Mustang Coach Pleased With Skills On Display At Camp

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Kalaheo High football players (facing outward, from left) Justin Pagan Jesse Carney and Shannon Aiwohi play in a scrimmage with teammates. Photo by Byron Lee,byronlee@midweek.com.

One in a series of spring football reports

It didn’t take long for head football coach Chris Mellor to create a new identity for the Kalaheo program after he set to work back in 2006, but even Mellor concedes the “face"of the 2010 team is running back/linebacker Jesse Carney.

“Obviously we have our team values, and each player is equally important to the team, but Jesse is a marquee player,” said Mellor.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Carney enters his senior season as one of the school’s most productive backs, having led the entire state in touchdowns, total yards and yards-per-carry at the end of 2009. He finished with 1,494 yards and 17 rushing touch-downs in 10 games. Carney also will hold down the middle linebacker spot in the defensive 4-4 scheme.

“His work ethic (is his strength), No. 1,” said Mellor, who led Kalaheo to a 6-4 season last year.“He does what’s asked of him, and he never takes a play off. He’s really, really strong. He took first in a body-building contest recently. We’re expecting another great season out of him. He’s has an uncanny balance that you don’t see very often, and one man does not bring Jesse down.”

In addition to Carney, who proved a perfect fit for the veer offense last season, Mellor also is excited about the progress of returning quarterback Justin Pagan. Now a senior, Pagan stepped behind center midway through 2009 when then-starter Phillip Tauai got hurt.

“He’s much more ready for this season after starting half of last year. He’ll definitely be a leader. He’s understanding our offense more now and coming of age. He took us into the playoffs, so he’s definitely a key.”

Up front, Mellor considers Kainoa Lauriano, Toa Fanoimoana and Chad Strickland to be prototypical linemen in his system. All three will be two-way players, holding starting jobs on the defensive side.

“We like faster, stronger linemen,” he said. “Kainoa moves really well. He had a great off-season. He never missed a workout. Like Kainoa, Toa also had an excellent off-season. He’s 100 percent committed.”

Strickland was projected as a key contributor last year, but broke his collar bone early on, missing the entire schedule. “He’s a good addition to the team. He’s really, really fast - one of the fastest on the team - and he’s strong. He’s another top-notch kid.”

Elsewhere on the roster, youth prevails. “We lost a good corps of kids who had been here awhile,” Mellor admitted. “Every season is a new era, but more so this year. There are some new faces - it’s a young team.”

Kalaheo took the first steps toward fall camp last week when it opened spring practice. Mellor and Co. will continue practicing all of this week - the last few days in full pads as allowed by the OIA - but won’t hold a spring game this time. They will move right into their summer program next week.

Among the relative newcomers making an impact are Shannon Aiwohi, Mana Maglinti, Harrison Seto and Michael Borges. “All four will be two-way starters for us,” Mellor said.

Kalaheo’s mastery of the veer has been its most visible phase of the game, and the Mustangs hope to showcase their passing game in the coming weeks when they get into their 7-on-7 pass leagues. Fall camp officially begins the last day of July. Between the end of spring football and the beginning of fall camp, teams are not allowed to wear full equipment.

“The system’s been in place now,” he said. “No one here has played in another system, so it’s a matter of timing and practice. We’ll be doing a lot of individual tutelage.”

Kalaheo will host its annual passing tournament June 18, with Aiea and Campbell among the schools that will take part. Mellor also revealed that the team will go to Sonoma State College July 7-10 for a camp with 16 Mainland schools. Kalaheo attended camps as a team in 2007 and 2009 at Saint Mary’s College in California.