophy as UH — we'll do a lot of zone blitzes and fly around to make plays," Tuioti said.
Kalani Falcons
Coach: Greg Taguchi, 5th season (13-19 from 1995-98)
2002: 0-7
Top players: RB/DB Jeffrey Boyne, So.; OL/DT Jason Deguzman, Sr.; MLB Jared Diseria, Jr.; OL Todd Dooher, Jr.; RB/DB Karson Kim, So.; SB/DB Jason Leong, Jr.; RB/DB Brandon Liao, So.; RB/LB James Miyashiro, So.; QB Preston Pires, Jr.; RB/DB Balne Tanabe, Sr.
Outlook: Head coach Greg Taguchi returns to the top position after four seasons, and he inherits just six returning starters total. He also inherits a depth problem, with only 29 players on the roster. "We're facing a tough season, especially with Kapolei to start," Taguchi said. "But if we stay healthy, I think we can be competitive." The Falcons also were left without a preseason game for the second straight year, after a team from Arizona backed out. Quarterback Preston Pires will try to direct a multiple offense that will run double-slot, option and "I" attacks. "His strength is passing," Taguchi said.
Kapolei Hurricanes
Coach: Darren Hernandez, 8th season overall (37-30-3), 2nd at Kapolei
2002: 5-3
Top players: ILB Drake Kula (6-2, 220, Sr.); RT Ikaika Aken-Moleta (6-3, 320, Jr.); QB Kaipo-Noa Keheaku-Enhada (6-1, 185, Sr.); CB Roland Mason (5-9, 175, Sr.); CB Bronson Pieper (5-8, 160, Sr.); WR Brandon Pieper (5-8, 150, Sr.); ILB Bryan Padayao (6-0, 245, Sr.); NT Junior Adriano (6-2, 300, Jr.); DE Warren Simanu (6-5, 230, Sr.); S Kainoa Enhada (6-2, 185, Jr.).
Outlook: Of the 32 seniors, 26 have been with the program since classrooms opened four years ago. Among them is quarterback Kaipo-Noa Keheaka-Enhada, a mouthful for announcers and a handful for defenders. Kapolei will mix the spread option from last year with a newly installed run-and-shoot. Defensively, the Hurricanes will use a 3-3, which features five defensive backs. Corner Roland Mason and linebacker Drake Kula are key players. The emphasis on defense is speed. Kapolei was edged from the OIA playoffs by a tie-breaker, despite a 5-2 record, the same as Kaimuki and Pearl City; both were promoted to the Red of their respective divisions.
Moanalua Menehunes
Coach: Arnold Martinez, 1st season
2002: 1-7
Top players: QB Steve Arakaki, HB Wally Coleman, OLB D'Tari Hopkins, QB Stanford Leti, OL Ricky Maikai, S Steve Nelson, CB Nigel Ross, MLB Quintin Tang, FS/CB Brandon Taniyama.
Outlook: New head coach Arnold Martinez, a former head coach at Solano (Calif.) Community College, said he has "cleaned house" and the Menehunes are "at ground zero" in terms of starting over. "We'll rely on our skill guys a lot, but we have only one returnee on both lines, and everything starts on the front," Martinez said. "We have a lot of guys who did not see the field last year. We're very technique-oriented, and we're working on the basic fundamental things right now." Moanalua's offense will use a veer option attack, which Martinez said "is all about execution." Martinez said that extends beyond the football field. "We want coachable kids who have good attitudes and get it done in the classroom," Martinez said. "It's a privilege to play football for Moanalua, and that's how we want them to think."
Radford Rams
Coach: Fred Salanoa, 1st season
2002: 2-6
Players to watch: LB Lino Kakiva (5-11, 210, Sr.); S Dennis Medina (5-10, 160, Sr.); LB/QB Stephen Baughn (5-10, 190, Jr.); OL Lehi Kakiva (5-9, 190, Sr.); OL Lincoln Kakiva (6-0, 265, Sr.); LB Jason Opetaia (5-10, 210, Sr.).
Outlook: First-year coach Fred Salanoa, at 25 the youngest coach in the OIA, returns to his alma mater after serving last season as a part-time assistant. "I could only coach on Mondays and Tuesdays because of my job (as youth counselor at Hale Kipa)," said Salanoa, now a special education teacher at Radford. Seven years removed from high school, Salanoa said his youth is a plus. "I can relate to these kids," he said. "They say, 'He's a lot more like us.' I know what they like, I know their lingo. We can be more open (to each other)." A record-setting passer at Snow (Ephraim, Utah) College and Eastern Washington, Salanoa will use a pass-oriented offense at Radford behind quarterback Stephen Baughn. It will be similar to UH's run-and-shoot, but the Rams will employ a tight end at times. The Rams use a 4-3 as a base defense, led by linebackers Lino Kakiva, Philip Elisara and Jason Opetaia.
Waialua Bulldogs
Coach: Lincoln Barit, 1st season
2002: 4-4
Players to watch: LB Justin Barit (5-9, 200, Sr.); WR/DB Ikaika Castillo (5-5, 145, Sr.); DB Brett Guerin (6-1, 175, Sr.); RB Shaun Kim (5-5, 150, Sr.); LB Kala Labra (5-9, 180, Sr.); WR/DB Jovi Lo (5-9, 135, Jr.); WR/DE Dan Maestas (5-9, 175, Sr.); DL Dominic Maldonado (5-11, 195, Sr.); DT Joshua Miller (5-10, 205, Sr.); DB Aaron Oga (5-9, 175, Sr.); RB/LB Casey Onizuka (5-6, 150, Jr.); OL/DL Shawyn Peiler (6-0, 210, Jr.); DT Ian Ramirez (5-10, 275, Sr.); WR/DB Melvin Repollo (5-7, 150, Jr.); OL/DL Glenn Rubio (5-4, 130, Sr.); SB Kelson Silva (5-3, 125, Sr.); OL Matt Suyat (5-10, 280, Sr.); LB Remigio Vidad (5-5, 160, Sr.).
Outlook: The Bulldogs have one of the league's most experienced teams, with eight starters back on offense and nine on defense. Although this is Lincoln Barit's first year as head coach, he was the JV coach last year. "We're running the same system," Barit said. "It's a veteran team, so we're mostly working on positive attitudes and schoolwork."
Suyat, Guerin and Justin Barit are returning first-team All-White Conference all-stars, and Silva made the second team.
