Waialua Shifts Quarterback For Next Game
By Jack Danilewicz
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Waialua head football coach Lincoln Barit is hoping a little fine-tuning will go a long way for his Bulldogs this Saturday when they play Anuenue High at 6:30 p.m. at Mililani High School in an Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference game.
With his offense still largely in search of its identity, Barit decided late last week to shift senior Donovan Matas from quarterback to running back in favor of fellow-senior Shane Tyler, whose progress, he hopes, could prove to be a big boost to the Bulldogs’ hopes in 2007.
Matas, who was the fourth-leading ground gainer in the White last season, had converted to quarterback during spring practice and led the Bulldogs to a 35-21 win over Honokaa in his Aug. 18 debut. Waialua lost its OIA opener 28-0 to defending Division II champion Waipahu Aug. 25 and was to play Roosevelt over the weekend.
Saturday’s game with Anuenue, which will be televised statewide by OC16, figures big for the Bulldogs if they hope to make a return trip to the OIA’s post-season. Barit had not decided whether to start Tyler against Roosevelt last weekend, but he is likely to be behind center versus Anuenue this week.
“Moving Donovan back there gives us a running game,” Barit said. “He’s been clocked at 4.4 in the 40, so he has the speed. His running should help to open up our passing game.”
Tyler had a slow start to this season after missing Waialua’s summer football workouts because of scheduling conflicts with baseball, but has made strides in the last few weeks.
“He’s a good passer; he can throw the ball,” said Barit, who led Waialua to a 6-3 season in 2006. “It’s a matter of getting him to read defenses better. We’re trying to teach him.”
Offense carried the team in 2006, with three-year starter Caleb Fore at the helm. Barit expects his current team to be more run-oriented, in part because of the athleticism of Matas in the backfield, and in part because his offensive line averages 251 pounds.
“Last year, it was our passing game - this year, our O-line and our run game are our strength.”
Leading the way up front are returning starters Micah Hatchie (6-4, 250), Kawika Yamanouchi (6-0, 280), and Johnny Tago (5-10, 260), while newcomers Hunter Thompson (6-2, 225) and Graham Rowley (6-3, 245) fill out the line.
Defensively, a pair of season-ending injuries in the interior will prompt Hatchie, Thompson and Rowley to perform double-duty in the coming weeks to help fill the void.
“We were kind of a bandaid defense against Waipahu, but the kids did their best. We’ll adjust and regroup.”
Even with the injuries, the Bulldogs are not without play-makers on defense. Waialua returned its entire secondary (Jacob Deuz, Reggie Carillo, Josiah Castellanos and Lokahi Herrod) from last year, as well as stellar linebacker Keliikoa Vierra.
The matchup between Waialua’s defense and Anuenue’s offense could play a large role in the outcome of Saturday’s game, in Barit’s view.
“We have to stop their passing game. Their quarterback (Ehukai Nauka) is back, and he threw a couple of touchdown passes against us last year. They can run the ball, too. Their coach (Kealoha Wangler) has that program moving.”
Waialua was to be at home for this week’s game with Anuenue, but the game was switched to Mililani recently to accommodate OC16. Following Saturday’s game, the Bulldogs will play at Kaiser Stadium in Hawaii Kai against Kalani Sept. 8 and Kaiser Sept. 15 the next two weeks. Waialua’s next home game is Oct. 5 versus Kaimuki.
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