Injuries Give Hurricanes’ Football Season A Slow Start

Wednesday - September 06, 2006
By Jack Danilewicz
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As his team prepares for a statewide televised game with Aiea Friday night, Kapolei head football coach Darren Hernandez’s sense of humor remains very much intact, although he’s the first to admit the Hurricanes’ injury report hasn’t been very funny.

“If we play well, (appearing on television) helps our program; if we lay an egg, it doesn’t,” he mused.

In past years, observers of any Aiea-Kapolei game have been the real winners. Should the Hurricanes return to form this week, it will likely be due in part to having the entire team available. In their most recent outing - a 28-14 loss to McKinley Aug. 25 - the Hurricanes were without the services of 20 players because of academic issues and injuries. All told, Kapolei had only two of its projected starting line-men in the fold (on both sides of the ball) for the McKinley game.


Among the injured is two-way lineman Mike Matamua. One of the top college prospects in the state, he is currently in a cast with a broken hand and expected to miss this week. Injuries have hampered progress for a team that returned only six starters this season - three on offense and three on defense.

Late last week, as Hernandez and Kapolei were in the midst of their bye week, he was still uncertain as to how many of players would return for the Aiea game.

“That is still to be determined,” the coach said. “It’s a week-to-week thing, but having our bye (week) should help. At some point, you have to stop using (multiple injuries) as an excuse. Show up and make it happen. A lot of other (teams) are in the same boat.

“Hopefully, we can get untracked and make the playoffs. That’s the goal. We’ve made the post-season every year here, so we’re hoping this group comes together.”

On that note, the Hurricanes’ march to a potential post-season appearance begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Aloha Stadium (also on OC16). Kapolei’s first two encounters - the loss to McKinley and their cross-over pre-season game with Damien of the ILH - don’t count for or against playoff prospects.

Moreover, Kapolei’s bye week came at an advantageous time in that Hernandez has turned over the quarterback job to junior Mason Koa in an attempt to better take advantage of Aaron Santiago’s versatility.

Santiago was considered the starter at the beginning of the season after getting the majority of the repetitions behind center during spring practice. He started Kapolei’s pre-season game against Damien.

“Out of necessity we had to move him - we have to have him all over the field,” Hernandez said of Santiago. “We have him playing receiver, slot-back, defensive back, and he’s punting and kicking.”


For his part, Koa had his share of promising moments in his first start against McKinley, throwing for 180 yards and rushing for 78 more. He also ran for a score and threw for one, but was plagued by three turnovers.

“Those are good numbers for a guy starting his first game, although the turnovers were costly,” Hernandez admitted. “But in the long run, this (switch) is definitely going to help us.”

In Aiea, the Hurricanes will face a defense with plenty of athleticism.

“We’ll have our work cut out for us against them,” he said. “I’ve been very impressed with their overall team speed. They fly around to the ball.”

Offensively, Na Ali’i are well seasoned on the offensive side of the ball and feature some of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Conference’s top play-makers, including James Buchanon and brothers David and Lofa Liilii.

Their passing game is outstanding,” Hernandez said. “They like to throw the ball, and that poses a lot of problems for us because passing is something we haven’t been able to defend with any consistency so far.

“Our pass defense will have to improve this week, or they’ll put up some big numbers against us.”

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