When is a scrimmage not really a scrimmage?
When, would be this Saturday, when No. 2-ranked Saint Louis treks to No. 1 Mililani for something that is, in almost every aspect, a preseason game.
It’s a meeting of great minds. Mililani coach Rod York gets to challenge legendary Saint Louis coach Cal Lee.
“It’s just an honor going up against the greatest Hawaii coach there’s been. He’s a mentor of mine and you want to go up against the best,” York said on Thursday morning.
For Lee, who has worked with York at clinics, it’s just a way of life.
“I’m happy that he said that. I’m just another coach who was starting up, talking to different coaches and they were very cordial in helping me, teaching me the game of football. I feel the same way helping younger coaches coming up,” he said. “That’s how I started and that’s how you have to start, talk to coaches that you know can help you develop into becoming a decent coach.”
When Mililani hosted three scrimmages on consecutive nights last week, two of them took on a game format. Score was kept and special teams were in operation with the exception of kickoffs.
That will change on Saturday. York’s team suffered two injuries — a broken arm to a kicker and an ACL tear to another player – during punts.
Good news for Mililani: running back Vavae Malepeai is expected to play after missing the past four weeks due to a turf toe.
“Vae will play. He’s good to go. It’s just a matter of him getting in football shape,” York said of the Oregon commit. “He practiced well yesterday. He almost passed out in the 220s the day before yesterday (Tuesday) after not running for four weeks.”
The only reason the scrimmage isn’t being handled as a game is that the OIA limits teams to one nonconference game. Mililani will travel to Nevada and play Liberty on Sept. 4, right in the middle of its regular-season slate.
By this Saturday night, including a Friday scrimmage against American Samoa powerhouse Fagaitua, the Trojans will have faced five different opponents in a span of 10 days.
Defending state champion Mililani was overpowering in its matchups with Leilehua and Kahuku (no score was kept in a scrimmage with Kamehameha). Saint Louis scrimmaged at Kapolei last week. Both teams return much of the offensive firepower that fueled a wild 63-47 win by Mililani in last year’s preseason matchup at John Kauinana Stadium.
The Trojans went on to a 13-0 season, outlasting Punahou 53-45 in the state final. McKenzie Milton, an all-state first-team selection, went on to throw for 3,339 yards and 35 TDs and Malepeai rushed for 1,244 yards and 23 TDs. Kalakaua Timoteo emerged as a premier pass catcher with 55 receptions for 988 yards and 11 TDs.
Saint Louis’ offense remains something to behold. Tua Tagovailoa, an all-state second-team pick, has collected 15 college scholarship offers going into his junior season. He passed for 2,571 yards and 33 TDs with just three picks last season as the Crusaders went into offensive juggernaut mode. Jahred Silofau emerged as a force at running back (527 yards, seven TDs) and wide receiver Drew Kobayashi (28 catches, 664 yards, nine TDs), a University of California commit, leads the receiver corps.
Lee’s program will benefit from the experience of last fall’s 6-4 season as well as the influx of transfers who are now eligible to boost the defensive unit. Among them are outside linebacker Jordan Iosefa, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior from Waipahu, and linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia.
Lee has seen a lot, but not quite enough after scrimmages with Kapolei and Kailua.
“You’re trying to see how they act. You can practice all you want, but when the lights are on, it’s different. We’re still in the process of finding people to fit in with what we’re doing, evaluating a lot of players,” the former UH assistant coach said. “Jordan and Isaac are absolutely keys. Tanielu (Evaimalo) is another starter. We’ve got two more preseason games and it’s about a month before we play our first (ILH) game so we should find our starters by then.”
The Crusaders’ ability to create havoc is a concern for any offense. Mililani had its share of stumbles in pass protection last week even as Milton scrambled and turned potential busts into big plays. One of Mililani’s new players, running back Jalen Olomua, is a transfer from Kahuku. His size and blocking ability could make a major difference in the Trojans’ scheme, which does not normally include a tight end.
In addition to no kickoffs and punts, there will be no rush on PATs. Mililani will play its starters for one quarter, then insert second and third stringers for the rest of the contest, York said.
“We made corrections from our scrimmages so now is our opportunity for the guys to show it,” he said. “We’re going to play to win. Mixing some (No.) 2s with the 1s, we expect our 3s to produce. As far as execution, there’s no excuse for any of the guys to be on the field and not know what they’re doing and that happened in (last week’s) scrimmages.”
FRIDAY’S GAMES
No. 7 Campbell at No. 4 Kahuku — Coach Vavae Tata’s Red Raiders showed a willingness to stick with a spread look and work on that passing game in last week’s scrimmage at Mililani. They also showed enough of that classic smashmouth attack to send a chill through many OIA defensive coordinators. The visiting Sabers are reloading at several key positions, making this a unique opportunity early in the season.
No. 5 Kamehameha at Waianae — As in previous seasons, the Seariders are the kind of program that hovers at the cusp of the Top 10. Tonight provides a chance for the Seariders to show they can not only move the ball on an ILH defense that returns eight starters, but that they can stop one of the state’s elite pass-connection duos in Warriors QB Fatu Sua-Godinet and WR Kumoku Noa.
No. 8 Kaiser at Kapolei — The Cougars were voted eighth by media BEFORE the academic year began, which means then-QB Justin Uahinui was still wearing blue and gold. Now he’s at Farrington and the hungry Hurricanes may look at this as an opportunity to prove doubters wrong. Kapolei’s offense, with a big battle at QB between talented slingers Ezra Savea and Taulia Tagovailoa, looked superb against Saint Louis last week in scrimmage action. Rocky Savea, who received a college offer in the summer — after his freshman season — is the most notable name on defense.
Damien at Aiea — Na Alii went 2-6 last season, including a forfeit win, against an all-Division I schedule. Coach Wendell Say’s program is still in D-I this season, but that doesn’t make the visiting D-II Monarchs easy pickings. ILH D-II teams have historically fared respectably against OIA foes. Damien’s biggest obstacle in ILH D-II last season, ‘Iolani, is now up in D-I.
Kaimuki at Waimea, Hanapepe Ballpark — It’s a new era for the Bulldogs with alum David Tautofi at the helm, supported by brothers and former Kaimuki standouts Darrell and Daniel Tautofi.
Castle at Kailua — Coach Joseph Wong has the Surfriders back to ground-and-pound football. The renewal of this rivalry means fans can enjoy the spectacle of big boys in blue trying to contain the speedsters of Castle in that four-wide offense.
Anuenue vs. St. Francis, Castle High School field — The Saints, powered by linemen Kawika Cameron and Supilani Mailei, have an immense amount of talent (by D-II standards) and could be the favorites in ILH D-II. Baseball coach Kip Akana is also football coach at St. Francis now.
McKinley at Roosevelt — Numbers were down at McKinley early in preseason, but the Tigers will have a boost and enough players for this preseason tilt at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Kamehameha-Hawaii vs. Kalaheo, Kailua High School field — The Mustangs struggled to keep numbers up late last season. The Warriors had one of their best seasons ever, winning the BIIF D-II title. Losing several key players to graduation makes this a crucial transition period for KS-Hawaii.
Kapaa vs. Nanakuli, Kapolei High School — The Golden Hawks have built strength and commitment over the past few seasons. Coach Keala Watson has momentum and confidence — enough to take on the defending KIF champion Warriors in what could be a state-tournament matchup a few months from now.
No. 3 Punahou at No. 9 Leilehua — The Mules took on defending state champ Mililani last week, and now it’s the defending ILH titlist. The Buffanblu have key cogs back with QB Ephraim Tuliloa and RB Wayne Taulapapa while Leilehua has new pieces fitting in offensively. Mules safety Charles Watson, who has an offer from UH, is among the best in the state.
Waiakea at Moanalua — Na Menehune have been an aerial circus under coach Jason Cauley, but QB Kawika Keama-Jacobe graduated. These teams were set to play last season, but the game was washed out by inclement weather.
Waialua at Honokaa — Saturday’s matchup boils down to a duel between two still-proud programs from the old sugar plantation era.
Pac-Five vs. Kalani, Aloha Stadium — The Falcons have endured ups and downs in recent years, but have more than enough talent and coaching to make another run at a D-II playoff berth in the OIA. Pac-Five QB Kainoa Ferreira passed for a school-record 515 yards against King Kekaulike as a sophomore, but top targets Tsubasa Brennan (now playing college ball in Japan) and Sean Kinel have graduated.
No. 10 ‘Iolani vs. Kamehameha-Maui, Aloha Stadium — The Raiders are in D-I territory for the first time in ages. K.J. Pascua (1,064 yards, 18 TDs) anchors the RB crew and WR/PK/KR Keoni-Kordell Makekau (49 receptions, 756 yards, seven TDs) is on Washington State’s wish list. Replacing steady Austin Jim On at QB is one of coach Wendell Look’s tasks.
