Campbell, Waipahu play for White title

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Waipahu High School football coach Sean Saturnio and his offensive assistants spent one week in Annapolis, Md., last spring learning the intricacies of the spread option attack.

Laupola

Benito

Former powers Campbell and Waipahu, both 7-2, will square off at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow for the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's White Conference (Division II) championship at Aloha Stadium. The Red Conference (Division I) title game between Kahuku and Mililani will cap the doubleheader at 7:30.

Campbell and Waipahu once were headliners in the OIA, but a tough season last year caused both to be demoted to the White Conference. Each has responded with strong efforts led by potent offenses.

"Waipahu has a great attack with that run-option and play-action pass," Kenessey said. "We just have to play assignment football, but preferably we won't have to play defense for too long. We want to keep their offense off the field."

Finding ways to keep the Marauders offense on the field is the reason Saturnio and his assistants ventured 5,000 miles to the United States Naval Academy this past March. Saturnio, a former walk-on receiver at the University of Hawai'i, played in the spread option under Navy head coach Paul Johnson when Johnson was UH's offensive coordinator in the late 1980s.

"Coach Johnson said it usually takes about two years for players to totally get (the spread option) down," Saturnio said. "It's hard, because a lot of times the play is changing at the line of scrimmage, after the snap. But our kids put in a lot of time trying to learn it, even watching film at lunch period. They're finally starting to click."

As longtime UH fans will remember, the quarterback is a key in the spread option because he must make instant reads after the snap and be adept at both running and passing. Waipahu has found a good fit for the demanding position in Austen Benito, a 6-foot, 185-pound senior.

In the Marauders' 28-27 victory over Campbell on Oct. 1, Benito rushed for two touchdowns, threw for another and also kicked four extra points. His 20-yard option keeper for a touchdown and ensuing PAT in the third quarter provided the winning margin.

Establishing the run also is a key part of the spread attack, and that duty has fallen largely on Krypton Taito, a 5-9, 210-pound senior. In the last meeting with Campbell, Taito rushed for 106 yards and scored on a 29-yard touchdown run.

Saturnio said his offense will be missing one starting lineman due to team academic standards.

Meanwhile, Waipahu will have its own hands full trying to keep the Sabers' offense off the field. Campbell's quarterback, Shaye Asoau, is a multiple threat like Benito who can effectively run, throw and kick.

In a key showdown with Radford on Sept. 17, Asoau completed 8-of-10 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns and kicked two PATs to help the Sabers win, 46-8.

In the loss to Waipahu, Asoau showed his toughness when he injured his shoulder in the first quarter but returned in the second half to complete 4-of-6 passes for 46 yards.

Another key weapon for Campbell is receiver Isaac Laupola, a 5-11, 190-pound senior. In the Waipahu loss, Laupola caught four passes for 93 yards — including a 53-yard TD catch from Asoau — and also returned a kickoff 82 yards for another touchdown.

"I don't think you can totally shut him down, but we just have to play smart and try not to give him one-on-one matchups," Saturnio said. "We have to limit his touches, because once he gets the ball, he's dangerous. He's definitely a special talent."

Both coaches said ball control, defense and special teams will be keys to the game, along with turnovers. But emotion also could play a big factor.

"After we lost to them the first time, you could hear a pin drop on the bus," Kenessey said. "They didn't beat us physically; they just executed better. That's something we can fix."

For the Marauders, who last won an OIA title in 1971 with Benito's late father, Edward, as the quarterback, victories mean a lot to the proud student body.

"Everybody loves a winner, and our support has been growing," Saturnio said. "It has put a positive light on our campus."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.