Aiea Gets Defensive With New Team

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Freddy Taliulu and Daniel Guzman run the hurdles during an Aiea practice. Photo by Leah Ball, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

One in a series of spring football reports.

Fair or not, Aiea High School’s football reputation has been invariably tied to the execution of its run-and-shoot offense in recent years. This fall, however, all signs point to defense setting the tone.

“We have more veterans on the defensive side, including two of the best players in the state,” said coach Wendell Say, who begins his 30th season in the fall.“We have a lot of players coming back in key positions there (defensively). It’s depth that concerns us, because we lost a lot of kids behind the first group, so we’ll have young guys there (as a supporting cast).”

Finishing 5-4 last fall, Aiea took the first step toward its 2009 season last week at spring practice.While full contact is allowed for part of the two weeks under OIA rules, Say said they will not be in full equipment and will use the spring to teach schemes.

“It will be a learning period to carry us into summer,” he said.

One area where Na Ali’i does well already is its defensive front, where Lawrence Lagafuaina and Api Foumai return from last season. Both are among the top recruits in the state and will anchor the defense after solid junior seasons in 2008.

“Lawrence has been the talk of the West Coast (amongst college recruiters) since he returned from a (scouting) combine hosted by UCLA,” Say said of the defensive tackle.“He just blew everyone away there. Everyone from the Pac-10 (conference) has been in here to see him this week, and he already has offers from UCLA, Washington, UNLV and Wyoming.”

Foumai is projected to hold down a spot at defensive end.Wyoming and Utah State are among the schools recruiting him hard at present, according to Say.

“Both Lawrence and Api are real good kids, quiet leaders for us,” he said. “They bring a lot of athleticism to our defense.”

Aiea’s defensive front also is bolstered by the return of Chad Patolo at tackle, while Rylen Fonoti is projected to lead a young line-backing corps.

Among Aiea’a main priorities in the coming weeks will be to rebuild its offensive line after all five starters completed their eligibility last October. Behind center, Kaau Kuia and Freddy Taliulu are locked in a battle to be the starter at quarterback after both took snaps last season as sophomores.

“A lot of the young guys who played last year are more confident right now in what they’re doing, and that’s good. We just need to work on things.”