All she wanted was to be one of the Tigers.
Alexandria Buchanan did that and more. Four weeks after suffering a collarbone injury, the junior quarterback is looking forward to basketball season. The Lady Tigers are well into their preseason schedule, and she’s there in warm, humid McKinley Student Council Gymnasium with her teammates and friends. Soon enough, her savvy, athleticism and skills will add plenty to the squad.
On the football field, the Tigers ended a 29-game losing streak last year with Buchanan as their quarterback. This year, their 4-5 record was the best for the program since 2013, when they also were 4-5. The accomplishments for the Tigers and the first female starting QB in state history led to an epic moment: a FaceTime conversation with her idol, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.
“The Bleacher Report was doing a documentary piece on me,” she said. “They were at school, following me around.
“On the last day, they pulled me out of class and they’re like, someone in the office wants to talk to you. On the screen, it’s Drew Brees. I started freaking out. I was so excited.”
Brees, a certain future Hall of Famer, asked Buchanan about her favorite plays. One of his sons has been through several surgeries after breaking a collarbone.
“He’s my favorite quarterback. He’s always been my No. 1 quarterback,” she said. “It’s weird because I’m a 49ers fan.”
Buchanan still hasn’t let go of the 2018 football season.
“I really wanted to keep playing, finish the season strong. I started out really rough. It wasn’t a good season for me personally,” Buchanan said. “Senior year, I’m looking forward to hopefully balling out with my new team. It’s going to be kind of rough transitioning with all the seniors who will leave. Hopefully, we get it together and keep building.”
Girls from one corner of the islands to the other have played football for decades, from Mika Tyler of Hawaii Prep in the 1990s to record-breaking field goal kickers like Mika Makekau of ‘Iolani today.
None, however, took snaps and started at quarterback on a regular basis. When the Tigers broke their losing streak with a 22-0 win over Waialua on Sept. 15, 2017, the proverbial dam broke. The Tigers were 1-8 but, for the first time since 2013, they scored more than 14 points, and they did it three times.
Since the breakthrough moment, McKinley coach Pat Silva has seen his team go 4-5 this year. The struggle isn’t completely over. The Tigers were 1-5 in OIA Division II play, but won a road game at King Kekaulike and posted a 28-24 win over Pac-Five with Buchanan sharing time at quarterback while passing for 145 yards and a touchdown this season.
It’s a monumental achievement for the humble Buchanan, but she’s not shy about spreading a message about dreams and courage.
“If you have a passion for something, don’t be afraid to do it,” she said. “I think that you have the power to do anything you want. Whether you’re the strongest or the fastest, it doesn’t matter. If you have the heart to do something and you’re willing to put in the effort, that’s what makes you a good player.
“Never give up. It’s always going to be hard in the beginning or even during, but it’s a long journey and you have to go from Point A to Point B. There’s a lot of things that’s going to happen. You don’t know what exactly what’s in store, but you’ve just got to push through, and just hope, or know, that you have a plan and you’re doing it.”
Buchanan stokes her fire. There’s room for improvement. Like all her classmates who will eventually graduate in ’20, she sees possibilities — for her teammates and their dreams.
“I honestly don’t have any hopes or plans for football at the next level,” she said. “I realize my chances of playing in college are incredibly slim.
“Right now, I’m focusing on next season and helping my team by becoming a better player. Everything that has been happening has been unexpected, and I’m just going to work hard and see where it takes me.”
Buchanan’s leadership is part of the intangibles that helps a team to evolve. Transform. Pay it forward.
“If I have the opportunity to, I probably will. I hope one day that I’ll have kids and I’ll be able to coach them. Maybe they’ll follow my footsteps, as well,” she said. “If I have the opportunity to coach and pass what I know to others whether they’re girls or boys, it doesn’t really matter to me.”
Buchanan is nearly done healing. She can do some light running.
Soon, she’ll be on the basketball court. After that, back to training for football.
“Everything, I feel, worked out as well as it should’ve. God has a plan and I’m just along for the ride. I’m really blessed with everything I’m able to do,” Buchanan said. “Although this past season hasn’t been the best for me personally, I know it’s just a start.”
ALEXANDRIA BUCHANAN, QB, MCKINLEY
2017 (Soph): 6 G, 23-49, 268 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT
2018 (Junior): 8 G, 23-69, 145 yards, 1 TD, 12 INT
