Tauai Twins A Double Threat On Mustangs’ 2008 Team

Wednesday - May 28, 2008
By Jack Danilewicz
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One in a series of Spring football reports.

It would be easier for Kalaheo head football coach Chris Mellor to count who’s missing from his roster than who’s not, having lost four-fifths of his 2007 squad to graduation.

One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the off-season prowess that helped pave the way for the Mustangs’ breakthrough last year.

“They’re definitely keeping the same work ethic that the past group (of seniors) established,” said Mellor, who led Kalaheo to a 5-4 record in 2008 en route to the school’s first postseason appearance in three years.

“Those seniors led by example. We lost a lot of them, but the underclassmen have stepped up.

They’re excited about the spring. It seems like an eternity since last season for them.”


While Mellor conceded that the numbers are down from his first two seasons at the school, perhaps more central to his team’s hopes is the continuity established during that span - especially in light of Kalaheo’s dependence on the veer offense to dictate the tone in a game.

“The system is in place now,” said Mellor, who brought in the veer from De La Salle High in California where he previously coached. “We don’t have to do a lot of re-introducing. We can get going. Although we’re a young team, we have enough (returnees) to carry us. They’re committed to the program, and they know what it takes.”

Among the positions to solidify this week in spring practice is that one behind center. With the loss of quarterback Cody von Appen, a three-year starter, junior Phil Tauai has the inside edge to start. Following an impressive 2007 season as von Appen’s back-up, Tauai also earned valuable reps last summer leading Kalaheo in its 7-on-7 passing leagues while von Appen was attending quarterback camps on the Mainland.

“We won’t be missing much with Phil,” said Mellor. “He was a two-way starter for us last year, and he’s a gamer - he just has a nose for the football.”

Also back in the fold is Phil Tauai’s twin brother Eddie, who missed all of 2007 with a torn ACL. A projected starter at both running back and linebacker, his return is one of the more exciting developments this spring.

“It killed him not to be a part of it last year,” Mellor said. “He was just released in March by the doctors. He’s a player - he’s just as intense as ever.”

The Mustangs also are looking to compensate for the loss of Bruce Andrews, the OIA Red East’s offensive player of the year last season, who is currently on scholarship at the Naval Academy.

As in past seasons, the team will lean heavily on two-way players next fall. Leading the way is middle linebacker/left tackle Shawn Reed, who is currently listed by IslandAthlete.Com as the No. 7 prospect in the state. As a junior, Reed tallied 113 tackles in just eight games.


“He’s a big kid, and he can roll and hit people,” Mellor said of Reed, who is 6-foot-1, 215 pounds.

Mellor also is high on junior linebacker/tight end Eki Atanoa, a cousin of the Tauai brothers, and sophomores Justin Pagan (OLB/QB) and Jesse Carney (RB/LB).

Although the Mustangs are unlikely to hold a spring game this year, according to Mellor, all of their practices this week will be full contact, as allowed by the league. Last week, Kalaheo was in just helmets for three days and helmets and shoulder pads for two. At the conclusion of spring practice this weekend, they won’t be able to practice in full gear until the official start of fall camp on July 29.

“The most exciting thing is that they can put pads on and beat up on each other for a few days before they have to lay off again,” Mellor said. “We do a lot of contact. We hit. It’s an essential part of the game.”

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