Big Bulldogs Anchor Waialua Line

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The Waialua football team has racked up its share of yards since going to the spread offense four years ago, but head coach Lincoln Barit still stops short of calling the Bulldogs “a finesse team.”

That will be especially true this year. As Waialua began spring practice this week, much of the optimism centered around the return of a stellar group of agile and physical linemen in the trenches.

“That’s our best asset, our line-men,” said Barit, in reference to returning starters Johnny Tago (6-0, 240), Hunter Thompson (6-2, 270) and Micah Hatchie (6-4, 250), as well as up-and-coming junior-to-be Graham Rowley (6-3, 260). “It’s a good corps, so we’re banking on them.”

Waialua is hoping to recapture the momentum it generated in 2006, when the Bulldogs were the surprise team of the OIA, finishing 6-3 with an appearance in the league’s postseason. The Bulldogs slipped to 2-6 overall last fall, but several underclassmen came of age, fueling hope for the future.

The Bulldogs will conduct their workouts this week and next, with their last five practice sessions to include “live contact.” Spring practice leads into the summer season, which will consist of 7-on-7 passing leagues and weight training and conditioning. Fall camp officially begins July 28. For the present, however, all eyes are on the spring season, which represents the last time players are allowed to compete in full-contact drills until the starting date in July.

Up front, at least, the Bulldogs would seem ahead of the game personnel-wise. Tago, Thompson, Hatchie and Rowley will all play both ways, holding down the front four spots, defensively. The foursome are on average 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds between them.

“With Hunter and Graham at end, and Johnny and Micah inside, we should have a chance to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Leadership is Johnny’s strength - he’s our captain. Hunter’s strength is his size, and he attacks and comes at you on every play. Micah is being recruited by Washington and UH, among others. He’s solid. His blocking (on offense) and pulling are his strengths. Graham is just coming up from the JV, but his quickness off of the ball is unreal.”

While the Bulldogs have been pass-happy at times in past years, the return of running back Joe Kaululaau, a fleet-footed senior, could change that.

“You may see us running the ball a little more early-on, but we still love to pass,“Barit said.“Joe is shifty and powerful - he runs a 4.6 forty(-yard dash) - but his strength is his top half. He can bench press 315 pounds.”

At quarterback, no player enters spring with the inside track to be the starter, according to Barit.

“We have a couple of ninth-graders that we’ll be working with all summer,” he added, noting that the spread offense will stay in the program. “We can get everyone involved with the spread. When you’re a wide receiver on a running team, your receivers aren’t doing much, so the kids, especially the receivers, like it.”

Conditioning also will be a priority during the next two weeks. Unlike some schools, the Bulldogs won’t hold a spring game, making each practice count all the more.

“We’re going to run them into the ground to get them into shape,” Barit laughed.