Coach Sees NFL Great Jones-Drew In Kalaheo Running Back
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usWhen the Kalaheo football team traveled to Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., in July for a camp with seven other prep teams, running back Jesse Carney quickly soared to the head of the pack.
“He was the premier runner out there,“Kalaheo coach Chris Mellor said.
The SMC camp played out without media coverage, of course, so Carney remained Hawaii prep football’s best-kept secret for another few months.
Much has changed. As Kalaheo enters the OIA White Conference playoffs this weekend with a game against either Aiea or Moanalua, Carney is plainly a marked man, having rushed for 700 yards in weeks six, seven and eight when Kalaheo recorded wins over Pearl City, Anuenue and Kalani. All told, Carney leads the state in yards per carry (11.0), total yards (1,320), rushing touchdowns (19) and points (114). And that’s just on the
field, where Carney is also a linebacker and leader on special teams. Off the field and in the locker room, the 5-10, 170-pound junior brings an equally comforting presence with a rock-solid work ethic that has prompted Mellor to do something he rarely does - make comparisons.
Mellor was a JV coach at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., when Maurice Jones-Drew was a starter on the varsity. De La Salle never lost a game during Jones-Drew’s three years as the starting running back/linebacker and eventually won a record 151 consecutive games. He went on to a fine career at UCLA and has blossomed at running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL. When all 32 teams passed on Jones-Drew, making him a second-round selection and 60th pick overall, he chose to wear the No. 32 in recognition of his having been misjudged.
In Mellor’s view, Carney brings the same kind of competitiveness as Jones-Drew.“One man alone won’t bring Jesse down,” said Mellor, whose team is 6-2 overall.“Jesse runs similar to Maurice, even though Maurice is a pro. I told Jesse that he’s one of the two best backs I’ve ever been around. His work ethic is similar. They have a lot of similar traits. Jesse does not step off of the field. He can’t. We only have 22 players.
“He’s super, super quiet, but when it comes to football practice, it’s time to get to work. He’s a silent leader. I could tell him to go run 20 miles, and he’d take off.”
Carney also has played big, defensively, from his line-backer spot. “You don’t run to Jesse’s side,” Mellor said.
Against Pearl City, Carney recorded a safety at a critical time in the game. He also rushed for 280 yards in that game, after covering 259 and 225 yards against Anuenue and Kalani, respectively.
Aiea coach Wendell Say saw enough of him in his team’s 31-14 win over the Mustangs Sept. 4. “He’s not oversized, but he’s well-built and hard to take down,” admitted Say, who is in his 30th season at Aiea.“You have to wrap up that kid or he’s going to break tackles. He has speed and strength.”
Mellor sees Carney’s ability to play fast and physical every day. “He’s fast - he’s not lightning - but he’s a 4.5 kind of guy,” Mellor said of Carney, who finished second in the 160-pound weight class at the state high school wrestling championships last February.“He’s durable and has an uncanny ability to keep his balance. He finds a way to get to the openings and make big plays.”
Carney is one of eight Mustangs currently playing both ways. The team was idle last week, giving players a chance to heal further from injuries.
“We’re starting to get some of the injured guys back,” Mellor said.
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