Kamemehameha leads way on All-State football team
| • | The Advertiser's 2004 All-State football team |
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
The road to Kamehameha's first state football championship went through the backfield behind the reliable running of Jayson Rego.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
The paths tried by other teams were clogged by Warrior nose guard Mika Kane.
Running back Jayson Rego, left, and nose guard Mika Kane were honored after helping Kamehameha win the state football championship.
The two seniors head the 2004 Advertiser All-State Football Team. Rego is the Offensive Player of the Year and Kane is the Defensive Player of the Year.
Leilehua's Nolan Tokuda is the Coach of the Year.
Rego, who is 5 feet 9 and 185 pounds, was the workhorse in the Warriors' ball-control offense. He was reliable, almost never fumbling, despite the wear-and-tear of carrying the ball so many times in a game.
Rego rushed 274 times for 1,537 yards and 17 touchdowns. In Kamehameha's final four games, he averaged 32 carries for 190 yards. He had a season-high 39 rushes for 212 yards in the state title game against Leilehua.
"He had a special knack for running our zone (blocking) plays," Kamehameha coach Kanani Souza said.
In the zone scheme, Rego had to be patient, yet aggressive, as he waited for holes to develop by his offensive line.
"I liked the way he read (his blocks)," Mililani coach James Millwood said.
Meanwhile, the Warriors had the hottest defense down the stretch, in part because of Kane. Kamehameha allowed 20 points in its last five games. At one stretch, it shut out opponents for 12 consecutive quarters.
"We needed a guy who could hold the point," Souza said of Kane. "He was our pivot guy."
Kane, who is 6-3 and 290 pounds, drew attention of offensive linemen that enabled the linebackers to make plays.
"He's a true nose guard," Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "He really holds that middle. He takes the double team (blocks) and protects the 'backers."
Also drawing consideration for Defensive Player of the Year honors was Saint Louis tackle Tyson Alualu. Coaches said the 6-foot, 275-pounder could dominate the line of scrimmage because of his quickness and strength.
IMUA
The Warriors dominated The Advertiser's first team with nine selections.
Joining Rego on offense are two of his linemen: center Tyler Williams and tackle Hayden Kahele. Both are seniors. Injuries kept Williams from playing most of the past two seasons.
"His initial punch (off the snap) is mean," Kane said of the guy he opposes during practice.
On defense, Kane is joined by lineman Chaz Barit and cornerbacks Travis Uale and Michael Holt.
Uale and Holt were instrumental in shutting down Leilehua's passing attack, effectively covering its top two receivers, Chustin Senas and Anthony Palomares. The Kamehameha duo had three of the team's four interceptions in that game, with Holt picking off two. The Warriors didn't allow a TD pass in that game; Leilehua quarterback Bryant Moniz had thrown a TD pass in eight of his previous nine games.
"They have good technique," 'Aiea coach Wendell Say said of Holt and Uale.
The Warriors also have two first-team special-team players in punter Kepa Gaison, who also was considered at offensive line, and kick/punt returner Ikaika Hardie, who also excelled at receiver.
THE OFFENSE
Because a number of quarterbacks from around the state had strong seasons statistically, coaches were less than unanimous on this position.
Mililani's Maka Kahoano did not have the most passing yards or touchdown passes, but he was the most efficient.
The senior passed for 1,540 yards with a TD pass-to-interception ratio of 16-5. He also averaged 8.7 yards per pass attempt, which was higher than others considered for first-team honors.
"He doesn't have the strongest arm, but he gets the ball there," 'Aiea's Say said. "I like his leadership ability."
Kahoano also rushed for 196 yards and seven touchdowns, making him a double threat.
"He was the main reason for (the Trojans') success," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said.
Kahoano led the Trojans to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association West title and a runner-up in the OIA tournament.
The other first-team running back is Kailua senior Damien Torres. His 1,266 yards rushing represented 44 percent of the Surfriders' yardage. He had 11 rushing TDs, plus another receiving.
The receivers are Kahuku's Spencer Hafoka, Mililani's Jon Santos and Leilehua's Senas.
Hafoka, a repeat selection, had 39 catches for 774 yards and nine TDs. He also rushed six times for 97 yards with one TD.
Santos had 37 receptions for 682 yards and eight TDs. He and Hafoka are seniors.
Senas, a junior, had 72 receptions for 1,063 yards and 12 TDs. He also had a rushing TD.
Joining Williams and Kahele on the offensive line are Mililani's Aaron Kia, Kailua's Kainoa LaCount and Lahainaluna's Fine Latu, who also played defensive line. All three are seniors.
THE DEFENSE
'Aiea's Rocky Savaiigaea (6-3, 290) joins Kane, Barit and Alualu on the line. Savaiigaea also was named the OIA West Defensive Player of the Year.
The linebackers are Baldwin's Kaluka Maiava (6-0, 215), Castle's Blaze Soares (6-1, 210) and Leilehua's B.J. Fruean (6-2, 185).
Maiava is the state's top recruit, having already giving defending national champion USC a verbal commitment. He impressed recruiters while attending summer camps. Maiava displayed versatility by scoring two touchdowns as a running back when the Bears played eventual state champion Kamehameha to a 14-14 tie in preseason.
Despite a knee injury, Soares made enough of an impact to be named OIA East Defensive Player of the Year. He is one of the few players ever to make the all-state first team three times.
Fruean was instrumental in Leilehua's postseason success. He led a defense that held Kahuku to 26 points in two games. He had a game-high 16 tackles, including 2 1/2 for minus yardage, in the state title game against Kamehameha.
Kahuku's Al Afalava and 'Aiea's C. J. Tausaga complete the secondary.
Afalava, one of the state's top recruits, is a repeat selection. Tausaga was a second-team pick last year. He led 'Aiea with five interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He is senior class president.
THE MULTI-TASKERS
The most versatile players of the all-state team were named as all-purpose picks.
Hawai'i Prep's Michael Kopra played running back, linebacker and kicker.
On offense, he rushed for 1,759 yards and 26 touchdowns; as a kicker, he booted field goals of 32, 42 and 48 yards; on defense, he had 56 tackles and three interceptions.
Ka Makani coach Tom Goodspeed said the 5-10, 180-pounder is drawing interest from Colorado and some Ivy League schools.
Campbell's Isaac Laupola (5-11, 190) also played three ways. He was a receiver, a cornerback who covered the opponent's top receiver and a part-time kicker.
He was particularly versatile on offense, making 32 catches for 678 yards and nine TDs, rushing twice for 62 yards and one TD, and completing 2-of-2 passes on option plays for 34 yards and one TD.
Kaiser's Shannon Wise played quarterback, receiver and defensive line.
He led the Cougars with 756 yards rushing and 12 TDs, passed for 1,166 yards and six TDs, and had four receptions for 35 yards.
Even first-team kicker Milo Kalama of Iolani played more than one position (defensive back). He converted 31 PATs and kicked seven field goals.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
