OIA football kicks off with a lot at stake

Aiea Na Alii

Coach: Wendell Say
On paper: Injuries limited Aiea's fortunes last season, which ended with a 4-6 overall record and a playoff loss at Waianae. Also, All-State wide receiver Lofa Liilii graduated, as did productive, scrambling quarterback Alfredo Higa.
Still, there is an enviable corps of speedy, tall receivers well-suited to Say's run-and-shoot offense, as well as strong-armed quarterback Keenan Naeole. In all, Aiea has more than 30 returnees.
The skinny: Na Alii may be as strong defensively as they are on offense. Free safety David Seevaetasi and cornerback Josh Chung anchor the secondary. Alex Mauga brings experience to the linebacker position.
X factor: Though Naeole showed outstanding potential, last year's injury limited his development. He has 6-foot burners in Aldodius Colquitt and James Buchanan, plus shifty Daniel Liilii at running back.
"He still can get better," Say said of Naeole. "He had some missed reads this past week, but you learn from that."

Campbell Sabers

Coach: Tumoana Kenessey
On paper: Kenessey has accumulated a record of 42-23 in seven seasons. Last year was a series of hard-luck losses, though: 21-20 to Aiea, 16-14 to Waianae and 21-17 to Mililani en route to a 2-4 league mark (4-4 overall).
This year's squad has 35 returnees, including six starters back on defense. Among them are ends Koro Seta-Leauma (6-1, 240) and Chris Fuga (5-11, 230). Linebackers Guilliano Stevenson, Apuauro Turano and Bronson Alfafara-Pires are carrying much of the load, as well.
Running back Bronson Ellis-Rivera had a strong year as a junior. Center Shane Gaui is a key returnee, as is Hauoli Anderson.
The skinny: It would be easy for the Sabers to dwell on the vandalism that cost them a nonconference game with Roosevelt last week. With their stadium lights disabled by possible copper-wire thieves, a community's ire is stoked. Kenessey, meanwhile, lamented the lack of game experience for his team.
Kenessey hopes this year's team can avoid the bug that cost them close games last season.
"The key is we just gotta execute better on offense and defense, not give up the big plays."
X factor: The return of Darren Barbadillo could be a huge upside for the Sabers. He played as a freshman but did not play for two seasons. Barbadillo runs a 4.4 40.
"We couldn't believe it, so we tried again and he was 4.47," Kenessey said of the 6-foot-1 senior. "He's a legit D-I prospect."

Kapolei Hurricanes

Coach: Darren Hernandez
On paper: Hernandez has guided the program from scratch. The 'Canes were 14-5 in two seasons in the White Conference and have been 14-15 since, including last week's 14-0 win over Damien. This year's team is a combination of youth and raw talent. Only six starters return -- three on each side of the ball.
The skinny: The win over Damien may buoy Kapolei's confidence, but Hernandez has already been uplifted by his team's work ethic and enormous bulk.
Mason Koa's hard-nosed style of running the spread option may be a lot easier this season thanks to an offensive line that averages 281 pounds per man.
"We still run a lot of option, a lot of shotgun where we let Mason create with his legs and his arm," Hernandez said.
Koa threw for 1,200 yards and ran for 850 last season as a first-year starter.
Defensively, Kapolei is loaded with size and speed. Othaniel Maiava, a 6-3, 260-pound lineman, is a younger brother of former Wisconsin player Lyle Maiava.
Former safety Cyril Ontai has moved to weakside linebacker, but the secondary still has great potential.
"Our DBs are really the strength of our defense," Hernandez said.
X factor: "We're gonna need our offensive skill players to step up and make plays. We dropped two touchdowns against Damien, a lot of busted assignments," Hernandez said. "They just need to play better. They're very capable, just gotta step up."

Leilehua Mules

Coach: Nolan Tokuda
On paper: With Tokuda at the helm, the Mules are 22-13 since 2004, including 7-4 last season. Two things will be different this fall, however. Quarterback Bryant Moniz, a Star-Bulletin All-State selection, has graduated. Also, defensive coordinator Rod York departed for rival Mililani.
The effect hasn't been negative so far. The Mules went to Kailua last week and eked out a 6-3 win -- another feather in the cap for a program that led the OIA Red West in total defense two years in a row.
The skinny: Leilehua flip-flopped roles during this decade. Gone were the 51-point losses as Moniz's golden arm provided the Mules with a balanced attack. Now, they'll rely on defense and a steady ground game. Dante Scott (6-3, 270) and Kalu Delos Santos (6-0, 240) anchor the interior, while Art Laurel (6-1, 205) and Robert Siavii (6-1, 200) head the linebacker corps.
X factor: Tokuda is much less prone to playing starters for extended minutes in nonconference games. He's borrowed that approach from Castle coach Nelson Maeda.
"Castle always plays everybody in the preseason. That's what I had to learn too when I got Bryant hurt two years ago against Kamehameha," he said.

Mililani Trojans

Coach: Darnell Arceneaux
On paper: The Trojans have only three returning starters on each side of the ball, but are loaded with 14 lettermen who saw significant playing time last year. Arceneaux is both taskmaster and teacher on the field. His pedigree is high: All-State quarterback at Saint Louis, played at Utah, coached Saint Louis to the state final in his first season, and now he takes over a proud Trojan program.
"I let 'em know, and they understand, we can only control what we do," Arceneaux said. "People can talk about us, maybe hate us, but we can't worry about those kinds of distractions."
The skinny: Jordan Torres was an All-State running back and Josh Andrews was an All-State middle linebacker, and both have graduated. Third-year quarterback Rustin Funakoshi has a grasp of the multiple sets Arceneaux teaches, including the flex option.
Defensively, cornerbacks Cody Kilthau and Kawika Ornellas get high praise from Arceneaux. Andrews' old job is now occupied by Sterling Cossey (5-10, 185).
X factor: Sophomore Dalaunte Stevenson (6-1, 190) has a chance to become a major playmaker. "He's almost an exact replica of Jason Rivers," Arceneaux said of the UH receiver. "Dalaunte's a 4.5 guy. He was our JV running back, but I think down the road he could even line up and play defensive end. We can run a lot of different matchups with him."

Radford Rams

Coach: Fred Salanoa
On paper: With six returning starters -- three on each side -- Salanoa is in teaching mode to the nth degree. "I think we have a good bunch of kids as far as character and responsibility. We just gotta play a whole game. With Pac-Five, we only played one half. The score should've been way different going into half, but we did some foolish things," he said.
The skinny: The program has developed outstanding players in recent years, and though the Rams are fairly young, the cupboard isn't bare.
Epa Maika brings two years of experience back to quarterback, where Salanoa brings a vast knowledge as a former college quarterback (Eastern Washington). Replacing All-State wide receiver Kyle Blair, however, won't be easy.
Shawn Putman-Curry is a promising receiver.
"We're looking for big things from him. he showed some ability during spring ball and our scrimmages," Salanoa said.
Defensive end Marcus Malepeai anchors a 3-4 look. Cornerback DC Campbell and middle linebacker Amo Seei provide strength. Seei doesn't have prototype size, but is a true playmaker.
X factor: Salanoa is exercising lots of patience.
"Our goal is to get better every week," he said.

Waianae Seariders

Coach: Daniel Matsumoto
On paper: A No. 5 ranking at the end of last season capped a Red West divisional title. For the Seariders (8-5), a loss in the OIA final and another defeat in the state tournament were heartbreaking.
With graduation, they lost a multitude of players, including Star-Bulletin defensive player of the year George Kauwalu, All-State defensive end David Paaluhi and All-State cornerback Preston Ayala.
Expectations remain high, though, and they may be even higher around the league than they are on campus.
The Seariders opened nonconference play with a 21-7 win over East power Farrington last week.
The skinny: Kauwalu's brother, Justin, had a solid performance as one of Waianae's top running backs in the win over Farrington. Kauwalu and Danny Kekoanui will be supported by Glenn Wain. The offensive line lost all starters, but Richard Namsen and Sunia Vaitai saw substantial playing time last year.
X factor: The coaching of defensive coordinator Jason Hussey may never be more crucial as a busload of new players joined the program this season. The unit ranked second in Red West total defense with its all-state players last season. How they fare with inexperienced talent is a big question.