This is almost ridiculous, this big Orange and Black Offensive Machine.
Veteran coach Darren Johnson knows it, but he is also a stickler when it comes to nurturing well-rounded young people
“They understand it’s hard work to play for Campbell because I expect them to be in class. We expect academics. We expect them to translate that over to the field, and to be good role models,” Johnson said.
The Campbell Sabers were 8-5 overall last season with a relatively young roster. After a 4-1 regular season, they lost to Kahuku 27-7 in the first round of the OIA playoffs, then outscored Farrington 42-26 to qualify for the state tournament. The season ended with a 24-2 loss to Mililani.
They have plenty going for them this fall with a multitude of elite talent returning to its high-scoring offense. Touchdown makers at wide receiver? Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala, Peter Manuma and Poki‘i Adkins-Kupukaa, all returning starters who play both ways, make Campbell a formidable air force — and secondary.
Arguably the most dynamic backfield player in school history, Adkins-Kupuka‘a has thrived in a defense-first role, returning kicks and occasionally lining up as a wideout. He still had 35 receptions for 494 yards and seven TDs in 2018. Johnson, a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, utilized Adkins-Kupuka‘a much like a young Deion Sanders.
Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala (two scholarship offers) was a stellar performer at WR and DB, with 36 catches for 475 yards and four TDs. His younger brother, Titus, had one of the greatest sophomore seasons for any receiver in Hawaii high school history. The lanky 6-foot-1 playmaker finished last season with 75 receptions for 1,385 yards and 14 TDs.
But there’s more to it. Quarterback Blaine Hipa was tossed into the fire last year at playoff time as a freshman. He endured, made plays, made mistakes and learned. Through the spring and summer, his progress has been so significant that he led his 7v7 club team to a third-place finish out of 32 teams at a national tourney. That development has carried into the high school season.
The Sabers also have senior running back Sky Lactaoen, the state’s leading rusher in 2018. Lactaoen, who rushed for 1,018 yards and 11 touchdowns in 172 carries in a schedule that had 13 Open Division opponents and one D-I foe, received his first college scholarship offer last week from Navy. As he recovers from a hamstring injury, the newest of Sabers is getting his chance to get comfortable.
Former St. Francis running back Bubbah Aina-Chaves has been explosive thus far. The compact, powerful senior has breakaway speed. He scored on a pair of 80-yard runs during a tri-scrimmage with Damien and Kaimuki on Thursday. He is also dangerous as a pass catcher, and if Campbell opts to use him on defense, Aina-Chaves is a blur off the edge as a pass rusher.
Before St. Francis closed its doors last spring, the football program became a Division I powerhouse. Aina-Chaves, whose given name is Jonan, rushed for 1,289 yards and 15 TDs on 137 carries as a junior. He played in eight games, missing four due to injury. As a sophomore, he ran for 1,646 yards and 17 TDs on 229 attempts.
“We’ve got four good running backs. We feel that hard work will pay off for all four of them,” Johnson said. “We’ve got Chasen (Torres). We’ve got Cameron (Sloan).”
He is also confident in them as playmakers out of the backfield.
“They’ve all got hands,” Johnson added.
Lactaoen’s skill as a pass protector is invaluable in Campbell’s four-wide, shotgun offense. In the tri-scrimmage, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala scored on two 80-yard receptions, and older brother Tamatoa scored on another pass from Hipa.
It is a smorgasbord, a buffet of offensive treats for first-year Campbell offensive coordinator Jaymason Lee, the former Castle and Alabama A&M quarterback.
Big question on offense: Can the revamped line hold down the fort and give Hipa enough time consistently? Center Lyrik Belanas (6-3, 315) and left guard Kaimi Carvalho (6-0, 260) are their only returning starters up front. The unit did not allow a sack in the tri-scrimmage. Johnson won’t hold anything back.
“In the Open conference, you can’t be conservative. You’ve got to come to play every week or else you’ll go home with a black eye,” he said.
Defense is one of Campbell’s cornerstones, but even last season turned into a dramatic decline. Linebacker Tyrese Tafai suffered his second shoulder injury, went in for surgery and has rehabbed back to near-prime form. The Sabers don’t plan to use him full-time yet.
Another former Castle standout, Blaze Soares, is Campbell’s defensive coordinator. Word is the former Hawaii playmaking linebacker still roams the field, sideline to sideline, during practice. His enthusiasm, knowledge and love for the game will be infectious, particularly for the current crew of young linebackers.
Nose tackle Ivan Soriano had an impressive sophomore season at 5-9, 190 pounds.
“All our D-linemen are juniors. They’ve been working real hard,” Johnson said. “(Dylan) Fonseca-Juan’s been working hard. (Ezra) Sagapolutele’s been working. Ivan, I like to say he’s like (former NFL Pro Bowler) Dan Saleaumua. Not tall, but he’s thick and has good hands.”
If Soriano and the front seven can contain the many offensive juggernauts in the Open Division, they can count on the secondary to come up with big plays.
Sophomore Carson Murakami and senior Kaipo Enos-Ho will lead the cornerbacks.
One key change is Manuma moving from defensive back to linebacker. At 180 pounds, he is built to run and cover, but his ability to stop the run, plus the depth of the secondary, makes him potentially a vital, versatile weapon in the box.
The schedule will keep the Sabers busy. Though they don’t have a game opening weekend, they begin a string of eight games in a row after that. There won’t be a bye until the second-to-last week of the regular season. There will also be a rematch with Sandra Day O’Connor midway through the slate.
CAMPBELL SABERS
>> Head coach: Darren Johnson, third season (13th overall), 88-45-1 (.660)
>> Last year: 8-5, 4-1 OIA Open
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections returning: Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (first-team WR, second-team RET); *Jonan Aina-Chaves (first-team RB); Sky Lactaoen (second-team RB); Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa (second-team DB); Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala (third-team DB)
*For St. Francis last year
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections lost to graduation: Sir Wallace Chanel (third-team OL)
SCHEDULE
Date / Opponent, Time
8/9 Mililani, 7:30 p.m.
8/15 @Farrington, 7:30 p.m.
8/23 Saint Louis, 7:30 p.m.
8/31 @Kahuku, 6:30 p.m.
9/5 O’Connor (Ariz.), 6 p.m.
9/13 Kapolei, 7:30 p.m.
9/21 Waianae, 6:30 p.m.
9/28 Punahou, 6 p.m.
10/12 @Kamehameha, 6:30 p.m.
