Let the party begin.

Zac Quines, a linebacker from Mililani High, yesterday accepted a football scholarship offer from the University of Hawai'i.

"Ever since I was little, this is something I always wanted to do," Quines said. "I always watched their games. Being a fan of UH, my dad was always telling me I would go there and 'one day we'll tailgate at your games.' Ever since then, I've been keeping that in mind. Finally, the day has come, and I'm going to be a Warrior."

Quines said he is 6 feet 3, 210 pounds, and once ran 40 yards in 4.68 seconds.

Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux praised Quines' football IQ.

"He understands his keys, and he understands the game," Arceneaux said. "The great thing about him is he brings it every day. Once he turns it on, it's on. He has a great future. He'll fit right into college ball."

Arceneaux likened Quines, who played middle linebacker for the Trojans, to UH linebacker Blaze Soares.

Quines said he viewed Soares and former UH safety Leonard Peters as role models.

Those players, Quines said, helped "increase my intensity level."

Quines was named to the 2009 O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division first team.

Quines said his father introduced him to football. It was love at first hit.

"The first day, putting on the pads, it was a sport I always wanted to do," he said. "Physical contact was my thing."

While he considers himself to be "a typical local boy — kicking back, going to the beach," Quines is constantly working out.

At home, he does push-ups.

He often will visit a neighborhood fire department station, which has a bar for pull-ups.

"He works extra hard," Arceneaux said. "He has good character. He has good morals."

FUTURE FOES

UH officials yesterday announced the Warriors have added a home-and-home series with Oregon State, and a single game against UC Davis.

According to the release, the Warriors will play home games against UC Davis Sept. 24, 2011, and Oregon State Dec. 3, 2011.

They will play the Beavers Sept. 13, 2014 in Corvallis, Ore.

Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.