Kahuku High School | Archive | October, 2009

Never mind the No. 1 ranking, the Kahuku Red Raiders know better than to do their haka dance after a victory.

They danced well last night, stopping Mililani running back Dalaunte “Taz” Stevenson at the 1-yard line with 13 seconds to play, preserving a thrilling 35-27 win before about 4,000 at Carleton Weimer Field.

The hard-earned win lifted Kahuku (9-0 overall) into the semifinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference playoffs. Mililani’s season ended at 7-3 overall despite a heroic effort.

The Trojans trailed by 15 points in the fourth quarter, but rallied to cut the lead to eight, then started a drive from their own 17. A 15-yard lob from Trent McKinney to Hassan Richardson gave Mililani first and goal at the 1-yard line. Two sneaks by McKinney were stuffed, and after a Kahuku time out, Stevenson was stopped by lineman Kona Schwenke.

Time ticked down and Mililani lined up for another dive play to Stevenson, who was hit again by Schwenke, then wrapped up by linebacker Ben Mamea as he fumbled. Johnny Tupola, one of several two-way starters, recovered for Kahuku, ending Mililani’s upset bid.

“Our coach (defensive coordinator David Te’o) said to stack the gaps. Mililani did a good job moving the ball,” Schwenke said of the clutch defensive play by the Red Raiders.

“It feels good. Our goal is to win the OIA, then states, so this is a big step,” said Schwenke, who has committed to play at BYU.

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NO. 1 KAHUKU 35, NO. 9 MILILANI 27
At Carleton Weimer Field
Mililani (7-3, 5-3)     7  13  0  7  —  27
Kahuku (9-0, 7-0)     0  14  14  7  —  35

Mil–Dalaunte Stevenson 1 run (Reid Watanabe kick)
Kah–Ben Mamea 7 run (Cameron Mercado kick)
Mil–Trent McKinney 6 run (Watanabe kick)
Mil–McKinney 1 run (kick blocked)
Kah–Tyrone Brown 4 run (Mercado kick)
Kah–Sage Kaka 17 pass from Moe (Mercado kick)
Kah–Fonoivasa Mataafa 19 run (Mercado kick)
Mil–Colby Lum 24 pass from McKinney (Watanabe kick)

RUSHING–Mililani: Stevenson 6-(-2), McKinney 22-67, Zachary Payomo 5-22, Edward McKinnon 1-2, team 1-(-1), Watanabe 1-1. Kahuku: Johnny Tupola 8-37, Moe 4-9, Brown 15-129, Mataafa 2-19, Mamea 5-33.
PASSING–Mililani: McKinney 22-37-0-348. Kahuku: Moe 8-13-2-133.
RECEIVING–Mililani: Richardson 8-98, Lum 5-82, Stevenson 3-69, Bryson Calma 3-69, Kama Paulo 2-27, Spencer Sword 1-3, Nainoa Pihana 1-0. Kahuku: Vea 2-53, Sage Kaka 2-34, Jackson Kaka 1-18, Shairone Thompson 1-13, Mataafa 1-10, Kaipo Pearl 1-5,
Junior varsity–Kahuku 19, Kapolei 7

Kahuku stonewalls Mililani

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

By Paul Honda
Honolulu Star Bulletin

Maria Tonga pounded 19 kills and her cousin, Amanda, added 10, as Kahuku downed Moanalua 27-25, 25-20, 26-28, 25-18 to capture the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference girls volleyball title last night.

A crowd of about 1,200 endured a sweltering night at McKinley Student Council Gym to see third-ranked Kahuku (15-1) complete an unbeaten run through the postseason tournament. Kahuku will have a first-round bye at the HHSAA state tournament, which tips off Wednesday.

Moanalua (15-3) had already secured a state berth, but needed a win last night to force a winner-take-all match. That wasn’t to be with the Tonga cousins pounding relentlessly from all angles. Setters Teuila Nautu (33 assists) and Elizabeth Blake (11 kills, 17 assists) were virtually flawless all night. Ho’onani Apo added nine kills and middle Natallia Cravens had eight for Kahuku, which hit .375 and had just 11 hitting errors in 136 swings.

Gabby Matautia led Moanalua with 21 kills and sophomore Erin Perez tallied 15. Carsen Mata finished with 12 kills and 28 assists, while Courtney Uyeda added 20 assists. Na Menehune got a big boost from freshman middle Analise Austin, who had five blocks, mostly on Amanda Tonga at the middle.

The teams split their two matches during regular-season play. 

By Wes Nakama
Honolulu Advertiser
   
Kahuku continued its two-month win streak last night by holding off Moanalua, 27-25, 25-20, 26-28, 25-18, for its second straight O’ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference girls volleyball championship.

A crowd of about 550 at McKinley’s Student Council Gym and a statewide OC16 TV audience watched the Red Raiders finish the OIA season 15-1 and earn the league’s top seed and first-round bye in next week’s Division I state tournament.

Na Menehune, who opened the regular season by defeating Kahuku at home, fell to 15-3 and will begin state tournament play in Wednesday’s first round.

The Red Raiders’ 15-match win streak dates to Aug. 18.

“This is the best feeling ever,” said Kahuku senior right-side hitter Malia Tonga, who finished with 21 kills last night. “When it was tied (13-13 in the fourth set), we had to step up and (assistant) Coach Mike (Apo) told us we need to learn how to finish.”

The Red Raiders demonstrated that ability in Set 1, when they rallied from a 24-18 deficit to score seven straight points and eventually win it, 27-25.

Moanalua committed only one hitting error during Kahuku’s 9-1 finishing run, so the Red Raiders earned their points, with Tonga notching three kills, one block and the set-ending ace.

“They sealed their block really well,” Na Menehune coach Tommy Lake said. “We set, we hit, but they would just block us and we just couldn’t get that last point. (Kahuku) deserved to win that game.”

By Billy Hull
Honolulu Star Bulletin

It’s a good thing No. 8 Mililani played its final game at John Kauinana Stadium on Friday night.

The scoreboard probably needs a break.

A prolific offense and a struggling defense have made for some crazy games, and that trend continued for Mililani in the first round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red playoffs.

Trent McKinney threw four touchdown passes in the first half and Mililani scored 40-plus points for the second straight game in a 47-35 victory over Kaimuki.

A week earlier, Mililani (7-2) scored 41 points, but it wasn’t enough in a 54-41 loss to Waianae. In back-to-back games to close their home schedule, the Trojans have scored 88 points, but given up 89.

“These kids always make it interesting, but they always pull together,” Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux said. “When it’s time to get down and dirty, these kids get down and dirty and the fans who buy a ticket get their money’s worth.”

Mililani’s success on offense has come with the maturation of McKinney, a dual-threat junior who can make plays with his arm and his feet.

He carved up the Bulldogs (2-7) for 174 yards in the air and another 96 on the ground, averaging 12 yards every time he tucked the ball away and ran.

STAR-BULLETIN FOOTBALL TOP 10

The Top 10 high school football teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

TEAM, RECORD          LAST GAME     NEXT GAME              PTS.     PVS.
1. Kahuku (26), 8-0     none last week     vs. Mililani            260      1
2. Kamehameha, 7-1    none last week     vs. Word of Life    229     2
3. Farrington, 6-1        none last week     vs. Kapolei           210     3
4. Leilehua, 5-2           none last week     vs. Kailua             174     5
5. Waianae, 5-3           none last week     vs. Castle             133     6
6. ‘Iolani, 8-2              beat Pac-Five        none this week     124     7
7. Punahou, 4-4          beat Saint Louis     vs. Pac-Five         87     10
8. Saint Louis, 6-3       lost to Punahou     vs. Damien          78     4
9. Mililani, 7-2            beat Kaimuki         at Kahuku            64     8
10. Kapolei, 5-3          none last week      vs. Farrington      44     9

» Also receiving votes: Castle 7, Hawaii Prep 6, Moanalua 6, Kauai 5, Baldwin 3.

STAR-BULLETIN GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TOP 10

The Top 10 high school girls volleyball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

TEAM,                    RECORD    LAST MATCH            NEXT MATCH     PTS.     PVS.
1. Punahou (12),     19-0          beat Kamehameha     state tourney      120     1
2. Kamehameha,     16-3          lost to Punahou         state tourney      108     2
3. Kahuku,              13-1          beat Aiea                  vs. Farrington     90     3
4. Hawaii Baptist,     17-2         beat University           vs. Word of Life  70     5
5. ‘Iolani,                15-4         lost to Kamehameha    season over       68     4
6. Waiakea,             14-0         beat Hilo                    vs. Keaau           41     8
7. Moanalua,           13-2         beat Mililani                vs. Aiea             39     6
8. Farrington,          11-4         beat Moanalua            vs. Kahuku         33     —
9. Aiea                                   beat Roosevelt            vs. Moanalua     27     7
10. KS-Maui                            none last week            state tourney     26     9

By Jason Kaneshiro
Honolulu Star Bulletin
Oct. 14th, 2009

At first glance, Richard Torres doesn’t appear the likeliest candidate to continue the storied line of Kahuku products to develop into established college safeties.

He didn’t play the position in high school, spending his prep career as a quarterback and cornerback. For another, at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, he’s small compared to other former Red Raiders who have patrolled Division I backfields. And even Torres didn’t foresee a future as a safety when he walked on with Hawaii last year.

But he’s earned the trust of the Warriors coaching staff with his performance this season, and is slated to start when Hawaii faces Idaho on Saturday in Moscow. He was already the top nickel back and has been working as the first-team free safety in the base defense.

“It’s more opportunity for me to learn more positions and I can grasp the secondary a lot better,” Torres said. “It should be fun.”

With Idaho running a single-back look with three receivers and a tight end, Mana Silva still figures to see considerable playing time at free safety in UH’s nickel packages.

The Vandals (5-1, 2-0 Western Athletic Conference) enter the game second in the league in passing offense, trailing the Warriors (2-3, 0-2). But Idaho’s balance puts a premium on staying disciplined in the secondary.

“I’m so used to being super aggressive and run to the ball right away,” Torres said. “At free safety you’ve got to be a little more patient, make sure it’s a run before you come up, don’t be overly aggressive.”

Torres has been a productive member of the secondary at nickel back, logging nine tackles with one forced fumble.

“He’s played really well for us, he’s graded out the best of anybody and he makes plays. He’s always correct and does a good job,” UH head coach Greg McMackin said.

Torres, who often sports a Kahuku shirt under his practice jersey, joins the series of safeties to come out of the North Shore in the last 10 years.

Leonard Peters and Hyrum Peters were All-WAC performers in past years. The Warriors added freshmen Aulola Tonga and Kamalani Alo this season, while Gary Nagy is sitting out this season after transferring from BYU.

Viliami Nauahi was an All-State DB in high school and is now a reserve defensive end and special teams player. UH redshirt freshman Paipai Falemalu also played some safety at Kahuku before moving to linebacker and eventually shifting to defensive end this season.

Among those who attended mainland colleges, Aaron Francisco (BYU) and Al Afalava (Oregon State) are now on NFL rosters.

The school’s history of successful defensive backs tends to perpetuate the line as alums return to help the current players.

“I remember when I was in high school Aaron came to our spring ball and was helping us out,” Torres recalled. “Leonard used to come and help us out. My junior year, Hyrum was helping us out too when I was a corner, showing us techniques.”

It’s a trend Torres has already worked to continue. He helps his father, Kahuku head coach Reggie Torres, working with the Kahuku backs in the summer and aspires to make a living in the profession.

* Kahuku defeats Farrington

* Waianae beats Waipahu

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Top-ranked Kahuku cashed in on second-half opportunities to rally past No. 4 Farrington, 16-14, last night at Roosevelt’s Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

An overflow crowd of 3,000 — including Gov. Linda Lingle — watched the Red Raiders stay unbeaten at 7-0 and clinch at least a share of the O’ahu Interscholastic Association Red East title at 5-0. They also clinched the East’s top seed for the 10-team OIA tournament.

Cameron Mercado’s 32-yard field goal with six minutes, 41 seconds left in the game capped the Red Raiders’ rally from a 14-0 halftime deficit. He had missed a 47-yarder on the series before; his first miss of the season (another was blocked). He also missed on his second PAT attempt of the game, snapping his streak at 33. Moreover, he kicked-off four touchbacks.

The Governors (6-1, 4-1), who were celebrating homecoming, dropped their 10th consecutive to Kahuku since 2003.

“Second half, we didn’t really think about the score,” Kahuku defensive end Kona Schwenke said. “We came in like it was 0-0 and played them hard.”

The Governors took a 14-0 lead into halftime, scoring on two of their first five series that had an average starting field position at the Farrington 45. That was the result of a stellar defensive effort by Farrington, which yielded 62 yards of offense in the first half.

Farrington scored on its first series starting from the Kahuku 39 after Kahuku punted from deep in its territory.The seven-play drive ended with Siaosi Feleunga powering in from the 1 with 7:55 left in the first quarter. Ekolu Kaina’s PAT made it 7-0.

Following an interception by Vaughn Tomas at the Govs’ 30, Farrington added to its lead just before the half. Harry Tuimaseve’s 1-yard TD plunge with 20 seconds left in the half capped a 13-play drive that consumed 4:23 and gave Farrington a 14-0 lead at the break.

After surrendering 143 yards rushing in the first half, the Red Raiders allowed just 43 in the second.

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KAHUKU (7-0, 5-0) 0 0 13 3 — 16

FARRINGTON (6-1, 4-1) 7 7 0 0 — 14

Farr—Siaosi Feleunga 1 run (Ekolu Kaina kick)

Farr—Harry Tuimaseve 1 run (Kaina kick)

Kah—Kaipo Pearl 15 pass from Evan Moe (Cameron Mercado kick)

Kah—Tyrone Brown 34 run (kick failed)

Kah—FG Mercado 32

RUSHING—Kahuku: Evan Moe 2-2,Viliami Pasi 21-50, Fonovasa Mata’afa 6-25, Tyrone Brown 12-60, Team 2-(minus 4). Farrington: Jared Hakuole 1-8, Tuimaseve 26-96, Felenunga 13-79, Alvin Faamausili 1-3.

PASSING—Kahuku: Moe 6-15-2—88.Farrington: Hakuole 6-17-0—24.

RECEIVING—Kahuku: Jackson Kaka 1-6, Punga Vea 1-8, Mata’afa 2-27, Pearl 1-15, Shairone Thompson 1-32. Farrington: Benjamin Malufau 1-7, Feleunga 2-3, Sammy Park 2-8, Faumaasili 1-6.