Hurricanes Emerge Tougher For OIA Post-season Play
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usOnly a month ago, Kapolei had earned the tag as the hard-luck team of the OIA Red West Conference, with an injury list as long as the beverage lines at a rock concert and the heartbreak of last-second losses to Iolani and Leilehua.
Four weeks later, on the eve of league football playoffs, the Hurricanes own another tag: the team you least want to open against in post-season play.
Indeed, with a three-game win streak on its updated resume, a healthier Kapolei team looks like it has the legs under it to have a solid playoff run.
Darren Hernandez admitted this has been his most-challenging coaching season, but he’s clearly buoyed now by wins that included a workmanlike 42-6 rout of Nanakuli and riveting wins over Waipahu and Mililani.
“(Adversity) forced us get back to basics, and it forced us to focus on things in our control,” he said.“The back-ups all had to step up and get playing experience, and that should help us in the long run as we get ready for the second season.”
Kapolei has a bye this week and could have an additional week off if they are able to grab the Red West third seed. Pairings weren’t available at press time, but were to be known late Friday night after the final regular-season games played out. Kapolei was 4-2 in the Red West this year, closing out the regular slate a week before the rest of the league.
The Hurricanes spent last week continuing to heal and to refocus on fundamentals, as Hernandez and staff couldn’t focus on a specific opponent. With his team playing its best football of the season, the break from action may not be a good thing, but Hernandez likes the extra week or two. “We used the week to work on our own game,” he said. “We want to get better at the things that we do. I think it will help us. It allows us to get really healthy.”
One player still on the mend last week was running back Brandon Vaitautolu, but Hernandez was “hopeful” he’ll return for the first playoff game. Against Mililani, where the Hurricanes scored a major road win Oct. 6, Shaydon Akuna became the focal point of the offense, stepping behind center at quarterback and producing three rushing touchdowns. The state’s highest-rated recruit according to Rivals.Com, he missed much of the season due to injuries and has come back gradually, seeing limited time in games with Leilehua, Waipahu and Campbell. His first game playing both ways was versus Mililani, where he immediately made a huge impact, returning an interception for a score to go with his three on offense. The game against Mililani marked his first career start as a quarterback.
“We always knew he had the ability to play as well as he did,” Hernandez said.“We couldn’t get him on the field (because of injuries). He’s proven now that he’s one of the best athletes in the state. He can play a lot of different positions.”
Akuna also holds down an outside linebacker spot on defense alongside stalwarts Dustin Elisara and Tu’u Lolohea.
“They’ve really played well,” Hernandez said of his linebacker corps. “We’re excited about the defense in general. We’re hoping we can continue to improve.
“It all begins with the defense,” he added. “If they can play top-notch and hold people down, then everything else will take care of itself.”
Penalties also undermined momentum earlier in the year, but the team has tightened up their execution, according to Hernandez.
“We’re getting better every time out. Defense and special teams have stepped up and given us a chance to be competitive. We’ve had less penalties the last couple of games, and we’ve been able to execute on special teams. Donnie King and Kainoa Pakele have been instrumental in that.”
King and Pakele covered 84 and 85 yards, respectively, on kickoff returns for touch-downs to help fuel Kapolei’s win at Mililani.
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