‘Iolani’s system set for repeat

There hasn’t been much to tweak at Eddie Hamada Field over the years, not when it comes to the ‘Iolani football team.

After all, when you find your perfect blueprint, not much else is necessary. The Raiders have their four-wide receiver sets on offense. Complex blocking schemes up front by some of the brainiest football minds on a football field. Two coaches in perpetual hand-signal communication with their huddle-adverse offensive unit. It is a perfect menu of finesse through the air and precision on the ground.

With a no-huddle offense — more grinding than hyperactive — the Raiders continue to wear down foes year after year. Last season, ‘Iolani rode a senior-heavy class and the arm of a jitter-bugging sophomore to another Division II state championship.

A fifth crown in six years, including the last four, came with a 49-14 win over Kaimuki in the title game. Wendell Look’s squad went 9-3,

including 7-2 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Among the wins was a 13-6 victory over D-I contender Kamehameha.

With eight returning starters, Look and his veteran staff — which includes offensive coordinator Joel Lane and defensive coordinator Delbert Tengan — have a lot of work ahead with a host of incoming first-year varsity players.

Whatever the circumstance, ‘Iolani’s success has led to great expectations. Media and coaches voted the Raiders No. 7 in the Star-Advertiser Preseason Top 10.

“This is a totally different team from last year. The seniors have done a good job so far,” Look said. “We’ve got a big sophomore class. Going from intermediate (football) to varsity is a big step for them.”

On paper: Last year, ‘Iolani’s run-and-shoot offense generated more than 27 points and 279 total yards per game. However, leading rusher Ammon Baldomero (691 yards, 11 touchdowns) graduated. So did three of the top four receivers, who accounted for 14 touchdown catches.

That’s where the blueprint comes in. The attention to detail, the allure of perfection, everything is broken down and built back up, play by play, block by block, step by step — the kind of work that goes beyond X’s and O’s.

It doesn’t hurt, of course, that returning quarterback Reece Foy is back and healthy. He passed for 1,839 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. He completed 60 percent of his attempts (161-for-268) and tossed a relatively low 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 233 yards on 71 carries, mostly on wild scrambles out of the pocket. Pretty good results for a first-time starter thrust into the spotlight due to injuries at the position.

Jordan Lee, a backup, returns after rushing for 210 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. Kody Mento will also see action in the backfield.

The receiver corps may be ahead of the rest of the team. Returnees Sheldon Gallarde (24 receptions), Kasey Takahashi (23 catches, two touchdowns) and Tanner Nishioka already have good chemistry with Foy, familiar with his buckaloose style. Gallarde has switched from slotback to wideout, where ‘Iolani lost Josiah Sukumaran, Bret Christman and Trevyn Tulonghari to graduation.

The offensive line has returning starters in left tackle Micah Garrido, left guard Matt Noguchi and right tackle Dave Miyamoto. Spencer King, a sophomore, has impressed Look at center.

“He’s doing the job so far,” Look said.

Defensively, only two starters return from a crew that included All-State linebacker Cody Petro-Sakuma and All-State cornerback Reid Saito. Josiah Situmeang, who competed at quarterback last season, has moved to linebacker.

“We’re kind of starting from scratch. We have to replace our front seven,” Look said.

The skinny: Until the defense evolves and grows into a cohesive, productive unit, pressure will be on the offense to score points, as well as control the tempo. Playing to the same standard as last year’s offensive line, which included anchors Tiras Koon and Ryo Chow, is a big task.

“We’re trying to establish ourselves and see what we do best,” Look said. “It all starts up front.”

If the line takes control, the Raiders offense will be explosive by the start of the regular season, if not sooner. Foy passed for 297 yards and five touchdowns on 20-for-24 passing in the D-II title win over Kaimuki, and he’s only gotten better since.

X factor: The Raiders are usually the better-conditioned team. With a lineup that is often smaller than the average team, few opponents have escaped the guile and cunning of Look and his staff. That pooch kickoff technique has scored ‘Iolani extra possessions week after week. That “fly” receiver in motion who scores easily on a handoff? The byproduct of hours on the field, chiseling away until the Raiders reach perfection.

In a world of underachievers, ‘Iolani has consistently squeezed out every last drop of potential.