Red Raider Coach: OIA Playoffs Up For Grabs
By Jack Danilewicz
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When Reggie Torres sizes up the OIA playoffs, he sees potential land mines everywhere - not that the Red Raiders didn’t endure a brutal schedule already, with back-to-back games against Farrington and Castle to end their East Red slate.
“Right now, you’re looking at seven teams that could win it all - that’s how much parity we have this year,” said Torres, whose team is idle this week after earning the Red East’s top seed during the regular season. “The team that comes out of this will, No. 1, have to stay healthy, and No. 2, they’ll have to play at a high level week in and week out. One bad week and you’re done. You have to have good weeks, and you have to eliminate mistakes and penalties.”
The Red Raiders’ biggest concern lately has been their health. Like a lot of schools this time of year, Kahuku has been hit hard by injuries at some key positions. With that in mind, Torres welcomed the bye week, as it will aid his team in getting healthy. Kahuku will host a game next weekend against a team still to be determined.
“Since Punahou (week), we’ve been going full pads only one day a week,“he said. “We want to stay healthy, and we want to stay healthier longer.We’ve minimized contact. We don’t want to be the cause of injuries ourselves.”
Wide-out and return specialist Lopaka Morris is among the injured. He’s missed the last five games with an ailing knee but has been rehabbing and could return for some or all of the post-season. Running back Galeai Malufau is not so fortunate and will miss the rest of the season. Torres also was awaiting word last week on line-man Steven Siilata, who injured his hand versus Farrington, while Tevita Tonga was to miss the Castle game last weekend after suffering a concussion in Week Five. On a positive note, Jase Toomalatai returned to practice early last week after missing time and was expected to play against the Knights.
“Some of the kids coming off the bench are still a year away, but our depth has been OK,” Torres said, “and I’m happy with our progress on the practice field. From the weight room on, the kids are getting stronger, and our conditioning has gotten better. That’s what we look at - our work ethic is getting better.
“Falling behind by 14 to Farrington brought us closer as a team,” he added of Kahuku’s Oct. 2 game with the Governors, won by Kahuku 16-14. “We’re excited about that. The kids on the sideline weren’t down.”
Kahuku kicker Cameron Mercado helped drive the team across the finish line, converting a 32-yard field goal with 6:14 remaining to complete the comeback win over Farrington. He has missed from 47 yards earlier, but has been a solid contributor throughout the season. He brought a string of 33 consecutive extra points converted into the Farrington game before missing one.
“That just goes to show he’s human,” Torres said. “He’s pretty consistent from 45 (yards out). He can hit from 50, but he’s not as consistent (from that distance).”
For the Red Raiders’ part, the defense has been stellar as expected, but Torres also has been impressed with his offense’s ability to get the job done. Kahuku’s offensive formations have ranged from I-back, to one back and empty back field sets. Despite injury issues, the team has managed to stay the course and remain effective behind the decision-making of quarterback Evan Moe.
“They’re coming,” Torres said of the offense. “We’ve used a good mixture of formations at times, and we’ve been banged up at running back, but they’ve improved so much from the Kailua game (Week One of OIA). We’re running the ball well again, and we can throw the ball.”
The Red Raiders are led by stalwarts Kona Schwenke and Hauoli Jamora in the trenches. The pair already have committed to BYU.With Malefau out, the Red Raider rushing attack centered around Viliami Pasi, Fonovasa Mata’afa and Tyrone Brown against Farrington.
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