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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, October 13, 2009

QB Wilson's versatility boosts Wai'anae offense


By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Wai'anae quarterback Puletua Wilson pitches the ball against Mililani during a 54-41 victory on Friday.

ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Puletua Wilson

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The Waianae football team doesn't have a "wildcat" formation in its playbook. But, with a quarterback like Puletua Wilson, who needs one?

The junior quarterback rushed for touchdowns of 35, 22 and 51 yards in Friday's 54-41 win at Mililani. He carried a total of 10 times for 115 yards and passed for 62 yards with a touchdown.

"He was remarkable," Seariders' coach Dan Matsumoto said of Wilson. "He had some unreal runs; he's a pretty agile kid."

Wilson, who is 6 feet and 170 pounds, was one of three Waianae players who rushed for more than 100 yards against the Trojans.

Running back Keoni Napierala-Rose gained 103 yards on 17 carries with two TDs and James Wilson — Puletua's twin brother — had 166 yards on 11 rushes. James Wilson also scored on a 16-yard run and on a 14-yard pass from his brother.

"The blocking was great," Matsumoto said. "Mililani's defense has been good all season, so our offensive line did a really good job of opening up some holes for our backs and Pule."

Wilson's first TD run came late in the first half, after the Trojans tied it at 20 with 1:30 to play. Waianae put together an eight-play drive which covered 70 yards to pull ahead on Wilson's 35-yard run.

After incompletions on first and second downs from the Mililani 35-yard line, Wilson tucked it and ran a quarterback draw on third-and-10. He went untouched down the left sideline and scored with 16 seconds left.

"Knowing that Pule has the speed and the ability, it's comforting to know that he can do that," Matsumoto said of the designed run on third-and-long. "But then again everything has to fall into place on a play like that. The defense has to be expecting the pass for the play to work. It was a key time to call it though."

Waianae scored the next 21 points, with the last touchdown coming on Wilson's 22-yard scamper along the right sideline — again on third-and-long. That score made it 45-20 late in the third quarter.

But Wilson saved his best for last. Facing another third down, Wilson scrambled away from pressure to his right, spun away from a pair of Trojan defenders and cut back across the field for a 51-yard score.

Matsumoto said Wilson's ability as a dual-threat quarterback gives the Seariders more options on offense.

Wai'anae has a bye this week and will open the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference playoffs next week.

"He feels comfortable in and out of the pocket. He's been working on trying to get the ball off on time, he's getting a better feel on where his receivers will be, so he's still growing into it," Matsumoto said. "But, he's also given the green light. If he doesn't see anything open downfield, he can take off and run with it."