Anuenue Team Growing Up Fast
By Jack Danilewicz
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In OIA White Conference circles, the consensus in preseason was that Anuenue High School would be among the league’s better offensive teams, especially with the lethal onetwo punch of quarterback Ehukai Nauka and receiver Kamaki Sherman back in the fold.
Three weeks into the season,those sentiments haven’t changed.Around Anuenue’s Hawaiian immersion campus in Palolo, however, the talk has been all about defense lately.
“Defense has become our strength,” coach Kealoha Wengler said. “They’ve definitely exceeded all of our expectations.”
Anuenue already has two shutouts (30-0 over Kohala and 35-0 versus Kalani) to its credit and was 1-1 in White Conference play heading into its game at Waialua last Friday. With the Bulldogs rebuilding, and this week’s opponent, Kaiser, also trying to fill holes after heavy losses to graduation, Anuenue has a chance to position itself for a post-season berth with wins in both. Games with Roosevelt Sept. 21, Nanakuli Sept. 28, Pearl City Oct. 5 and Waipahu Oct. 13 also remain to be played out.
Only a year ago, when Na Koa was in its first varsity football year, Wengler put one of the league’s youngest teams on the field. Much has changed since then, according to the coach, who credited a good off-season for the quick start now.
Anuenue has the feel of a veteran team now. “The work they did in the weight room has paid off,” said Wengler, whose team’s only loss came to Kaimuki (26-6) Aug. 25. “Last year was a struggle. This year, knowing they were seniors and that they would never get to play high school football again, they’ve worked hard.”
While Anuenue has developed cohesiveness among its 17-member senior class, depth remains an issue. (Its JV has only 16 members despite a 3-0 record.)
“Staying healthy is a key to our season. Injuries in our preseason game came back to haunt us against Kaimuki.”
As in the first three games, Wengler hopes Anuenue’s defense can set the tone at 7 p.m. Friday at Kaiser (for the Cougars’ home-coming game). It all starts in the trenches for Anuenue, which features a big and agile defensive line as Kawika Wise (6-3, 240) and Pio Adams (6-1, 270) lead the way.
“The entire defensive line is really aggressive. Both of those guys being well over 200 pounds helps.”
Junior middle linebacker and captain Kumuhomua Wong has also lived up to expectations. His assertive play has been a driving force for the Anuenue defense.
“He’s very physical,“Wengler said, “and his reading of a play and his reactions to the ball are really quick.”
For the third straight week, Anuenue faces a spread team, having faced Kalani and Waialua in recent weeks.Wengler hopes the fact that his own team runs the spread will help.“We’re used to it because we practice against it a lot,“he said.
Anuenue will also face one of the top receivers in the league in Kalua Noa. “He’s spectacular,” Wengler said. “He’s the highlight of their offense. We hope we can put a lot of pressure on their quarterback. We’ll be working a lot at our pass rush and trying to throw his timing off.”
Offensively, Nauka has been the catalyst for Anuenue to date. Last year, he was the White Conference’s third leading passer, throwing for 1,085 yards and eight touchdowns.
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