Old face, new faces give Leilehua new look

Nolan Tokuda officially remained Leilehua’s head football coach last year while taking a temporary step away from the sideline.

This season, he again has the duties to go along with the title.

He relinquished some of his coaching responsibilities to help care for a newborn. Tokuda is back on full-time status leading a Leilehua program that has developed into one of the OIA’s most consistent performers since he took over in 2004.

"I love being around the coaching staff, being around the players, just being able to teach the skills in the game of football," Tokuda said. "It’s definitely a joy to be back."

In the interim, defensive coordinator Mark Kurisu handled the day-to-day operations and led the Mules to the semifinals of both the OIA Red playoffs and the Division I state tournament. The Mules lost both times to eventual state champion Kahuku by a total of five points.

A double-overtime loss to the Red Raiders ended Leilehua’s state tournament run and the high school careers of some of the Mules’ primary playmakers, including quarterback Kenan Sadanaga, the Star-Advertiser’s All-State offensive player of the year.

Those vacancies created, "an opportunity for the guys who were with the program," Tokuda said. "It’s now their turn to shine. From February, the guys had the chance to build their bodies, build their minds and build chemistry for this season."

Keoni Piceno, a first-team All-OIA Red West receiver at Campbell last year, joined the Mules for his senior season and will fill much the same role Jeremiah Andrade excelled at as an all-state performer last year. Piceno’s brother, Ikaika, is among the top contenders at running back.

As for quarterback, Tokuda said Mililani transfer Levi Castanares and fellow junior Justin Jenks will see playing time in place of Sadanaga, who threw for 3,090 yards and 41 touchdowns as a senior. Keoni Piceno could also take some snaps in a wildcat set.

Tokuda said Castanares has impressed with his arm strength while Jenks "has a little bit of savvy to him" as he moves up from the junior varsity. They’ll throw to a group of receivers who include returning starters Nick Rodriguez and Josh Jenks (Justin’s cousin), and senior Keanu Kahele Ferreira.

The Mules will run an up-tempo offense, though perhaps not quite at the pace of last year.

"We always tweak our system," Tokuda said. "We look back at every single play from the year previous, how do we make it better and also how do we fit the talent we have to our system. We’re never just set on, ‘this is what we do.’ "

Senior Jaryn Villegas, a third-team All-State offensive lineman last year, moves from guard to center, "because we need a leader touching the ball before the play even starts," Tokuda said.

The Mules have proven producers on the defensive line in nose guard Chavez Moala and end Andrew Sesepasara and at linebacker with the return of Keannu Kamakaiwi, Leland Wong and Samson Zimmerman.

But Tokuda cited the secondary as the strength of the defense with the addition of Branson Funakoshi, a starting safety at Mililani last year, to a group that already featured safeties Brennon Jacinto and Malik Morton and cornerback Shai Pulawa.

The list of transfers also includes junior slotback Tristin Kamaka, the son of former Pearl City head coach and new Leilehua assistant Kai Kamaka, and defensive lineman Kendric Nunes.

To build depth, Tokuda plans to use the entire roster in the Mules’ first two games against Service (Alaska) on Aug. 10 and Kamehameha on Aug. 18 before they open the OIA Red West schedule against Mililani on Sept. 1.