Na Ali’i's Move To Division II May Not Be All Bad News

Del.icio.us

The boys of Na Ali’i take turns running drills during practice. Photo by Leah Ball, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

One in a series of spring football reports.

History has a way of repeating itself, which can’t be all bad for Aiea football fans who are disappointed the team will move down to Division II in the fall. Lest anyone forget, Na Ali’i won a state championship in 2003 -the last time they competed in DII.

“The (OIA) White will be tough,” said Wendell Say, who is entering his 29th season as head coach.“With Campbell and Radford moving down (along with Aiea), the better teams in the White will be better than some of the teams in the Red.”

Under Say, Aiea has usually been in the mix regardless of its Division. His 2008 team finished 10 days’ worth of spring practices last week and will now set its sights on this summer’s 7-on-7 pass leagues as well as weight training and conditioning. Under the OIA’s guidelines, schools are allotted a three-week period to conduct 10 practices, five of which can include full contact. Teams are limited from hitting again until the beginning of fall camp in early August.Aiea used its spring sessions to rein in its schemes,bypassing full contact drills altogether.Among its top priorities were to find a replacement for quarterback Keenan Naole, who completed his eligibility last fall, as well as to develop a corps of wide receivers.

One of the bigger losses from last year was that of offensive coordinator Amosa Amosa, who left to take the head job at his alma mater, Campbell High. Say filled the void by hiring six new offensive coaches, highlighted by new coordinator Jeff Matsuzaki, who coached previously at Saint Louis School.

“It’s always tough to lose a coach like Amosa, although we’re happy for him,” said Say, whose team went 4-4 last season in Division I.”(The new offensive staff) are very organized - we’re all on the same page. They’re teachers as well as coaches.I can see where Saint Louis had success with the way these guys coach.”

Aiea, which has been among the better offensive teams in the state in recent years, will stay with the run and shoot. Three hopefuls - sophomore Kaau Kuia and seniors Tupo Faumuina and Sedrick Nelson - spent the spring vying to be Aiea’s starting quarterback for its August opener. Faumuina was starting quarterback for the JV two years ago before playing a wide receiver position last year on the varsity. Nelson also is converting to the position after having been a defensive back last season. Kuia is the younger brother of Kali Kuia, who led Aiea on its state title run in 2003.

“They’re battling it out,“Say said. “(Faumuina) brings some experience to the position. Kaau is very talented, like his brother; he just needs to gain experience.”

Whoever Say settles on behind center will have the luxury of operating behind an experienced offensive line featuring Mark Faalele, Jeff Mauga, Jasper Hunt, Kevin Kanae and Dayton Kaaumo. Mauga and Hunt were both first and second team all-star selections, respectively, in the Red Conference last season.

“Our strength will be our offensive and defensive lines,” Say said.

Defensively, senior Miah Faatoafe leads the way in the trenches.A four-year starter, he packs 290 pounds into a 6-foot frame.

“He’s very mature for his age - it’s why he’s been able to play since his freshman year,” Say said of Faatoafe, who is being courted by several Division I colleges. “He’s probably one of the strongest line-men in the state.”

Also back defensively are down linemen Lawrence Lagafuaina, Steven O’Meally and Api Foumai and linebackers Matt Watanabe and Kalei Say. Say is also confident in Aiea’s kicking game with the return of senior Mason Puckett, a three-year varsity player. Puckett’s older brothers Brandon (2003) and Justin (2004) were all-conference kickers during their own playing days at the school.

Graduation took its toll on Aiea’s wide receiver corps, but Say has confidence in his first-year varsity players who are battling for playing time at the position.

“The bulk (of the starters at wide-out) may be sophomores, but I think they’ll surprise a lot of people,” he said. “It’s a good young group.”