Red Raiders Defense Pushes Team In Sight Of OIA Title
By Jack Danilewicz
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The approach to beating Kahuku rarely wavers for opposing teams. The prevailing mind-set is to stop the Red Raider run game first and force them to pass.
As head coach Reggie Torres prepares his team for this weekend, he expects more of the same regardless of the opponent, but a closer look at offensive production in recent weeks shows a passing game more efficient than the numbers reveal.
“The success of our run game opens up our play action a lot more,” he said. “Loading up (against the run) has been (the trend). Our passing game has been improving, and now probably over half of our touchdowns have come through the air.”
With a defense that has been stout all season, the offense could figure big in determining their post-season fate in coming weeks. Kahuku was to play Waianae in an OIA semifinal game last weekend in hopes of advancing to this Friday’s title game.
A win over Waianae would guarantee the Red Raiders a berth in the upcoming Division I state football championships. (A loss to Waianae would mean having to win a third-place game this Friday against either Leilehua or Farrington.) Kahuku last played in the state tournament in 2006, when it won its fifth state title in seven years.
Whether or not the current squad can produce a similar ending to this season remains to be seen, but the third-year coach has seen a lot of growth from his team since spring practice wrapped late in May.
“We’re still climbing - we haven’t peaked yet - but we’re playing better football,” said Torres, whose team went a perfect 6-0 (8-1 overall) to win the OIA East Red conference. “We’re still capable of playing better, especially on offense.”
The offense is led by quarterback Allan Kubota and a pair of tough running backs in St. John Lessary III and Alapeti Magalei. Lessary III (575 yards, 5.9 yards per carry, six rushing TDs) ranks sixth among backs in the state in rushing, while Kubota has four touchdown passes in his last two games against Castle and Mililani. More encouraging for the Red Raider nation are the big plays Torres alluded to in the passing game, with three of Kubota’s scoring tosses covering 15 yards or better. Field position also could play a big role for the offense this post-season.
“We’ve been getting decent field position lately, and that’s because of our special teams,” he said. “It’s good when you don’t have to start (a possession) with your backs to the wall.”
Defensively, Kahuku yielded only 8.5 points per game over its last seven games and posted a pair of shut-outs this season, while holding four of its nine opponents to 14 points or less.
While success can be termed a “team effort,” linebackers A.J. Atuaia Justin Afalava and Kamalani Alo have been the mainstays, forming one of the top units in the state. The secondary also features BYU-bound Jray Galeai.
“We’re happy with the progression there,” said Torres of his defense. “They’re creating turnovers and flying to the ball. What more can you ask for?
“I think one of the main reasons is our scheme (the 4-3) and our (defensive) coordinator (Kimo Haiola) and our other coaches. They do a great job of breaking down film and getting the kids ready. You have to be able to check-off (change the defensive call on the field), too, and our guys are well-coached on the different looks our opponents give us. It’s been a combination of things - the play of our defensive front, linebackers and our coverage back there (in the secondary).”
The team’s overall health was also much on Torres’ mind last week as they prepared for Waianae. Defensive lineman Kona Schwenke was lost to a knee injury in Kahuku’s quarterfinal win over Mililani Oct. 24, and 15 players were held out of practice with the flu between last Monday’s and Tuesday’s workouts.
“It’s the time of the year when every team is playing with injuries and pain. I told them, ‘you’re hurting, but everyone else is hurting, too.’”
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