Balanced Mustangs Looking To Critical Late-season Wins
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usKalaheo’s mission in the next month is to get into position for a late-season run.
The Mustangs, who visit Nanakuli Friday night, have what looks to be a favorable schedule with their first four opponents (Waialua, Kalani, Kaimuki and Nanakuli) all having gone a combined 3-25 in 2009. Week five is a much-anticipated matchup with Waipahu, so the team obviously wants to be 4-0 heading into that encounter.
“The meat of our schedule, and the games against schools with the larger enrollments, are at the end,” explained coach Chris Mellor. “We want to be 1-0, first. If we can’t win that first one, we’ll have trouble with the next one.”
Kalaheo was to open its OIA White season last Friday against Waialua. This Friday’s opponent is a bit of a mystery. They last met in 2006, with Kalaheo winning big, but because of the schedule, Mellor didn’t expect to be able to scout the Golden Hawks in person since Nanakuli didn’t have a preseason game.
“We’re playing the same night, so it will be difficult, but we’ll do our best to get information on them,” Mellor said. “They’re a strong team, and they have a good program. It will be a hostile environment to play in, but it’s also going to be fun.”
But just as the Mustangs find themselves hoping to zero in on Nanakuli’s tendencies, the Golden Hawks must defend Kalaheo’s veer offense. “That (veer) is tough for teams because we don’t give anything away with the formation,” said Mellor. “We can always go left or right. Teams have to play assignment football (to contain the veer).”
The Mustangs, who went 5-4 in 2009, were bothered by injuries in fall camp, but the tide has turned, according to Mellor. He disclosed, however, that a broken collar bone has sidelined projected two-way starter Sage Richardson, a free safe-ty/wide receiver, until mid-September.
Mellor said that Quincy Mason, a tight end/defensive end, would back up Pagan until Richardson returns.
Mellor also noted 10 players who had not been with the team in spring and summer. “They’re making an impact as far as giving us a better look on the scout team ... As I look at our team, everyone can play. We’re balanced at every position.”
The return of Pagan behind center and running back Jesse Carney bodes well for the Mustangs, one of the more efficient units in the past several seasons. Other key returnees are Kainoa Lauriano, Toa Fonoimoana and Chad Strickland, all of whom are prototypical line-men in Kalaheo’s system and will be two-way players, holding starting jobs on the defensive side.
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