Darren Johnson's return as a football head coach ends a spell of three seasons away.
Good news for Kaimuki High School. Possibly bad news for the rest of the White Conference of the Oahu Interscholastic Association.
"It feels good. Every day I go down to Kaimuki," said Johnson, who guided Kailua to the co-championship of the OIA Red Conference in 2001. At Kailua, his teams reached the state tourney in four of five years, but he resigned in 2004.
His commute these days is from Laie to Halawa, where he works at OCCC, and then across town to the Bulldogs' campus before the haul back to the North Shore. "It's really worth it when you see the athletes and try to get them to be better role models and be disciplined. If we can do that, the football comes easier for them," the former Kahuku quarterback said.
Kaimuki has a big turnout, good size and a chance to contend for the White title. The conference is as strong as ever, with comparable size to the Division I Red. Most coaches consider Kaimuki a co-favorite along with Waipahu, with Anuenue, Pearl City and Waialua also close in the running.
"Every year the parity is the same," said Pat Samsonas, coach of defending regular-season champ Kaiser. "I'm looking at Sean (Saturnio) at Waipahu, who always has his team in check. Kaimuki with DJ, they got numbers now. I would say Waipahu, Kaimuki, Pearl City with (Antoin) DeWalt back. He's a big back."
Roosevelt coach Les Parilla also sees a wide-open field led by the Marauders.
"I think Waipahu, with a lot of kids returning, the JV was excellent and big. Sean's a good coach," Parilla said. "Kaimuki's huge this year, they always have athletes, good coaching there. Pearl City is up and coming. Waialua's pretty good. Anuenue is senior loaded, should be contending. The only question is the amount of bodies -- can they last four quarters?"
The White slate kicks off today with three games. Waipahu visits Waialua, Nanakuli visits Pearl City and Roosevelt hosts Kalani. Tomorrow, Anuenue and Kaimuki battle in a key showdown at Kaiser's field.
Anuenue Na Koa
Coach: Kealoha Wengler
On paper: Anuenue was the youngest team in the league last year, with only one senior on the roster. This year, 17 returnees, including eight two-way starters, are back to improve on a 1-7 White mark. They're bigger, faster and wiser now.
Quarterback Ehukai Nauka (5-10, 189) guided the offense to the third-best passing total in the White last season. He threw for 1,085 yards and eight touchdowns in Anuenue's run-and-shoot offense, but figures to run much more this time.
Nauka's favorite target, Kamaki Sherman, led the White with 31 receptions for 430 yards and four touchdowns. Sherman (5-10, 185) has switched to slotback this year.
The skinny: The team's unity is a major plus.
"These guys have been with each other since middle school. Tight group. They've matured emotionally as a group. They always watch out for each other," Wengler said.
The program, which uses Hawaiian language on the field, is unique, to say the least. "That's something other teams can't match. The first year, we had to figure out words to use to make calls, and now it's easy and smooth," Wengler said.
X factor: "The Xs and Os haven't changed a lot. It's more trusting each other. We've been working a lot on that. They can believe in each other and know that each one is giving all he's got," Wengler said.
Kaimuki Bulldogs
Coach: Darren Johnson
On paper: The roster has ballooned to 47 this season with Johnson's arrival. Only 12, however, are returnees. Johnson has relished the chance to work with both returning starters and newcomers.
Among the returnees is 6-foot-2, 240-pound middle linebacker Maua Tuitele.
"He's the team captain and team leader. He's showing progress in the classroom and working hard," Johnson said of Tuitele, who also plays tight end and fullback.
Quarterback Kapono Kaiwi-Barrionuebo, who threw for 566 yards in part-time duty last year, has also left an impression on the coach.
"He's a big quarterback who throws well. I've always had shorter quarterbacks," Johnson said of the 6-2, 215-pound senior.
The skinny: The Bulldogs used a lot of I-slot formations under former coach Daniel Mafua. Johnson brings his old-school I formation with some new wrinkles. After last week's nonconference game, Aiea coach Wendell Say was surprised by Kaimuki's size and physical nature.
X factor: Taua Yandall, a 6-4, 290-pound senior, returned to the team after two years.
"He hasn't played since he was a freshman," Johnson said of the defensive end/offensive tackle. "He's a great contributor."
Kaiser Cougars
Coach: Pat Samsonas
On paper: With enough of the right ingredients, Samsonas is a master chef. Kaiser was 6-3-1 last year, including 6-1 to win the White regular-season title. Unfortunately, the Cougars fell short in the playoffs and missed the state tourney.
Gone is one of the top running backs in school history, Isaac Saffery, who ran for 1,006 yards and 15 touchdowns in seven White games. Kaiser has two starters back on offense, and just two more on defense.
Center Lono Awong (6-1, 290) is a three-year starter.
"He's been going to (Brian) Derby's camps since he was in sixth grade. He has good feet and he's got that nastiness in him that I think every lineman should have. This is a blessing because he's kind of like an old school lineman. He'll try to knock you down every game," Samsonas said.
The skinny: The Cougars will do "a little of everything," Samsonas said. That includes the flex option, and that means utility player Nainoa Kam could see significant time at quarterback.
X factor: "We need to stay healthy," said Samsonas, who is thinking long term. "We've been somewhat successful the last three years making the playoffs. Our JV won their first game in three years last week. That was a big boost for our program."
Kalani Falcons
Coach: Glenn Oshiro
On paper: The Falcons measure their steppingstones with moderation. This year, there are 29 players on the varsity, including 20 returnees. Of the returnees, 13 started last year. Two-way linemen Elliot Kaiapoetoe (6-0, 190) and William Bennett (5-10, 190) are among the ironmen. Kaiapoetoe is a first-year player.
Former JV quarterback Jason Fujioka (5-11, 160) came out this season and will start. One of his targets is Timothy Benito (5-11, 160), a returning starter.
The skinny: Oshiro implemented a regiment of offseason conditioning for his program, but hopes that leadership within the team will develop.
"We're hoping that the maturity of our players will prove us right about keeping a lot of our sophomores on the varsity last year," he said. "They really stepped it up and showed us they want this. It's a pretty good feeling when they come to camp and they're running."
X factor: Oshiro is very realistic when it comes to the program and its future hopes. This year, he brought back the JV team, which has 29 players -- a stellar number considering the hiatus.
Nanakuli Golden Hawks
Coach: Tai Apisa
On paper: The Golden Hawks were 2-4-1 in league action last year, and with 13 returning starters, Apisa hopes for continued improvement. They averaged 221 total yards per game in their first year with the Wing T offense.
"We've laid the foundation and we're trying to build upon that. It's a gradual process," Apisa said. "Compared to maybe Waianae, this is only our second year running it. Waianae has a (Wing T) system in place, and we're trying to build that system."
Defensively, five starters are back from a unit that ranked sixth in the White Conference, allowing 231 yards per game.
The skinny: Of the eight returning starters on offense, center Kenika Kaimi (6-2, 230) is an anchor up front.
"He's not only our team leader, but he's our team captain. He's a real hard worker," Apisa said.
Dale Sopi (6-1, 225) mans the defensive line and Bryson Crawford (6-0, 215) has a lot of weight on his shoulders at inside linebacker.
X factor: Apisa wants his team to focus on the task at hand.
"We need consistency at practice. That leads to our play on the field," he said. "We had blown assignments, but everybody needs to do their own job."
Pearl City Chargers
Coach: Mel Bicoy
On paper: The league is raving about Charger running back Antoin DeWalt, who rushed for 839 yards and nine touchdowns in seven White games last season.
"With DeWalt there, they should be awesome," Waialua coach Lincoln Barit said.
DeWalt rushed for 117 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown, on just 11 carries against Moanalua last week. He also caught three passes for 29 yards and even completed a pass for 29 yards.
The Chargers are strong in numbers this season, but have just four returning starters coming off last year's offensive circus. Kawika Borden returns at quarterback for a unit that ranked second in total offense (312 yards per game). The Chargers were also second in total defense (178 yards per game).
The skinny: The good news is, of course, DeWalt's outstanding production. Not so good, at least so far, is the lack of a second or third offensive contributor. Bicoy is optimistic about his newcomers.
"A number of our underclassmen ended up starting last year, so we're picking it up from there, plus we have a lot of good kids up from the JV," Bicoy said.
X factor: "Our backfield is just a bit more solid than last year because of their coachability. This year, they've bought more in the system," Bicoy added. They've seen how successful it was last season.
Roosevelt Rough Riders
Coach: Les Parilla
On paper: The Rough Riders got a mighty turnout of 66 players this season, but only 12 are seniors. In addition, they lost two key starters along the way.
Parilla is optimistic, though, because of 28 returnees and 13 returning starters from a team that was 3-4 in White competition last year. Just about all of his key players are juniors.
Among them is Lowen Kahooilihala (5-11, 165), who threw for 848 yards and nine touchdowns with only two interceptions. He completed a conference-high 59 percent of his attempts, but is getting pushed by Shon Fujii.
"They complement each other. Lowen runs well. Shon has better vision as far as reading," Parilla said.
The skinny: Parilla and staff have used a run-and-shoot for years, looking for ways to emphasize the speed of their personnel. They won't outsize most foes, even in the White. Though Kahooilihala threw the ball well, Roosevelt ranked next to last in total offense (195 yards per game).
X factor: Though Roosevelt probably won't use its "Flamingo" offense in the White Conference, Parilla still encourages a unified spirit.
"It's gonna be cohesiveness. It's not a matter of offense or defense stepping up. It's a matter of all our kids playing as one," he said. "Then we'll have a real good chance."
Waialua Bulldogs
Coach: Lincoln Barit
On paper: With 11 returning starters -- five on offense, six on defense -- the Bulldogs appear to have stability coming off last year's winning season. However, they lost three-year starting quarterback Caleb Fore to graduation, and even with the talented playmaker, Waialua (5-2 regular season) fell in the playoffs and missed the state tournament.
Donovan Matas was the fourth-leading rusher in the conference last year, but has moved under center as a senior. His debut as a starter was robust: 196 yards passing and 122 rushing in last week's 35-21 win over Honokaa. Those included a 65-yard touchdown run on a scramble, and a 66-yard scoring toss.
At 251 pounds per man, the Bulldogs are huge at O-line by historical standards. Micah Hatchie (6-4, 250), Kawika Yamanouchi (6-0, 280) and Johnny Tago (5-10, 260) are returning starters.
The skinny: The starting receivers all graduated, though newcomers like Tupu Foster show potential. Matas is familiar with Waialua's complex set of option and run-and-shoot plays, which means defenses will contain the speedster. His chemistry with the receiver corps will be crucial.
X factor: Defensive end Kaikala Carvalho will miss Waialua's first league game with an injury.
"We have to stay healthy," Barit said. "Right now, we don't have depth. We have a lot of seniors, but a lot of them are first year."
Waipahu Marauders
Coach: Sean Saturnio
On paper: The Marauders went 5-2 in league play (8-3-2 overall) and qualified for the state tournament last season. The Marauders' punishing spread option rolled up 1,752 rushing yards in seven regular-season games (second in White), while its defense led the conference in total yards (161 per game).
The entire defensive line graduated, but sophomore Christian Palaita (6-4, 345) could be a force right away.
The skinny: The Marauders are co-favorites, but a lot of work remains. Saturnio's wisdom -- keeping the varsity and JV programs unified at practice -- should prove to be a plus. All-conference linebacker Lele Pefua (5-7, 209) will get help from returning defensive backs Richard Cadiz and Michael Poscablo.
X factor: Saturnio is a stickler for fairness and discipline, and he's remained constant through ups and downs. The payoff has been superb with high turnout in recent years. As much as any coach in the league, his leadership has lifted young players.
