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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 8:19 a.m., Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Preps: Lunas' linebackers rely on quickness

By Robert Collias
The Maui News

LAHAINA — They are not the biggest guys on the Lahainaluna High School football team, but they deliver some of the largest hits.

Bryson Williams, Cole Loewen and Cody Nahalea all stand between 5-foot-9 and 5-10 and weigh between 175 and 190 pounds. They make up three-quarters of the starting linebacker corps for the Lunas (9-1),who will face 'Iolani (5-6) for the Division II state crown on Friday at Aloha Stadium.

"They are very coachable and very disciplined,'' Lahainaluna linebackers coach Michael Arakawa said to The Maui News. "They do what they need to do. Because the defensive line picks up a lot of the offensive blockers for them, it makes it a lot easier for them. They are fairly quick because of their size, but they are also good hitters. They follow their assignments pretty well.''

The trio brings experience to the field — Nahalea is a senior, while Williams and Loewen are juniors. Jacob Boteilho and Garmen Arcantilado, both juniors, also have roles in the Lunas' linebacking lineup, part of a 4-4 base defense.

Williams, Loewen and Nahalea all contribute strongly to other sports at the west-side school. Williams had one of the top long-jump marks in the state last season and also is a standout triple jumper, Loewen was a state qualifier at 160 pounds in wrestling and Nahalea saw significant time for the Lunas' baseball team.

Nahalea, who is 5-9 and 189 pounds, said the linebacker trio uses its speed to the fullest.

"Probably our best quality is our speed because we are not the biggest, as you guys can see,'' Nahalea said. "We just use our speed to overmatch the power of all the big offensive linemen that we have challenged.''

Nahalea was quick to credit the defensive line for allowing the linebackers to roam free to the ball. The names Juicy Lai, Jayson Manning, Simione Vehikite and Jonathan Perez rolled off Nahalea's tongue quickly as he gave credit to the defensive line.

"Whoa, the D-line, I don't know how to say it, they are just the best,'' Nahalea said. "They just make it for us. They are the ones who make our job easy. They just kill it out there. They just destroy every team that we play.''

Nahalea, who plays both outside and middle linebacker, said he has a simple job description.

"Just focusing on the holes inside the defense and picking up people's mistakes,'' he said.

Loewen, a 5-9, 175-pounder, has put wrestling on the side until the end of the football season, and done so with a smile on his face.

"We have been practicing real hard this whole year, waiting for this moment,'' he said. "The linebackers have to make sure we make good reads and look for our positions and take care of our assignments. Playing with Bryson and Cody is nice because I don't have to worry at all about covering their spots. I know I can totally trust them.''

The three are a big part of the Maui Interscholastic League's best defense, both in yards and points allowed. The Lunas gave up just 155.7 yards per game, with an almost even split between rushing (71.6 ypg) and passing (84.1 ypg) – both of which also led the MIL. The Lunas gave up a league-best 58 points in seven MIL games.

"And our D-line is so strong, I don't have to worry about linemen coming out firing, because they totally control things,'' Loewen said. "With our D-line, it makes us look like all-stars. I like taking on the run up the middle, but Cody and Bryson do everything well.''

Williams, who stands 5-9 and weighs 189, said that this fellow linebackers bring heart to the job.

"We just, mentally and physically, we are skilled in different ways,'' Williams said. "We got quicker through the years and the coaching staff is great, so that is how we got better.''

Williams said the goal for the linebackers is simple: "Don't let them get past the scrimmage line. That's our main goal. We want to hold them to as few yards as possible, minus yards hopefully.''

A state title is now within reach, and Williams can feel it. The Lunas will be playing in the state football championship game for the first time.

"Everybody is so excited,'' he said. "This will be the first time in a long time we have been to states, the finals especially. We just really want to represent Lahaina, the team, the fans, everybody.''

For more Maui news, click here.