Wai'anae grad makes Menlo run

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Thanks to the arrival of running back Duane Miller last season, the Menlo College football team has had the perfect complement to its pass-oriented offense.

Miller, a 1999 graduate of Wai'anae High, left the option offense of NAIA Missouri Valley College two years ago to be closer to family in the Bay Area. It didn't take him long to make an impact on the Oaks. Despite playing in the pass-oriented West Coast offense, he set a school record with 1,081 yards rushing last season. He has 924 yards this season with at least two more regular-season games to go. Menlo, an independent NCAA Division III program, is contending for a postseason berth.

"When you have balance in a West Coast offense, you'll have a lot of success," said Menlo coach Mark Kaanapu, who attended Jefferson School through sixth grade before his family moved to California. "Menlo's known as a team that throws the ball. Now you add that facet of Duane running the ball, we have the best balance in the last three years. We're averaging 350 yards in the air and 120 on the ground because of Duane."

Miller ran for 182 yards in a 56-25 win against Puget Sound over the weekend. He had a rushing touchdown in the game, his 10th of the season. That broke a five-year-old school record held by Kamehameha graduate Tui Ala, who later transferred to the University of Hawai'i. Earlier this season, Miller was named to the NCAA Division III Team of the Week after he broke his own single-game rushing record with 198 yards.

Menlo College, which is in Atherton, Calif., turned out to be a geographic middle ground for Miller. After graduating from Wai'anae, he went to Missouri Valley through a local recruiting service. He was comfortable with the Vikings' option offense since that is what Wai'anae also employs. But his family moved to the Bay Area, which has its share of small schools that could cater to a 5-foot-7, 210-pound running back.

"My dad got a job in San Jose," Miller said. "He told me since you're already on the Mainland, why don't you move to California?"

His father, Richard, has been able to watch all of Menlo's home games, Miller said.

Although he had no qualms about Missouri Valley, Miller said he likes everything about Menlo.

"I like the offense we use," he said. "It's a very powerful, fast-striking offense that can put up a lot of points."

He also likes the change of scenery.

"In Missouri, I was surrounded by country, corn fields and cattle. In Menlo, it's like a huge city around us. There's San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose."

Kaanapu wasn't sure what he was getting when Miller showed up for practice. He had a good idea shortly after watching him.

"When you first meet him, he is not very striking physically," Kaanapu said. "But when you watch him, he practices as hard as he plays. He's one of our best lead blockers and the best back when it comes to picking up blitzes. He's the main reason we've had success."

Miller said because a number of credits at Missouri Valley didn't transfer to Menlo, he will graduate a year later. He is majoring in sports management.

"I want to come back home to teach and coach, do something that's outdoors," he said.

For now, his favorite outdoor activity is running the football.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.