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Marauders Catching On To Coach’s New Offense Scheme

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The boys of Waipahu’s offensive line will be the key for success this season, so says coach Sean Saturnio. Photo by Byron Lee,byronlee@midweek.com.

Even after amassing 23 victories over the past two seasons,Waipahu High School head football coach Sean Saturnio regarded the Marauders’one-back, spread option offense as a work in progress.

The veteran coach used his spring break from teaching last March to travel to Atlanta, Ga., to learn the offense from his own former coach Paul Johnson, who is now the head coach at Georgia Tech following a highly successful stint at the U.S. Naval Academy.

“We learn more of the finer points, some extra things,” said Saturnio, who played under Johnson while a wide receiver at the University of Hawaii.“We went to Navy a few years ago and traveled to Georgia Tech this spring. I talk to (Georgia Tech slot backs/special team coach) Jeff Monken at least once a week. He’s a great resource.

“We want to tighten the screws here.”

No scheme can succeed, of course, without great blocking up front, and Saturnio has left no doubt that the play of the Marauders’ offensive line has been the catalyst in his team’s impressive 3-0 start for 2008.

“The key for this year is that O-line, and they’ve been doing a good job,” he said of a unit that includes seniors Gafatasi Veu (6-0, 274), Bronson Henriques (5-9, 285), Craig Masaniai (6-0, 273), Chester Manalo (5-7, 181) and Lafoga Tulafale (5-9, 258).“They’re going out there with great effort, coming off of the ball well and staying on blocks.”

In contrast to the old-school, man-on-man power blocking of the past, the one-back, spread option incorporates a different scheme, according to Saturnio, whose team is getting ready for Friday ‘s game at home against fellow Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West member Nanakuli.

“Our blocking schemes are different than most traditional schemes,” he explained. “We’re just trying to get downhill and off of the ball in a hurry. It’s quite sophisticated, actually. People think it’s just smash mouth, but it isn’t.”

Waipahu’s one-back, spread option was on display big time in the Marauders’ recent 42-12 win over the Pearl City Chargers, scoring four touchdowns - three on the ground and another via the air-waves - in the first half to take a 28-0 lead in that game.

Quarterback Joshua Lacar has settled nicely into the position, allowing last year’s starter, Troy Matautia, to move almost exclusively to full back, where he’s been able to maximize his play-making abilities. Matautia also has a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown versus Pearl City on his resume. Slotback Victor Moananu has also been a big play threat to date.

All three players would pose problems for a defense trying to combat any scheme, but Saturnio believes there are advantages to being the only team in the Division running the one-back, spread option. While Kapolei runs a version of the one-back, spread, the Hurricanes have been more pass-oriented with a line of Division I prospects having passed through their program lately at the quarterback position.

“It works well in a couple of ways,” said Saturnio. “The nature of the option is that you have to be extremely disciplined on defense. When you have only one week to prepare (for an opponent), it can be hard to match that team’s speed with your scout team.”

With a large number of returning starters back from last season, Saturnio and the Waipahu offense quickly regained their form of a year ago, coming out of preseason practice ahead of the game.

“We’re executing a lot better than we ever have,” he said.“We’re a lot further ahead than in past years. The kids have been putting in great effort on the field and in the classroom. Each game we get a step better, and we’re excited to see them keep growing as football players and developing as people.”

The Marauders’ offense is currently averaging exactly 40 points a game through three weeks of play, including a 38-7 preseason win over Kea’au High. Waipahu also posted a 42-7 win over Pac-Five Aug. 30 in their regular-season opener.

Not lost on Saturnio has been the solid play of Waipahu’s defensive unit, which features interior line-man Cabel Puletasi, nose guard Nathan Bartley, linebacker Nick Tagaloa and defensive backs Kaimi Haina and Anthony Veu.

“We love the 4-3 scheme, and the kids love playing it,” Saturnio said.

He also praised the “unsung heroes"of his program - his assistant coaching staff, which includes Patrick Ena, Ian Ferris, Chris Del Rosario, Joseph Kira, Trevor Lau, Samson Ma’u, Prince Brown, Jacob Yoro and junior varsity coaches Warren Alejado and Bryson Carvalho; plus his wife, Lehua, who has kept Waipahu’s statistics for the past eight seasons.

Following Friday’s game with Nanakuli, the Marauders, who are in their first year in Division I play since 2005, play what Saturnio calls “the meat of the Red Division”: Kapolei High (Hurricanes Sept. 19, away), Waianae High Seariders (Oct. 3, away) and defending state champion Leilehua Mules (Oct. 11, at home).