VonAppen Gang Meets Kailua Friday
By Jack Danilewicz
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The Kalaheo football team has already faced its share of stellar defenses this fall, but its biggest challenge to date may be this Friday night when it faces a talented Kailua defense, to hear coach Chris Mellor tell it.
The Mustangs, who have been the “feel good"story of Hawaii prep football almost since the day fall camp opened in August, have moved the ball against every opponent this season, including a 360-yard-plus effort in their only defeat, which came against defending state champion Kahuku on Sept. 8. While Kailua was only 1-2 heading into last weekend’s game with Castle, the Surfriders have been able to make teams go the long, hard route offensively, having held Leilehua to only six points earlier in the season.
“They’re big, strong and fast,” Mellor said of Kailua’s defensive unit.“They have great linebackers and a great (defensive) line. They take pride in having a great defense. It’s a tough job.”
The matchup between Kalaheo’s offense and Kailua’s defense will likely go a long way in influencing the outcome of Friday’s 7 p.m. game at Kailua High School field. As has been the case all year, Mellor expects Kailua’s defensive game plan to be geared toward containing Kalaheo quarterback Cody vonAppen, who is among the best in the state at his position this season. A year after finishing 1-7, vonAppen has already led Kalaheo to wins over Castle, Moanalua, Iolani and Nanakuli.
“He’s sharp - he’s on most people’s radar,” Mellor said of vonAppen, a three-year starter. “Each week he finds a new way to take us closer to our goal. He’s a hard-working kid, and he’s tough. He’s been taking a lot of hits - he doesn’t run out of bounds, and he doesn’t slide, either.”
Kailua’s offensive attack centers around quarterbacks Kale Sumner and Kenny Ellis, the latter of whom is a big-play receiver when not behind center. Although they were held to seven points in their loss to Kahuku recently, the Surfrider offense has been coming on as of late, as evidenced by a 48-28 romp over McKinley Sept. 8.
For their part, Kalaheo’s defense has been stout this season, holding Moanalua and Castle to 14 and 13 points, respectively, in recent weeks. Mellor praised the play of senior defensive end Giovanni Wozniak and senior strong safety Justin Haish.
“(Wozniak) has been playing good ball, and Justin is a hard-hitter who has made some key plays for us.”
Mellor was unaware of the last time Kalaheo beat Kailua in football, having arrived only twoand-a-half years ago from California, where he coached at highly regarded De La Salle High School.
“Let me know if you find out,” he said.
With the Mustangs moving back and forth between Division I and Division II in recent years, there have been few meetings between the cross-town rivals in football, but that hasn’t stopped Mellor from playing up the game.
“We definitely address it (the rivalry),” said Mellor, whose team lost to Kailua 20-7 in last year’s meeting.“I hype it up. That’s part of the fun of high school football. Anything can happen when games are played with a lot of emotion. Hopefully, we’ll give the community a good game.”
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