Trojans Face ‘Mirror Image’ Iolani In Interleague Contest
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usRod York’s own coach, Wendell Look, made a big impact during York’s days as a defensive lineman at Iolani as well as up through today.
“Coach Look has been my mentor,” said York, a stand-out on Look’s first Iolani team in 1991, and now head football coach for Mililani High. “I put him down as a reference on my resume. He helped me get the job here. Off of the field, he’s helped me. I go over to his house, and we go over practice plans. He gives me tips. He’s a friend that I listen to. I’d like to think I’m one of his guys.”
So Friday’s 7:30 p.m. game between Mililani and Iolani before a statewide OC-16 TV audience will surely stir emotions on both sidelines. And the winner will move on knowing it defeated a quality opponent.
Should they resemble each other scheme-wise, it’s by design, admitted York, noting that his offensive staff was assembled with input from Look. New Trojan offensive coordinator Bobby George also played for Iolani offensive coordinator Joel Lane when quarterbacking for Saint Louis in the mid-‘90s.
“We may be mirror images,” he predicted.
Iolani has found success with its spread offense and is currently the three-time defending state champion. Look and his staff installed the offense in 2001 after traveling to Northwestern U. to learn the Wildcats’ version of the spread from then-offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. His no-huddle spread helped NU win the 2000 Big Ten title and produced a Heisman Trophy finalist in running back Damien Anderson.
NU’s version of the spread suits Mililani’s players and returning quarterback Trent McKinney, so York will try to slow down Iolani’s offense by possessing the ball with their own offense.
“The best way to slow a prolific offense is to keep it off of the field. We’re preaching offensive efficiency with our drives. We’re going to play field position, time-of-possession and play without turnovers - that’s the goal.”
McKinney took the momentum of his stellar junior season into an ambitious off-season of training. “He’s had a great (fall) camp, and he’s been on fire in our scrimmages (versus Kahuku and Kamehameha),” York said.
Mililani has had one of the OIA Red West’s best defensive teams in recent years, but York said it’s still a work in progress now.
“Honestly, we have a lot of work to do there,” York said of the defense. “We’re inconsistent. In our scrimmage against Kahuku, we’d stuff them, stuff them and stuff them and then give up an 80-yard touchdown pass. We have to eliminate giving up the big play.”
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