Waianae looks to reviving the pride

At the top of the bleachers overlooking Raymond Torii Field, a Waianae football fan sat all alone watching the roughly 160 Seariders football players working out Wednesday.

“This is the team we’ve been waiting for,” he proclaimed to a passing reporter.

There’s an obvious level of excitement surrounding a Waianae football program on the upswing under second-year head coach Walter Young.

Young, who took over for longtime head coach Daniel Matsumoto, went 9-4 in his first season and got the Seariders to the state tournament for the first time since 2010.

Waianae advanced to the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Kahuku, 13-0. It was the toughest game the Red Raiders had all season, but more important to Young was the large gathering of Waianae fans in the stands at Aloha Stadium that night rallying around the team.

“The community here is a big fan base and a lot of these people put down what they’re doing to come see these kids perform,” Young said. “This program was a winning program before I took over and I’m just trying to get back to those days of winning and bringing back the pride in Waianae for the entire community.”

An offense returning most of its skill position players is a big reason the Seariders are ranked No. 8 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser preseason Top 10.

Quarterback Jaren Ulu returns along with three of Waianae’s top five rushers and its top two receivers.

Senior Javen Towne finished second in the OIA with 14 rushing touchdowns in the regular season and receiver Isaiah Freeney averaged 26.6 yards on each of his 23 receptions that resulted in six touchdowns.

Not much changed offensively in Young’s first year. Waianae had two running backs with more than 100 carries each and six different Seariders rushed for more than 200 yards.

That ground-and-pound, smashmouth style will continue as it always has, but Young and Ulu hinted at adding new wrinkles to the offense.

“We’re actually hoping to open up our passing game this year,” said Ulu, who participated in the All-Poly camp this summer and spent time working with Saint Louis QB coach Vince Passas.

Added Young: “(Jaren) has worked really hard this summer and his footwork has gotten so much better. We’ve got some pretty athletic kids that have been able to learn. We did pass league this year and we should fare OK throwing it a little.”

Ulu will have the added benefit of knowing his blind side will be protected by 6-foot-5, 290-pound left tackle Onesimus Clarke. A transfer from Campbell prior to his junior season, Clarke moved to the offensive side of the ball last year and earned scholarship offers from BYU, Hawaii and Oregon State over the summer.

“He’s a real big dude and he can finish (plays),” Ulu said. “It’s a good thing to know I can be protected by my O-line.”

The Seariders’ experience will get tested early with three of their first four games against Kamehameha, Kapolei and Kahuku.

Waianae also opened against Kamehameha last season, losing 33-13 before winning its next six games.

“I love the competition,” Young said. “I believe all teams out there are good because these kids at every school go out there to try to perform to their best, but I look forward to playing the top teams because it allows you to see where you’re at.”