Posted on: Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Kaiser's Wise is here, there, everywhere
 |
 |
||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
| Kaiser's Shannon Wise is the Cougars' top passer and runner, one of their best receivers and leads the team in sacks as a defensive end. The only time he comes out is when special teams are on the field.
Photos by Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
When Kaiser High School football opponents scout or watch film of the Cougars, they pay special attention to No. 6.
It would be hard not to.
That's because No. 6 — senior Shannon Wise — is Kaiser's top passer. He's also their top runner, one of their best receivers and the team's sack leader.
On a team like Kamehameha's — with 106 players on the roster — it would be possible to have two players wearing No. 6. But at Kaiser, it's the same guy playing three different positions: quarterback, receiver and defensive end.
"At bigger schools, you might have a handful of athletes like Shannon, but with us, we don't have big numbers," Cougars coach David Maeva said. "When we have a guy like him, we've got to use him. And he'll just say, 'Yes, coach.' He doesn't like being on the sidelines."
The only time Wise, 6 feet 1 and 180 pounds, comes off the field is on special teams. But playing multiple positions is nothing new to him.
Through his career in youth football, Saint Louis' intermediate team and Kaiser's JV, Wise played quarterback, running back, receiver, linebacker and safety.
He played a variety of positions on the varsity last year, including backup quarterback to starter Steven Pratt. When Pratt tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee at the end of last basketball season, the Cougars began preparing Wise for more duty at quarterback.
"We're limited on guys, so they just put me where I'm needed," Wise said. "I enjoy moving around, but I'd prefer to play quarterback all the way. You're in control of the offense, and the ball is always in your hands. It's up to you to decide what to do with it."
He did such a good job as the starter in the first two games, the coaching staff decided to still use him at quarterback even after Pratt returned.
In a key game against Campbell on Sept. 3, Wise started the game at quarterback and completed 7 of 11 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown and also scored on a 12-yard keeper.
In the second half, Wise moved to wide receiver and caught two passes for 18 yards and also played defensive end.
While Pratt is more of a traditional, pure passer, Wise's scrambling ability allows Kaiser (3-4) to use him in special situations.
"We haven't done a set thing; it depends on what the (opposing) defense is running," Maeva said. "I'd love to see Shannon on defense full time, and the original plan was to just have him fill in (at quarterback) until Steven came back. But it's actually worked great alternating the two guys. It's a good situation to be in."
In seven games, Wise has completed 70 of 118 passes (59.3 percent) for 878 yards and four touchdowns. He also has rushed for 621 yards and nine touchdowns on 63 carries, for an astounding 9.9 yards per carry.
In practice, Wise spends most of his time on offense, so much of his defensive success comes from instinct and athleticism.
"It was easiest for us to put him at defensive end, where we just told him, 'Bruddah, just rush,' " Maeva said. "I think it was in the Kapolei game last year when we knew we had found a gem."
Wise said playing quarterback has given him a different perspective.
"You gotta watch your attitude, how you act, because if you fall apart, (teammates) will start to fall apart, too," Wise said. "But if I make a mistake on offense, I can make up for it on defense. I like to have that chance."
Wise and the Cougars also would like a chance at the postseason, something that was denied them last year after they initially qualified for the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference playoffs. Kaiser had to later forfeit the berth because it was discovered an ineligible player had participated in an earlier game.
The Cougars get another opportunity Friday with the season finale at home against Kalaheo. Both teams are 3-3 in the OIA White, so Kaiser needs a victory to make the playoffs.
"All of us seniors who were on the team last year, we said it's up to us what we want out of it (this season)," Wise said. "You can tell things have changed at Kaiser — the kids on campus are starting to realize we have something going in football. It's just a matter of us putting it all together."
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
