"You've seen him at quarterback, you've seen him at running back, you've seen him at wide receiver ... he returns punts, kickoffs, he's an everything guy,'' Baldwin coach A.J. Roloos said to The Maui News.

"His nickname is Skyler Bush, like Reggie Bush — that's why he wore the No. 5 this year.''

Baldwin, ranked fourth in the Advertiser poll, faces sixth-ranked Farrington on Saturday in the first round of the Division I state playoffs and despite the fact that the Governors are sure to key in on him and a few others this weekend, Cabacungan is matter-of-fact about what the Bears need to do to come out on top.

"We've just gotta work as a team this weekend, come together and play as hard as we can,'' he said. "We have to talk to our other teammates (if they try to shut us down), let them know and everybody steps up their game.''

The senior stepped up for the Bears in a big way this year when several players, including star receiver Chase Nakamura, were out early in the season with injuries or academic problems. He shone in Baldwin's 36-7 Maui Interscholastic League opening win over Maui, a game that Cabacungan considers the highlight of his senior season so far, finishing with six carries for 182 yards, four catches for 36 yards, one pass completion for 51 additional yards and four touchdowns ... and that's not including what he did on special teams.

"I think when we knew that Chase wasn't going to be with us, some of the guys really stepped their game up and Skyler was one of them,'' Roloos said. "(The game against Maui) was just him, by himself, without the O-line and the guys blocking for him.''

Said Cabacungan: "I was pretty nervous losing Chase and I just had to step up, I guess. Just step up and help the team.''

But Cabacungan isn't just appreciated by his coaches alone — his teammates are equally glad he's on their side.

"He's pretty much the heart and soul of our offense and special teams, he even plays a little defense from time to time,'' said

Baldwin quarterback Jordan Helle. "He does it all — he really is Mr. Everything for us.

"He didn't get as much notoriety last year, our junior year, but this year, he's just burst out onto the scene and pretty much done a lot of things singlehandedly, won us some games by himself.''

Helle and Cabacungan have been both junior varsity and varsity teammates for three years, and with each season and shaken defender, Helle's confidence in his friend's abilities has only grown.

"I'm very, very confident (he'll make a big play with whatever we give him),'' Helle said. "... It's an old adage, but he is one of those guys where any time he touches it, he could take it all the way for six, so he really is one of those special kind of guys.''

Cabacungan is currently third in receptions in the MIL with 18 catches for 272 yards and seven touchdowns, and he's fourth in rushing with 39 carries for 342 yards and four touchdowns. He's averaging 15.1 yards per catch and 8.8 on the ground, and sits as the league's leading scorer with 13 total touchdowns for 78 points, including one punt and one kickoff return.

"It's been a pretty good (senior season),'' said Cabacungan, wearing his customary grin. "I was just working hard all summer, just waiting for my time, I guess.''

But while he has the stats and game time to back up whatever he'd choose to say, Cabacungan prefers to let others do the talking.

"He's one of those guys who leads by example,'' Helle said. "He's not a real vocal guy – even around us, his friends, he's kind of quiet and laid back, but anytime he straps up that helmet and puts on those shoulder pads, it's full intensity.

"He doesn't say much but his actions definitely speak loudly and he does a heck of a job out there for us.''

The Bears' quiet leader has come to expect a tough game no matter who they face and he praises the defense's effort in keeping them at the forefront of the competition.

"I think our defense is stepping up this year,'' Cabacungan said. "We're usually not the underdog in the game, so everybody's just coming at us strong and coming with their best game, and we just have to step up our game even more against different teams.''

With last year's semifinal loss to Kahuku fresh on their minds, the Bears will once again look to Cabacungan to show his stuff.

"He makes my job easier,'' Roloos said. "When you've got a young man like that out there just doing everything for you, you can build a whole offense around him and just giving him the ball.

"He's an unreal athlete and I'm just happy to have him.''