Red Raiders Looking To Change Up Their Plays On Offense

Wednesday - August 19, 2009
By Jack Danilewicz
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Kahuku proved in 2008 that what you do in Week One doesn’t mean a lot in the big picture. Lest anyone forget, the team was humbled 35-0 on their public unveiling last football season at Aloha Stadium, but rebounded in a monster way to reel off 10 straight victories en route to winning both the OIA Red East regular season crown as well as the overall OIA title.

Conversely, first-game opponent Kamehameha failed to make the state tourney, becoming a victim of the parity that reigns in ILH, whose Punahou team went on to win the Division I state title.

But while Saturday’s 7 p.m. inter-league matchup between Punahou and Kahuku at Aloha Stadium might not decide anything in the long run, first games can alter the course of a team, according to fourth-year head coach Reggie Torres. At this time a year ago, Kahuku had hoped to become more versatile by implementing spread sets in place of the I-formation that had been the mode of choice since the 1970s. Following a rough outing against Kamehameha, the team went back to the I-formation and plowed its way to another title.


 

Kahuku played in a 7-on-7 pass league this summer and hopes to be less predictable with its new offensive sets, which are patterned after the “pistol run” by Chris Ault at University of Nevada, and Florida’s spread-option under Urban Meyer. On that note, Torres said much rides on Friday’s game. He also moved Walter Santiago into the slot of offensive coordinator in the off-season.

“Walter was a big help last year, and we decided to just give him the entire offense this year. With some new assistants, he’s created a multidimensional package. The schemes are there - it’s a matter now of making it work.We want to train to beat the best - that’s what everyone wants. The Punahou game will be telltale for us. If we can compete with them with this type of offense, it will make us a better team.We like what we did in the summer, but that game will let us know right away. We can be better with it, but we’ll change right now if we can’t compete with it. We always have the ‘tight end’offense (in reserve).”

Altering the offense also has to do with the interchangeable quarterback duo of Sage Kaka and Evan Moe. Both were expected to see time in last weekend’s preseason game against Kealakehe, and both will have their share of snaps versus Punahou this week.

“For the most part, both run the offense very well,“said Torres.“One is a little bigger, and the other is a little more shifty. They’re in such a tight race right now that we can’t really sit one (entirely).”

The Punahou defense, led by senior defensive end Sani Fuimaono, should provide a considerable opening day test,admitted Torres,who calls the Buffanblu defensive line “tough as nails.”

“Sani is a smart kid with a great work ethic,“Torres said of Fuimaono, who is a Kaneohe resident. “I know him from (coaching) wrestling.You have to account for that kid at all times. He’s a stud. We may have to double up on him or work (the play) away from him.You have to know where he’s at.”

Kahuku will counter with a seasoned-yet-young offensive line that features returnees Jamal Napeahi, Kamalani Aalona and Jase Toomalatai.

The run game will be bolstered by Vili Pasi, who was a key reserve a year ago.

While much talk has centered around Kahuku’s offensive shifts, defensive play has been the catalyst for the program and figures to be so again. Torres credits continuity within the staff as key in the team’s ranking among the state’s top defenses most years. Since 1997, Kahuku has had only two defensive coordinators (former assistant Byron Beatty and current coordinator, Kimo Haiola).


The strength figures to be the defensive line, led by Hauoli Jamora and Kona Schwenke, both of whom will play for BYU next season. Depth in the trenches prompted them to switch to a 4-3 base alignment after employing a 3-4 in 2008.

Torres welcomes the idea of opening against a defending state champion. Kahuku’s other non-league opponent this year is Kealakehe, which also qualified for the state tournament last fall.

“The ILH is one of the top leagues in the state. They have great competition and great teams, so it tells us where we’re at when we play a team of the caliber of Punahou. Competition makes our own team better. It’s good for both sides, and it lets our kids know that they have to keep working.”

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