In an era of wide-open, pass-happy circuses of high spirals, the 2011 season turned the clock back.

With experienced offenses on a downswing statewide, coaches stacked their defenses with bruisers — fast and big — to turn many games into classic smashmouth battles. That also meant a return to play-making stoppers in the gaps and on the edge. The voting for Star-Advertiser All-State Defensive Player of the Year was tight, as expected.

In the end, Kahuku linebacker Benetton Fonua edged teammate Kawehena Johnson, Campbell’s Giovanni Stevenson, Punahou’s DeForest Buckner and Leilehua teammates Penitito Melei and Russell Siavii for the top honor.

Fonua, a 6-foot-1, 216-pound senior, led the state’s top defensive unit. The Red Raiders banked on their defense and running game for a return to the state title game, and the strategy paid off with their first crown since 2006. Kahuku allowed just 46 rushing yards and 6.8 points per game.

"He’s so rangy," Saint Louis coach Darnell Arceneaux said. His team played Kahuku in an August nonconference game.

"He’s a linebacker who can do a lot. He can cover, he can blitz, he can pass rush. He’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time, and he’s a finisher," Arceneaux said.

"He epitomizes the term ‘student-athlete’," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said of Fonua, who has a 3.3 grade-point average and is an NCAA qualifier (he has a scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii). "He’s a humble kid who has a lot of respect from his teachers, his coaches and his teammates. He addresses adults by ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am.’ He worked his butt off in the offseason and he tries to be perfect. If he makes a mistake, he works hard to correct it."

The first-team defense was peppered with close margins at several positions. The lead spot at safety was not one of them. Johnson, who is a junior, had a significant lead over his peers at one of the deepest positions this season.

Stevenson, one of Campbell’s big-motor run stoppers, was a close third in the defensive POY voting. The Sabers permitted just 59 rushing yards and 16 points per game.

Buckner, a 6-foot-7, 245-pound defensive end, was one of the anchors of a defensive-minded Punahou squad.

Melei and Siavii were versatile. Melei came up with big sacks and stops as a defensive end, but also lined up at tight end for the Mules and was a scoring threat. Siavii was one of the state’s leaders in interceptions. His pick in the end zone against Kahuku nearly catapulted the Mules into the state final, but they fell to the eventual champions in double overtime.

Kennedy Tulimasealii, Waianae’s 6-1, 286-pound junior, was the top vote-getter at defensive tackle again, joined by Kaiser’s explosive Lopeti Fonokalafi.

Saint Louis’ Kalei Auelua, who had 17 sacks and returned two fumbles for touchdowns, is the other defensive end with Buckner.

At linebacker, seniors Fonua and Stevenson were joined by Isaac Savaiinaea of Punahou. The 6-3, 230-pound junior has a scholarship offer from Stanford.

All in all, voting was closer on defense than it had been in recent years. There is almost no dropoff in talent from the first team to the second.

Part 1: Leilehua quarterback Kenan Sadanaga is named the Offensive Player of the Year »