Mustang Football: Look Out For Next Year’s Varsity Team
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usThe Kalaheo varsity football team broke new ground when it made a first-ever appearance in the OIA Division II title game Oct. 30.
As the Mustangs set their sights on returning to that game in 2011, they will likely call on members of this year’s junior varsity team, which recently capped off a stellar season of their own by winning the DII JV title.
“Any quality program has a good JV team year in and year out,” Kalaheo head varsity coach Chris Mellor said. “You want them to know how to win, and when they come back the next year, they know how to win. Winning is contagious, as Vince Lombardi said, and, unfortunately, so is losing.”
Within the program, learning Mustang schemes, most notably the veer offense Mellor brought with him, also are paramount to the varsity team being able to maximize its spring practices and the early days of fall camp.
“The coaches did a great job of implementing our system and staying true to it,” said Mellor, whose JV staff included head coach Darrell Poole and assistants Alan Marumoto, Shannon Aiwohi, Keona Siliga, Jensen Kalua and Eddie Tauai.
“When the basic elements are in place, it makes it easier for us (at the varsity level). They had some good talent, and they kept it simple and executed at a high level.”
Kalaheo’s JV team, which failed to make the post-season in 2009, went 7-1-1 this year with its lone defeat coming in a preseason encounter with Kailua. The Mustangs also tied Pearl City during the regular season, but won both of their OIA playoff encounters, including the Nov. 6 title game, 25-12 over Waipahu.
Mellor projects several key contributors from this year’s JV team to be impact players in the fall for the varsity: Chase Hanawahine, Derek Morgan, Rashan Matalolo and brothers Christian and Makena Johnston, among others.
A backfield that includes both Johnston brothers, is “not out of the realm of possibility,” according to Mellor. Makena was moved up to the varsity in time for the DII state tournament earlier this month and scored a touchdown against Kauai. Christian was having a solid JV season before an injury undermined his momentum. Both are running backs.
Chase Hanawahine was a two-way starter at quarterback and outside linebacker, whose older brother Dylan also played in the program. “I would expect Chase to compete for the starting (quarterback) job,” Mellor said. “He’s a quiet kid with good knowledge of the system, and he throws a nice ball. As a linebacker, he can bring the hat (helmet) - he hits really well.”
Mellor called Morgan, who was a two-way player at wide receiver and corner back, a premier athlete. “Speed-wise, he’s right there with Jesse (Carney) and Sage (Richardson),” he added. “He’s a lockdown corner.”
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