No. 8 Moanalua faces Waipahu in OIA D-I showdown

The pass-to-run ratio for Moanalua isn’t so staggeringly air happy.

Coach Savaii Eselu’s team has spiraled the football 254 times so far and run the ball 125. That’s roughly a 2-to-1 ratio, which is more than the Cole McDonald-led Hawaii Rainbow Warriors of 2018 (57 percent pass, 43 percent rush), but not quite as extreme as the Colt Brennan offense of ’07 (70 percent pass, 30 percent rush).

It’s the how and who that make Na Menehune an aerial delight to watch for fans. Eselu’s staff has merged the best of two worlds, high-percentage passing with relatively low-risk spacing.

That hybrid-seeking mentality is one big reason why No. 8 Moanalua is 5-0 in OIA Division I (6-0 overall) entering a showdown with Waipahu (5-3, 4-1) tonight at Aloha Stadium. Waipahu is coming off a 50-20 loss to Leilehua, but is still in the hunt for the top seed in the playoffs.

Last week, Waipahu welcomed the return of Alfred Failauga, already one of the top running backs in school history, from a hand injury.

“We saw he’s back. That’s Leilehua all over again,” Eselu said. “They got a runner just like (James) McGary, and a wide receiver (Matthew Fiesta) like Jeremy Evans.”

Moanalua defeated Leilehua 23-10. Waipahu, however, has an advantage in girth. Eselu, a former Cal tight end, caught that right away.

“They just use more tight ends. Utilizing a tight end creates a whole new ballgame. Me being a tight end in college, if you can have that key guy, it can make a big difference,” he said.

On the other side of the ball, the Marauders will have to be in peak shape defensively against a relentless no-huddle, sometimes hurry-up Moanalua offense.

Nick Au has been behind the steering wheel for nearly every snap, tossing 243 passes. The running back with the most attempts on the ground is Lawsen Lee with 21 rushes. Total. Everything offensively depends on Au and his ability to recognize in pre-snap, deliver the ball in less than 1.5 seconds, and live to fight another day. Au has increased his pass-completion rate just about every week and is now at 66.7 percent (162 of 243) with 17 touchdowns.

“It’s definitely reflecting his decision-making. There are breakdowns here and there, but that comes with throwing the rock that many times,” said Eselu, who has always been intrigued with small-ball-style passing concepts. “For the most part, he has grown a lot.”

Though no Menehune has rushed for more than 86 yards for the season, five have at least 22 receptions.

“It’s exactly that. We don’t want to be a jack of all trades and master of none. If this is what we have in terms of personnel, let’s treat it as long handoffs,” he said. “We always analyze what’s coming in the upcoming year, where we might have deficiencies. Why do we need to run the ball? It’s our hope that with all our studs on the perimeter, they each get 40 to 50 touches for the season. We try to, hopefully, defenses get lulled to sleep and we can get the big haymaker.”

Never before has Moanalua gone 6-0 to start a season. A reclassified, three-tiered format has done wonders for a program that doesn’t have a lot of depth and size in the trenches. That’s why it is imperative for Au to get the ball out so quickly.

“We make sure Nick stays clean, so the ball is out in under a second, at most 1.5 seconds. If that works out then the line is doing fantastic,” Eselu said.

Defenses will continue to test Moanalua’s pinball-machine ball distribution. The impatient tackler is what Eselu’s offense likes, especially if the defense overpursues.

“We realize that’s what teams will do, but we do have a guy who can blow the lid off the top with Ezra (Grace),” Eselu said of the senior, who has 32 catches and team highs of 422 yards and five TDs. “We have (Javon) Monico and CJ (Paleafei) making plays, and we have the carver with Rudy (Kealohi).”

Kealohi is first on the squad in receptions (38) and second in yardage (387).

“He can carve anybody within a 10-yard range. We call him our little (Julian) Edelman,” Eselu said.

The matchup also features the two stingiest defenses in OIA D-I. Moanalua has allowed fewer than 16 points per game in league play. Waipahu has permitted just 18 per conference contest.

The numbers show a Moanalua squad that loves to score in bunches (35.6 points per game), but the win at Leilehua three weeks ago dispelled any notion that Moanalua is one-dimensional. Defensive lineman Tupu Alualu led a unit that wrecked Leilehua’s balanced attack, limiting one of the state’s top running backs, McGary, to 12 yards.

A huge component for Moanalua is special teams. Trequan Henderson might be the best kick returner in the state.

“He’s a defensive back, through and through. Honestly, he’s one guy, if he applies himself, he can go to the league (NFL), for sure,” Eselu said. “He would be like Jalen Ramsey, except he doesn’t talk at all. He can bring the wood, too, if you’re coming around the corner.”

MOANALUA NA MENEHUNE (6-0, 5-0 OIA D-I) VS. WAIPAHU MARAUDERS (5-3, 4-1)

Where: Aloha Stadium

When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

TV: None

Radio: None

All-time series record: Waipahu leads 13-3

First meeting: Waip 31, Moan 6, Oct. 26, 1973

Last meeting: Moan 31, Waip 20, Oct. 12, 2012

Memorable meeting: The Marauders clinched the top seed in the OIA White playoffs and eliminated Na Menehune from playoff contention in a 22-15 win on Oct. 15, 2004. Austen Benito scored the game-winning TD on a 43-yard run with less than 5 minutes to go and kicked the extra point. Waipahu won despite allowing 353 rushing yards to Na Menehune.

—

BEST OF THE REST

>> No. 1 Saint Louis at Farrington, Today, 7:30 p.m.

It may seem far-fetched with Saint Louis (6-0, 5-0 ILH Open) being such a dominant team this season, but the win over Punahou showed some inexperience at quarterback with the talented Jayden de Laura, and some vulnerability when he sat out against Kapolei with an injury.

Kapolei stayed close before falling to the Crusaders 30-22. Kapolei lost at Farrington 13-0 just three weeks ago.

Therein lies the best scenario for the Governors (2-6, 1-3 OIA Open), who have shown flashes of brilliance with senior QB Chris Afe and a dangerous receiver corps. Farrington can hope that one or more of the three teams tied for second place (Kahuku, Campbell, Kapolei) fall into a tie for fourth place with the Govs. If it’s Kapolei alone in a tie with Farrington, the Govs would own the head-to-head tiebreaker for the fourth and final playoff berth.

After struggling past Punahou and Kapolei, Saint Louis appears to be back in sync after a 55-7 rout of Campbell last week.

>> No. 4 Kahuku at No. 6 Campbell, Saturday, 6:30 p.m.

Injuries have played a large role in the ups and downs of the fourth-ranked Red Raiders (4-2, 1-1 OIA Open), but the nature of the OIA-ILH alliance schedule doesn’t permit much time to heal. They’re coming off a 38-10 home loss to Mililani, snapping a 51-game home win streak.

Though they’ve won their past four meetings against Campbell, the last time Kahuku lost two in a row was in 2013, when Mililani, then Campbell knocked off Big Red.

The No. 6 Sabers (4-3, 1-1) are reeling in their own way, too. They opened the year with wins over Hilo, Farrington, O’Connor (Ariz.) and Kamehameha, but have since lost to Mililani, Punahou and Saint Louis by a combined score of 150-35.

Still, qualifying for one of the four playoff berths in OIA Open is within reach. Kahuku is finding its way defensively since the loss of LB Miki Ah You (knee). Campbell is in a similar boat, trying to find its footing since the loss of LB Tyrese Tafai (shoulder).

>> Damien at No. 9 Leilehua, Saturday, 6 p.m.

“If we correct our penalties, we’ll give Leilehua a better game,” Monarchs coach Eddie Klaneski said. “They’re tough. They’ve got talent.”

The mighty Mules (6-2, 5-1 OIA D-I) have enormous potential, and because this game doesn’t count toward the OIA standings, numerous options are in front of coach Mark Kurisu. Among them, Leilehua could rest slightly injured players and save them for a key game next week against Radford.

For Damien (4-3, 4-2 ILH D-I), the stakes are higher. The Monarchs need a win — all crossover games with the OIA count in the ILH standings — to stay within one game ‘Iolani (6-2, 5-1) in the ILH D-I standings.

In addition, a win over Leilehua could lead the ILH office to use the recently applied format that was used in the league’s Open Division because of Hurricane Lane cancellations.

“The ILH should be based on common opponents in all divisions,” Klaneski said. “They do it for Open. I’ve emailed the league several times. If we win the next two games, it becomes a discrepancy because (‘Iolani) hasn’t played the best team in OIA D-I (Moanalua).”

>> Roosevelt at Pearl City, today, 7:30 p.m.

Year 3 of the Kui Kahooilihaha regime has become the payoff year for the Rough Riders (7-1, 5-1 OIA D-II). The lone blemish was a 13-10 heartbreaker against powerhouse Kaimuki, and the Roosevelt defense has permitted just 31 points in six conference games.

The offense remains run-heavy with a run-pass ratio of 64 percent run, 36 percent pass. The accuracy and efficiency of Sky Ogata (684 yards, five TDs) is key. Ogata has completed 61 percent of his throws. He has also rushed for 396 yards and six TDs.

Year after year, Chargers coach Robin Kami and staff figure out what they’ve got and then mold their team into a winner. The Chargers (6-2, 5-0) have always been more efficient that prolific, even back when Jordan Ta’amu was their quarterback. Even with the graduation of Zion Tupuola-Fetui (Washington), Pearl City’s defense has permitted just 30 points in five league games.

Christian Tielu, Makana Canyon and Adam Puchert have combined to pass for 1,168 yards, 18 TDs and six interceptions in 185 attempts. Thomas King has emerged as a clutch pass catcher with 25 receptions for 316 yards and eight TDs.

A win over the surging Rough Riders on Friday would keep the Chargers on pace for a key showdown with Kaimuki next week.

A Roosevelt win would set up the possibility of a three-way tie involving the three teams at the end of the regular season.

—

Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser