Red Raiders Emerge From Camp With Leaders And Speed
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usKahuku’s planned trip to Utah to play Bingham High School in week four of the prep football season means the team will not have a preseason game this weekend.
The arrangement is bittersweet for head coach Reggie Torres and staff. The first game is Aug. 20, an OIA Red East game against Kailua.
“The big thing for us is that we have two weeks, and trying to keep their attention and keep them motivated and keep their work ethic at a high level won’t be easy,” said Torres, who led Kahuku last fall to a 12-1 season, an OIA title and a runner-up finish at the Division I state tournament. “We don’t have an opportunity to do a lot of different things before (the Kailua game).”
Veteran leadership should overcome any miscues as Kahuku returns nine starters on offense, six on defense.
“The returnees are living up to their potential, but for me, right now it’s the chemistry we’re starting to see. The fill-ins are grasping the concepts. Overall, our team concepts are coming to fruition.”
Among the starters returning to the offense is quarterback Evan Moe, who assumed the starting job a few weeks into the 2009 season and managed the offense efficiently for the rest of the year. Moe finds himself in competition once again in camp with defensive standout Tigi Hill, also taking snaps behind center. Hill is a top college prospect in the state, according to recruiting services, following a stellar junior season in secondary.
“Evan’s improving, and he has an advantage there since he started last year,” Torres said. “Right now, we’re also giving Tigi some time at quarterback because he’s such a great athlete.”
Torres stopped short of saying he will rotate quarterbacks throughout the season, but said he will “for now.” Should he settle on one exclusively over the other, look for the player not at quarterback to be a starter in the secondary.
Heading into spring practice, Torres’ priority was rebuilding both lines, especially with Kona Schwenke and Hauoli Jamora graduating. Although injuries have slowed the team somewhat, the coach likes the progress he’s seen.
“There were a lot of question marks with some of the defensive linemen,” he said, “but they’ve stepped up and really impressed us big-time. Speed-wise, we’ve had faster individuals, but as overall team speed goes, we’re pretty quick - one of the quicker teams I’ve had.”
With lingering injuries to projected starters on the offensive line, senior Dallin Muti has been playing on both sides of the ball. He was a standout at nose guard in 2009 and will continue to play there, while also holding on to a spot at right guard.
Torres credited the five-day preseason camp with setting the tone for 2010. Held two weeks ago - on the eve of school opening - fall camp ran three practices a day, and players and coaches slept in the school wrestling room with team moms and volunteers providing meals.
It meant even longer days than normal for the coaches. “When the kids go to sleep, we’re still up working, planning for the next day, so it was tough on us, too,” Torres said. “The kids became really close. We found some leadership and found the kids really wanted to be there. It was a tough camp.”
As always, their schedule is challenging. After Kailua, they play Saint Louis Aug. 27 at home, then a road date with Kaiser before the game against Bingham in Utah.
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