Mules, Trojans and Bulldogs All Hopeful For Post-season Play
By Jack Danilewicz
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For Central Oahu prep teams Leilehua, Mililani and Waialua, the coming weeks will largely determine the football playoff fate of each. A “two-minute drill” for the teams follow as they approach the mid-way point of their respective schedules.
Leilehua
Players to Watch: QB Andrew Manley, LB Kalua Ellis, DL Charlie Tua’au, DL Frazer Taua, DL Zach Asuega Coffin, DL Nate Shuster, DB Kasey Dukes, DB Sly Izumigawa, RB Austin Schmidt, WR Carlos Marshall.
Defensive MVP: Kalua Ellis. With a solid defensive line in front of him, he should be free to do what he does best, which is rack up tackles.
Offensive MVP: Manley. One of the most sought-after recruits in the class of 2010, his experience - not to mention his running and passing - should pay off big-time for the Mules.
What we like: Experience in the defensive line. In Tua’au, Taua, Coffin and Shuster, the Mules return everyone up front from a team that won 11 games in 2008. The arrival of Aiea-transfer Chevez Ma’afala is icing on Leilehua’s cake.
Must-see game: Sept. 25 at Waianae. In dropping their league opener to Mililani, the Mules need help in the race, and nothing could help more than a win over Waianae, which handed Leilehua a loss last season and who may be the team to beat in the Red West. Certainly, the Seariders got everyone’s attention with their workmanlike 42-21 win over Kapolei Aug. 22. A loss here for Leilehua would likely eliminate them from contention for the regular-season title.
Upset Alert: Sept. 11 at Kapolei. After playing Radford, Mililani and Saint Louis in successive weeks, the Mules would seem due for a letdown in Week Four. The Hurricanes are always dangerous, especially at home, and figure to come in on the heels of a blow-out win over Nanakuli.
Make plans for the State Tournament if: the Mules defense can stop the run. Both Waianae and Farrington had big games on the ground last year in handing Leilehua two of only three losses on the year. The more stops by the defense, the more chances for quarterback Manley and the Mules’ offense to take advantage of their own weapons.
Mililani
Players to Watch: QB Trent McKinney, WR Haasan Richardson, WR Kama Paulo, LB Zach Quines, OLB Jarren Pestana, DB Chris Ornellas, DB/WR Taz Stevenson.
Offensive MVP: McKinney. The Kapolei transfer has acclimated himself nicely to the Trojans’ offense, and his athleticism and decision-making should go a long way toward making Mililani a threat every time it has the ball.
Defensive MVP: Quines. The latest in a long line of solid middle linebackers at the school, his steadying presence is the key to the Trojan defense.
What we like: The defense. Under defensive coordinator Rod York, the Trojans yielded a league-low 12.3 points per contest in their six conference games in 2008 and have picked up where they left off this fall, despite having to rebuild their entire line. Holding Leilehua and Andrew Manley to 18 points was among the best defensive performances of the young season.
Must-see game: Oct. 9 versus Waianae at home. Both teams were impressive in their Red West openers, posting wins over Leilehua and Kapolei, respectively, to get a leg up in the league race. As this game comes in the final week of the regular season, it could decide the league championship, not to mention have a certain effect on the seedings for the OIA playoffs.
Upset Alert: Sept. 5 at Waipahu. Considering the Marauders’ ability to play physical, run the ball and gain an edge in the all-important statistic, time-of-possession, Waipahu is always a threat, certainly at home. If the Mililani defense comes to play, and forces the run-oriented Marauders to go to the air, the Trojans should have enough offense to escape with a win.
Make plans for the State Tournament if: the offense doesn’t turn the ball over. The Trojan defense is stout, beginning in the trenches where a group of relative newcomers have arrived ahead of schedule, so Mililani’s first priority is to avoid beating itself with self-imposed miscues.
Waialua Players to Watch: OL/DL Graham Rowley, OL/DL Micah Hatchie, QB/DB William Sacapulo, DB/WR Branden Galapia, RB/WR/DB Kamalei Rosa, LB/RB Christian Whittaker, LB/OL Rudi Galapia, PR Pilialoha Tupou
Offensive MVP: Sacapulo Defensive MVP: Rowley
What we like: Hatchie and Rowley in the trenches. At the point of attack, at least, Waialua may have its best team since its breakthrough season of 2006.
Must-see game: Oct.2 at home versus Moanalua. Na Menehune showed they were going to be a factor in the White Conference race in Week Two when they scored late twice to beat a seasoned Kalaheo team. For their part, the Bulldogs hope to be in the hunt for a playoff berth, and this could be the tide-turning game in that quest. Following the Moanalua game, an equally tough encounter with Radford looms for Waialua the next week.
Upset Alert: Friday night versus Kalani (at Kaiser High School). This game will mark the third time in as many weeks that the Bulldogs have to make the long trek to Hawaii Kai, having played against Kaiser and Anuenue on the road the last two weekends. While they figure to be big favorites on paper, playing on the road is seldom easy, and the Falcons were down just 14-0 to Aiea in Week One.
Make plans for the State Tournament if: the Bulldogs’ run defense comes around and they win the turnover battle in most games. Kaiser running back John Gonda averaged 8.1 yards per carry on his 19 attempts in the Cougars’ win over Bulldogs. The more time the Bulldog defense is on the field, the less attempts for Waialua’s spread offense.
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