No. 10 Raiders are stepping it up

Correction: ‘Iolani School football player Ryan Yoshioka was shown practicing in a Page C5 photo. The caption misidentified him as Christian Naeole.

Fun is relative. ‘Iolani football coach Wendell Look likes the fact that this year’s Raiders know how to enjoy themselves in between all of that extra-hard training that has been going on since the spring.

Check back in a few months and see how much fun they’ll be having. In reality, the Raiders will probably be somewhere in the middle between the rush of killing giants and the drudgery of getting whooped every week. Exactly where on that scale is the question.

Voters in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s preseason poll believe ‘Iolani is the 10th best team in the state at the present time, and respect for the Raiders’ eight Division II state championships in the past 12 seasons is a big reason why. The reigning champs won’t be defending their ILH or state D-II titles, though, because they’re moving up to Division I.

Remember that word, fun? Yes, the ‘Iolani players are up for the challenge of playing twice each against powerhouses Saint Louis, Punahou and Kamehameha, and that’s a good way to start.

“I’m really excited to compete against D-I teams,” offensive tackle Taaga Tuulima said during one of the team’s camp sessions on campus Monday. “I love this game. In the past, we were held back to D-II and that’s fine. Nothing wrong with it. But now we’ve got a chance to step up and (compete for the title) against all those teams that have players who are being recruited by D-I colleges, and we can become a well-known football school. When I go to (national) football camps, people ask me where I’m from. Everyone knows about Saint Louis and Punahou, but they haven’t heard about ‘Iolani. We want to get exposure about our school out there.”

Look said the players themselves are out to win the ILH D-I title.

“We’re fortunate that of all the groups that could have gone D-I, this is the year that we have some size,” the coach said. “So, in that sense we’re physically suited for it. But once you get past the first 11 guys, there’s a drop in size.

“This team has great personalities. They want to see where they stand. They want to be regarded as a good football team, whether it’s D-II or D-I. They want to quiet the critics. They have their sights set on winning the championship, and they’ve got a long way to go and a lot of things would have to fall their way.”

Defensive end Christian Naeole, safety Helam Baldomero, receiver/kicker Keoni-Kordell Makekau, center Devin Ide and linebacker Melvin Hoomanawanui are among those at the forefront of the Raiders’ leadership core.

KJ Pascua, a tough runner who gained 1,064 yards on the ground a year ago, is back for his junior season. Tama Aga is among the capable backups and can also play slot.

Kordell-Makekau, a D-I college prospect, scored seven times a year ago, but Look appears to be far from naming a starter at quarterback.

The coach has penciled in others who are being counted on for big contributions (not necessarily starters): Tuulima, Ide and Josh Hauanio on the O-line, Nick Kennedy at receiver, Conor Hannum at slotback, Naeole and Cameron Chang at defensive end, Bucky Buchanan and Hunter Kam at defensive tackle, Hoomanawanui at linebacker, Kevin Matsuoka at strong safety, Baldomero at free safety, and Makana LaBoy and Ryan Yoshioka at cornerback.

“Everybody is coming closer together,” Hoomanawanui said. “We’re building our confidence and everyone knows it’s super important to show that we can all do our jobs and do our part.”

The Raiders start their season with a game in the Father Bray Classic against Kamehameha-Maui on Aug. 8. They also see Kealakehe and Farrington in nonleague games before the ILH opener at home against Punahou on Sept. 11.