Warriors must all pitch in to have success

In the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, where competition in academics and athletics is sharp, even cut-throat, there is always work to be done.

But, in the middle of this week’s on-campus football camp, Kamehameha coach David Stant and his staff helped their team let off some steam. A fun Wednesday afternoon at the water park in Kapolei was tonic for a relatively inexperienced, but promising Warriors squad.

"They’re a good group," said Stant, who has seen the gamut. In 2009, his senior-heavy squad marched to a state championship. Last year’s team, heavy with underclassmen, struggled to a 5-5 mark. Injuries, including one to linebacker Kawika Stant’s elbow, took their toll. That left one key on- and off-field leader out of the mix, and chemistry wasn’t at its ’09 best.

That’s why David Stant is enjoying this preseason and the two- and three-a-day workouts.

"This is almost like the 2009 seniors. We’ve got a lot of good leaders and we’ve had a lot of bonding," he said. "We don’t have the All-State, All-ILH players. They know if they don’t work together, they won’t win."

Despite new starters at nearly three-fourths of the lineup, Kamehameha’s tradition of success carried some weight with coaches and media. The voters tabbed the Warriors at No. 8 in the Star-Advertiser Preseason Top 10.

On paper: There are 43 returnees, including three starters on offense and four on defense. Last year’s quarterback, Christian Akana, transferred to Moanalua. As a junior, Akana passed for 1,114 yards and 11 touchdowns with eight picks. His departure opens the door for Makoa Camanse-Stevens and Nephi Stevens.

Stevens saw limited action last year, completing six passes in nine attempts with a touchdown. He also rushed for 35 yards on eight carries. Camanse-Stevens, at 6-foot-2, is more of pass-first quarterback.

"He’s got the edge as a passer and Nephi is the better runner," Stant said of the juniors. "It gives us a good situation."

The offensive line, usually a strength for Kamehameha, has a standout in returning starter Hayden Wills. For the most part, though, the line is fairly inexperienced. That’s a factor in an offensive scheme that includes the pistol and various split widths. Stant has used splits as wide as 3 yards in some looks over the years, but often will go to tight splits when the Warriors grind out the clock.

If the line progresses, running backs Tyler Meditz and Raymond Pedrina will benefit. Meditz rushed for 394 yards (4.5 per carry) and three touchdowns last season.

"We’ve got a good bunch of running backs and wide receivers," Stant noted.

The defense returns just four starters, losing a ton of talent in the past two seasons, including All-State first-team defensive back Walter Santiago Jr. Among the unsung defenders is defensive end Ikea Ikehara, a junior who will step into Koa Ka’ai’s role. Ka’ai, a first-team All-State pick last year, is now at the University of Oregon.

"Ikea is really fast. He’s a big key," Stant said.

The secondary has some experience with defensive backs Tanner Asuncion and Taylor Taliulu.

Taliulu returned to campus after a year at Aiea and could team with Asuncion to provide Kamehameha with one of the better DB units in the league.

The linebacker corps is practically new.

The skinny: With so many new pieces to the puzzle, a three-day glut of scrimmages that started Thursday will give the Warriors a good look. They scrimmaged Nanakuli on Thursday, then have Mililani today and Campbell on Saturday, all at Kunuiakea Stadium.

"Our offense is doing good at practice. The timing will come," Stant said. "We don’t pass as well as Saint Louis and we’re not as physically talented as Punahou."

He might be sandbagging a bit, but Stant is completely genuine when it comes to work ethic and brotherhood. If this year’s squad has a similar personality to the ’09 state champs, that can only be a good thing. The ILH regular season and school year start a few weeks later than those of the public-school Oahu Interscholastic Association. Having a fairly young team is less of a disadvantage with all the workout time available in August.

X factor: Without a clear-cut big-time recruit (so far), this is truly a team without a big individual spotlight. Stant is milking that groupthink to the Warriors’ advantage, starting with a team slogan: "First, you must believe."

"Everybody’s counting us out," Stant said.

KAMEHAMEHA WARRIORS

2010 results (5-5)

2009: 12-1, won state championship

2008: 8-5

2007: 4-4-1