No. 4 Red Raiders’ offensive coordinator boasts of depth at quarterback

Imagine Kahuku’s always powerful running game being complemented by the threat of a potent passing attack.

That’s the hope as Red Raiders new head coach Vavae Tata, armed with John Hao as offensive coordinator, sends the pride of the North Shore — ranked fourth in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Preseason Top 10 — into action starting Friday at home against Campbell.

Hao was a quarterback in the heyday of Saint Louis’ big-time offenses and there’s little doubt that, at the very least, a “wrinkle” of a passing game will steadily develop to take the pressure off of the thundering ground game.

“We will have multiple facets,” Hao said. “We’ll have ground and pound, and we’ll play to the strength of our personnel. But we’ll bring a lot to this field as far as passing goes.”

Hao is confident in the ability of all four of his quarterbacks — Kesi Ah-Hoy, Kamehameha transfer Jordan Mariteragi, Cameron Renaud and Kekona Newmann.

Now, that’s something new right there. Kahuku sometimes has trouble finding one QB in its deep-rooted culture of trench warfare and 3, 4, 5 or 25 yards and clouds upon clouds of dust.

“I can’t remember being with a team that had four quarterbacks who could throw,” Hao said.

Ah-Hoy can also play running back, a position where the Red Raiders are loaded once again. Look for Harmon Brown and Sefa Ameperosa to shine.

Center Jed Heffernan and guard/tackle Toa Neher will anchor the offensive line, the place where games will be won or lost.

Heffernan returns after sitting out most of last season with an injury. He’s extra hungry and says the team is too.

“State championships are in Kahuku’s lineage, and we want to bring it back,” he said. “We’re learning a lot from the coaches. The staff is probably the most professional we’ve ever had, and I think Kahuku will be rolling.”

Just as much as the running game, the Red Raiders pride themselves on defense. They have defensive backs Keala Santiago and Hirkley Latu and defensive end Bradlee Anae, among others, to keep that tradition going.

“Last year’s defense was phenomenal, probably the best in the state,” Anae said. “We’re close to that level now. Not there yet, but I think we will get there.”

Santiago is also a dangerous kick returner, and another weapon fell on the Red Raiders’ lap when kicker Kekoa Sasaoka, a Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State second-teamer last season, transferred from Farrington.

“If it’s anything inside 40 yards, it’s going to go (through the uprights),” Anae said about Sasaoka’s range.

The Red Raiders lost 44-30 in a scrimmage Friday night against Mililani and open the regular season with a nonleague game at home against Campbell on Friday.

The grass on Kahuku’s field was about as green as it’s ever been last week. The team has been practicing on the campus’ upper field.

Tata is going through the valuable video footage of the Mililani scrimmage. He said he hopes to shore up the offensive blocking and the tackling on defense.

On the positive side, Tata’s most interesting comment after the scrimmage was: “The potential is huge.”