QUARTERBACKS
Larry “Tui” Tuileta’s 2012 season on the football field — an All-State first-team performance — was nothing less than spectacular. The 6-foot-2 slinger completed 64 percent of his attempts (157-for-244), but he wasn’t just a ball-control specialist. He often went deep, averaging 10.6 yards per attempt en route to a 2,592-yard season via the air. He threw for 29 touchdowns, including five against Mililani in the state semifinals, and had just four picks.
The position, statewide, is more about potential than experience. Strong-armed Ryder Kuhns of Saint Louis split playing time last year, racking up solid numbers against Bishop Gorman of Nevada (23-for-36, 246 yards, three touchdowns, no picks) and ‘Iolani (16-for-22, three TDs, no picks). But he didn’t play in two of the final four games and finished the year with promising results: 62 percent completion rate, 1,216 yards, 11 touchdowns, four picks. His passer rating of 144.03 ranked among the best in the state.
Radford’s Cody Lui-Yuen — who has grown almost 2 inches and is near 6-foot-5 now — and Campbell’s Isaac Hurd are poised for big senior years. Lui-Yuen threw for 2,677 yards and 30 touchdowns against mostly D-II competition. He was a 47-percent passer with 17 picks, but coach Fred Salanoa likes his signal-caller’s offseason work ethic.
Hurd is arguably the best athlete at the position, a strong runner with a gun for an arm. He played well in a scrimmage at Kahuku last week. The talent doesn’t stop there. Micah Kaneshiro progressed over time as a junior, finishing with 1,509 yards and 23 touchdown passes, and an impressive 134.3 passer rating.
Mack Eberhardt was impressive as a junior playmaker at Groton-Dunstable (Massachusetts). His new coach at Leilehua is working quickly to fit Leilehua’s hybrid offense to Eberhardt’s skill set of running and passing for big yardage. Lii Karratti made the move from Konawaena to Kaiser, but there’s no guarantee the senior — who passed for 2,931 yards and 41 touchdowns — has a starting job locked up.
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH Larry Tuileta, Punahou, All-State first team Ryder Kuhns, Saint Louis Cody Lui-Yuen, Radford Isaac Hurd, Campbell
OTHERS TO WATCH Micah Kaneshiro, Moanalua Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, Waianae Mack Eberhardt, Leilehua Drew Kell, Hilo Lii Karratti, Kaiser Kahi Neves, Kaiser Montana Liana, Farrington Sione Filikitonga-Lukela Jr., Lahainaluna Noah Auld, Kailua McKenzie Milton, Mililani
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RUNNING BACKS
This was a loaded space one year ago, but in 2013, it’s wide open. Saint Louis senior Adam Noga is the most proven of the bunch, but his junior season was derailed by injury. The shifty, explosive ballcarrier finished with 931 yards (103 per game) and 10 touchdowns, but he wasn’t the same back after a midseason injury. In fact, he had eight touchdown runs in his first five games, including jaunts of 65, 73 and 65 yards.
Kaulana Apelu (635 yards, seven touchdowns) showed nice potential in part-time duty last season, including a 145-yard effort against Saint Louis. Soli Afalava may be the most promising young Red Raider at Kahuku. He saw limited action at running back (behind Aofaga Wily) but will have a bigger role this fall — unless another ballcarrier emerges. That would allow Afalava to focus on defense, where he has the potential to become an elite safety.
In an era of spread/read offenses, Leilehua and Punahou will mix in some downhill action with fullbacks. Leilehua has senior Kendrick Nunes (5-10, 245) and Punahou has sophomore Reupena Fitisemanu (5-11, 276).
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH Adam Noga, Saint Louis, All-State 2nd team Kaulana Apelu, Kamehameha Soli Afalava, Kahuku Jemery Willes, Waianae Dayton Furuta, Mililani, All-State 2nd (utility)
OTHERS TO WATCH Polikapu Liua Jr., Kahuku Tristan Perbia, Kapolei Ikaika Piceno, Leilehua Mana Reis, Kapolei Salanoa Wily, Kahuku K.J. Sekona, Punahou Jesh Bitanga, Kaiser Samele Lavatai, Farrington Kendrick Nunes, Leilehua Reupena Fitisemanu, Punahou Makena Johnston, Kalaheo
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RECEIVERS
Kanawai Noa exploded as a first-year starter, a sophomore who ran routes of all sorts, but was particularly effective deep. He hauled in 15 touchdown passes and tallied 1,305 yards on 63 grabs despite missing two games with an injured ankle. In his first seven games, he had 14 scoring hauls; he had just one in the final four. Eleven of his 15 touchdowns were 37 yards or longer.
He got within 83 yards and three touchdowns of tying Robby Toma’s single-season school marks.
Saint Louis’ Devon Stubblefield was possibly the most elusive kick returner in the state last season, but his opportunities were limited. He returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown against Farrington and finished the season with 23 receptions for 364 yards and two touchdowns. With all-state receiver Jeremy Tabuyo now at Texas A&M, Stubblefield’s door of opportunity has opened.
Donald Lambert of Moanalua relished his role as a deep threat in Moanalua’s passing attack. After a seven-catch, 145-yard, three-touchdown game against McKinley, defenses took notice. Kahuku, Waipahu and Leilehua limited him to a combined seven grabs for 85 yards and no scores in his last three games.
Tyrell Tuiasasopo of McKinley may be the smoothest of these deep threats, but a pass league injury (foot) may keep him off the field until September.
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH Kanawai Noa, Punahou, All-State first team Devon Stubblefield, Saint Louis Donald Lambert, Moanalua Justin Jenks, Leilehua Tyrell Tuiasasopo, McKinley
OTHERS TO WATCH Aaron Cui, Saint Louis Bronson Ader, Mililani Drew Kobayashi, Saint Louis Chance Maghanoy, Kahuku Amosa Amosa, Campbell Chad Hanaoka, ‘Iolani Alton Julius, Kapolei Kainoa Wilson, Mililani Justin Ikei, Kaiser Kona Makaneole, Kaiser Destin Moss, Kaiser Tanner Tokunaga, Pearl City D.J. Chaffin, Farrington Tristin Kamaka, Leilehua Dustin Ancheta-Maeda, Leilehua Shayde Spencer, Kalaheo
TIGHT END TO WATCH Dakota Torres, Punahou
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OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
The deepest position, often enough, is offensive line. There are seven returnees who were first-, second- or third-team selections to the all-state squad. Punahou’s Semisi Uluave, a first-team pick as a sophomore, returns stronger and quicker for the state’s most potent offense.
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH Semisi Uluave, Punahou, All-State first team Donald Barenaba-Satoki, Kahuku, All-State second team Micah Kapoi, Kapolei, All-State third team Stansen Fonoti, Waianae, All-State third team Louis Vailopa, Saint Louis, All-State third team Kela Grace, Aiea, All-State third team Maka Ah Loo, Kapaa, All-State third team Kaiwi Chung, Kamehameha Fred Ulu-Perry, Saint Louis Herman Kanoa, Kahuku
OTHERS TO WATCH Marcus Malepeai, Kailua Pesi Savea, Kapolei Kai Kubera, Kahuku Davis Miyashiro-Saipaia, Punahou Adam Amosa, Campbell Trenton Chang, Saint Louis James Roy, Damien Siaosi Hauga, Leilehua John Nisa, Kaiser Kai Kubera, Kahuku Daniel Yoshiki, Saint Louis Stansen Fonoti, Waianae Sean Auwae, Kapolei William Auwae, Kapolei Miki Fifita, Baldwin Pesi Savea, Damien Marcus Mafi, Kaiser Michael Eletise, Kaiser Pablo Gonzalez, Radford Mason Semisi, Farrington Kainoa McCauley, Punahou Keaka Paredes, Leilehua Epeli Natoko, Leilehua Joshua Tupouniua, Kalaheo
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DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
TACKLES
Hercules Mata‘afa of Lahainaluna was brilliant in last year’s D-II state tournament, too quick for the biggest linemen and too strong for the quicker ones. But a strong argument could be made for Moto Heimuli of Farrington, a fellow All-State third-team pick, was the more powerful of the two.
Breiden Fehoko, also of Farrington, hasn’t stopped to rest much since last year. He has grown to 6-3 and 290 pounds, and as a junior, has multiple college scholarship offers.
TOP DEFENSIVE TACKLES TO WATCH Hercules Mata‘afa, Lahainaluna, All-State third team Moto Heimuli, Farrington, All-State third team Kingston Fernandez, Kapolei Breiden Fehoko, Farrington Manase Paulo, Kaiser Derek Costa, Kaiser Ka‘au Gifford, Kamehameha Kalei Meyer, Kamehameha Kalani Vakameilalo, Kapolei Elu Aydon, Saint Louis Reupena Fitisemanu, Punahou Joe Saula, Punahou Gabe Suapaia, Kalaheo |
ENDS
Lamone Williams is talented enough that he would be an outstanding tight end if that was required. But at Kahuku, it’s about championships, and winning the last two D-I state titles revolved around defense. Williams isn’t the only heralded player at this position.
Lahainaluna’s Hercules Mata‘afa is versatile enough to play inside and outside for the Lunas. Punahou’s Canton Kaumatule was named the No. 1 defensive end of the class of 2015 nationally. Kaumatule, at 6-7, 245 pounds, also plays basketball.
TOP DEFENSIVE ENDS TO WATCH Lamone Williams, Kahuku, All-State second team Hercules Mata‘afa, Lahainaluna Canton Kaumatule, Punahou, All-State third team Rory Brady, Punahou Rex Manu, Mililani
OTHERS TO WATCH Marc Ma, ‘Iolani Maake Muti, Leilehua Zeno Choi, Kaiser Torenzo Vereen, Leilehua Mikey Sua, Kaiser Nicholas Lebeck, Kaiser Kingston Fernandez, Kapolei Mika Tafua, Kamehameha Kalani Vakamelalo, Kapolei Ben Taliulu, Aiea
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UTILITY/SPECIALISTS
Utility
Chazz Troutman of Nanakuli was a quarterback and safety last year as the Golden Hawks marched to the semifinals of the D-II state tourney. Now he’s a running back/wide receiver/quarterback/safety. Plus he returns kicks. And he does all of it quite well.
Place-kickers
Jake Samsel, Kahuku, All-State first team
Kekoa Sasaoka, Farrington
Kainoa McDonald, Punahou
Tyler Fitzsimmons, Kamehameha, All-State second team
Punters
Alex Trifonovitch, Punahou
Returners
Wayne Taulapapa, Punahou
TOP UTILITY PLAYERS TO WATCH Chazz Troutman, Nanakuli Dayton Furuta, Mililani Tevarua Eldredge, Baldwin |
LINEBACKERS
Traditionally, talent in the islands has been deep at this position. Fitou Fisiiahi of Kaiser struggled with a foot injury, which occurred at an international rugby tournament last summer. His foot is 100 percent now, and at 231 pounds, he’s near his prime weight.
Fisiiahi’s motor and power — he plays running back, too — are matched by the likes of Mathias Tuitele-Iafeta of McKinley, Micah Paris of Kapolei, Dayton Furuta of Mililani and Clifford Ramseyer of Kahuku. Like Fisiiahi, Tuitele-Iafeta and Furuta play on both sides of the ball.
Baldwin’s Jordan Hoiem, an Oregon commit, decided last month to retire for personal reasons.
TOP LINEBACKERS TO WATCH Fitou Fisiiahi, Kaiser, All-State third team Mathias Tuitele-Iafeta, McKinley, All-State third team Micah Paris, Kapolei Dayton Furuta, Mililani Clifford Ramseyer, Kahuku
OTHER LINEBACKERS TO WATCH Jacob Afele, Mililani Tumua Tuinei, Punahou Parker Higgins, Kaiser Isaac Slade-Matautia, Kaiser Dakota Torres, Punahou Aaron Kesi, Farrington Ronley Lakalaka, Punahou Salanoa Wily, Kahuku Jacob Afele, Mililani Tumua Tuinei, Punahou Alema Schmidt, Leilehua
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CORNERBACKS
Max Look was superb last season, an All-State second-team selection. Other standouts could include Farrington’s Roger Boyd and Nanakuli’s Chazz Troutman.
Boyd plays multiple positions and will likely see action on offense. Troutman’s best position may be at corner, even though he rarely leaves the field because of his versatility.
TOP CORNERBACKS TO WATCH Max Look, ‘Iolani, All-State second team Roger Boyd, Farrington Chazz Troutman, Nanakuli Solomon Matautia, Waipahu Cole Obana, Punahou Dayson Watanabe, Punahou Justin Matias, Punahou |
SAFETIES
Manly Williams of Farrington will have a lot on his plate again, whether it’s at safety or linebacker or on offense. Like Williams, Saint Louis’ Jacob Lacaden was an All-State third-team pick.
TOP SAFETIES TO WATCH Manly Williams, Farrington, All-State third team Jacob Lacaden, Saint Louis, All-State third team Roger Boyd, Farrington Ian Namu, Mililani Soli Afalava, Kahuku Ronley Lakalaka, Punahou
OTHER SAFETIES TO WATCH Thomas Leong, Kaiser Jaisen Sanchez, Saint Louis Dylan Kane, Kamehameha Ian Naumu, Mililani Jacob Baguio, Farrington
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