Mules, Trojans Go Head-to-head Saturday In First OIA Game
By Jack Danilewicz
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In an OIA Red West Conference race with little margin for error, rivalries sometimes take a back seat to positioning within the league, according to Mililani defensive coordinator Rod York. That includes Saturday’s 6 p.m. meeting at Mililani between the Trojans and defending West champion Leilehua.
“We approach it as our first conference game, and that’s the main thing,” said York. “Definitely there is a rivalry, but we don’t emphasize it because we don’t need to. To be the best, you have to beat the best, and right now, Leilehua is the best. It’s an opportunity for us.”
York is uniquely qualified to weigh in on the LeilehuaMililani series. Prior to joining Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux’s staff three years ago, he spent several seasons tutoring the linebackers and defensive line at Leilehua under defensive coordinator Mark Kurisu and head coach Nolan Tokuda.
“We’re still good friends,” York said of Kurisu, whom he lists as one of his mentors, along with UH coaches Cal Lee and Rich Miano.
York’s assignment this week is to zero in on Leilehua’s tendencies and ready a re-vamped defensive front to do battle with its offense, which is led by senior quarterback Andrew Manley.
“He’s a good, humble kid,” York said of Manley, who led Leilehua back to the Division I State Championship again last December.“That kid is special. He’s like Michael Jordan - one who makes everyone around him that much better.”
The Mililani defense was stout last season, yielding a league-low 12.3 points per outing through its six conference games. Hopes are high again this time around for the unit, which returns its entire linebacker corps in Zach Quienes (middle), Aleni Aiona (strong side) and Jarren Prestana (outside), as well as perhaps the most talented skilled player in the West in Taz Stevenson, who will man the strong safety spot.
Despite a strong nucleus on defense, York is taking nothing for granted and has a cautiously optimistic mind-set about fall camp. “We’ve been good in the past, but the past is past,” said York, who played for UH from 1991 to ‘95.“We still have something to prove. We’ve tried to use every scrimmage and every practice to get better.”
A key question mark for the defense when Mililani opened camp July 29 was how it would hold up in the interior, having graduated several standouts from the defensive line last season. York has been more than pleased with his re-built line, which is anchored by nose guard Shaynon Crawford-Lane. The Trojans scrimmaged both Kamehameha and Kahuku in recent days and held their own, according to York.
“Like every defense, it starts up front,“York said.“If we don’t have a defensive line, then we don’t have a defense. These kids weren’t battle tested, so every scrimmage (versus Kahuku and Saint Louis) was very important, and they graded out the highest of all three of our (defensive) groups. We thought they were above average.”
Should the line emerge early on, it would be a great boost for the Mules, who play an attacking 4-3 scheme. Scheme-wise, there figure to be few secrets between the teams Saturday as both are well-schooled on the other.
“We know what they do, and they know what we do, so it will come down to execution,“York said.“We have to be able to run to the ball and tackle. It’s that simple. Our defense is geared and built toward creating turnovers. We want to win that battle.
“We definitely have to stop the run, force them to pass and play defense from there,” he added.
Leilehua finished 11-3 overall last season. Mililani finished 5-5 in 2008. Leilehua has won two of the last three meetings between the schools.
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