Aiea’s Defensive Unit Holding Strong So Far This Season
By Jack Danilewicz
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Kalaheo head football coach Chris Mellor took it in stride when told his program would always have the reputation of a “basketball school.”
“We’re a basketball school in the middle of football country,” was his response.
Perhaps Mellor knew then what the rest of the prep football community did not yet know - mainly that the Mustangs would soon be relevant on the football field again.
The staple of Kalaheo’s turnaround, which included a 5-4 season in Division I in 2007 highlighted by wins over Iolani and Castle, and a 7-3 campaign in DII in 2008, has been their execution of the veer option offense Mellor brought in from De La Salle High School in California, where he was an assistant coach prior to moving to the Windward side.
Count Aiea head coach Wendell Say and his staff as students of the veer - at least this week as they prepare the team for Friday night’s OIA White showdown versus Kalaheo at Kailua High School.
Aiea played a great defensive game last season when the teams met, conceding a single touchdown, but Na Ali’i still lost the game 7-2. Say is hoping for another solid defensive effort against the Mustangs, who are among the more difficult teams to simulate in practice, given that Kalaheo is the only team in the state running the veer.
“When you play teams like them, who use misdirection (plays), you have to be disciplined and play assignment football,” Say said. “You create problems for yourself when you don’t. You have to make slower reads so you don’t over pursue (the ball). We’ll have to be able to stop that offense to be successful.”
The Mustangs return a veteran cast of two-way performers in Phil Tauai (QB/DB), Eddie Tauai (OL/DL), Edward Atanoa (OL/DL), Jesse Carney (RB/LB) and Elijah Mataele (OL/LB).
Phil Tauai holds the keys to the Kalaheo offense. He ran for two scores and threw for one in Kalaheo’s opening-day win over King Kekaulike on Maui. Against Moanalua Aug. 22, he added a pair of scoring tosses in a 36-22 loss.
“They have a lot of key players returning on offense and defense, since a lot go both ways,” Say said.
“They have talented players, and they have one more year of experience now. These guys can read each other’s minds. They can do a lot more things with their experience. They should have beaten Moanalua.”
Aiea’s defense is led by Lawrence Lagafuaina and Api Foumai up front. Both are being heavily recruited by Division I schools.
“Right now they’re playing well, but they can play a lot better. They’ll get better every week.”
As a unit, Aiea’s defense had given up only a field goal through the first two weeks, which included a 24-3 romp over Roosevelt and a 50-0 rout over Kalani.
“At this phase, the play of our defense has been really solid,” Say said. “The backups have played really good football as well. We’ve been very happy with their play, but we know the games will get harder.”
Offensively, Aiea has rallied around quarterback Chucky Kaahaanui, who stepped in behind center in Week One when starter Freddy Taliulu went down with a collarbone injury. Taliulu is on the way to a quick recovery and is already back throwing at practice, but doesn’t figure to dress for two more weeks.
Kaahaanui, who was in a battle during spring to be the starter, rushed for three scores against Kalani and also went 9-for-18 for 158 yards via the airwaves with an interception in that game.
“Chucky has a lot of ability - he just doesn’t have the experience that Freddy has right now. But he gives a broader aspect to our offense with the things that he can do,” Say said.
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