StarBulletin.com

Journey fulfills Jamora


By

POSTED: Sunday, December 27, 2009

On the outside, he was a self-described “;fat boy”; whose mother wouldn't let him play Pop Warner football.

Inside? Hauoli Jamora grew up watching Kahuku football, vowing one day to play for the Red Raiders.

But the optimistic kid found himself relocating from Hauula to California. After moving back to Oahu—“;I was begging my mom about Kahuku,”; he said—they returned to Hauula for a short time.

Then came a move to Pearl City, and Jamora's dream wouldn't die. In fact, he spent his sophomore year catching the bus from Pearl City to Kahuku, getting to the bus stop at 5 a.m., transferring in Haleiwa and arriving at school after 7. Then came wrestling practices after school, then another long haul back to Pearl City.

Jamora hadn't even played a down of football for Kahuku, but he was content. Within two years, Jamora transformed into one of the state's top recruits.

His eye-popping performances wowed coaches and media, who in turn voted Jamora the Star-Bulletin defensive player of the year.

Kahuku's defense was particularly effective, a 3-4 system that put Jamora's strength and quickness to good use. Whether it was long fumble returns for touchdowns or blocked punts in the end zone, Jamora's motor never slowed.

It all came because he wouldn't stop working.

“;The explosiveness, that came through the extra work we put in. The weight room, the running, everything,”; said Jamora, who moved to Laie by his junior year, living with his grandmother, Leona Kulesa.

Once a 5-foot-10, 180-pound eighth-grader, Jamora is now 6-3 and 235 pounds, widely recruited and solidly qualified. His 3.3 grade-point average opened doors: Arizona, Boise State, BYU, Hawaii, Oregon State, Washington and Wyoming have scholarship offers on the table.

The state final loss to Kamehameha still stings, especially when he recalls the missed tackle on a scramble by Warriors quarterback T.C. Campbell on a key third and long. But there are no regrets about all the miles and sweat. He's taken what he's learned from Reggie Torres—his football, wrestling and judo coach—to heart.

“;There's always hype,”; Jamora said, “;but humility is something we all need.”;

 

FIRST TEAM

Landon Aano

Kamehameha, DT, Sr.

Ht.: 5-9 Wt.: 285

One of state's top sackers, strong penetration inside, unending motor

Seali'i Epenesa
'Iolani, DT, Sr.
Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 315
Raiders defense limited foes to 2.8 yards per carry

Charley Tua'au
Leilehua, DE, Sr.
Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 290
Force in Mules' defense with combination of strength, speed

Jeremy Ioane
Punahou, LB, Sr.
Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 195
Savvy, quick playmaker, goes sideline to sideline for an elite defense

Ben Mamea
Kahuku, LB, Jr.
Ht.: 5-11 Wt. 200
Tremendous instincts vs. run; Kahuku allowed 1.4 yards/carry

Kawika Stant
Kamehameha, LB, Jr.
Ht.: 5-10 Wt.: 205
Middle of Warriors' defensive storm; unit permitted less than 1 yard/carry

Chaz Bajet
Kamehameha, CB, Sr.
Ht.: 5-8 Wt.: 170
Lockdown cover man had eight of his team's 22 interceptions

Alvin Faamausili
Farrington, CB, Sr.
Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 170
Swarming defender; also a lethal weapon as returner and receiver

Brian Suite
Punahou, S, Sr.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 188
A dominant force on deep coverage, sure tackler against the run

Marcus Umu
Saint Louis, S, Sr.
Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 180
Physical and punishing, solid coverage in backfield

Fred Padrones Leilehua, P, Jr.
Ht.: 5-7 Wt.: 160
Most consistent and deep punter

David Stant
Kamehameha
Coach of the year
Demanded great commitment in offseason, preseason, yielding title

               

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

 

SECOND TEAM

       

PlayerSchoolPos.Cl.HT.WT.
Kaena Moose'IolaniDTSr.6-1270
Eleu WilsonWaianaeDTSr.6-1315
Beau YapKamehamehaDESr.6-2235
Kona SchwenkeKahukuDESr.6-4220
Zachary QuinesMililaniLBSr.6-3215
T.J. TitoKahukuLBJr.5-10195
Chivas ParisWaianaeLBSr.6-0200
Johnny TupuolaKahukuCBSr.5-10162
Walter Santiago Jr.KamehamehaCBJr.5-10150
Wave RyderKamehamehaSSr.6-2185
Sean McFaddenPunahouSSr.6-1190
Trevyn Tulonghari'IolaniPJr.6-1180

       

THIRD TEAM

       

PlayerSchoolPos.Cl.HT.WT.
Veteson SauniKahukuDTSr.6-0285
Keith Chargualaf-TuilaepaFarringtonDTSr.5-10280
Koa Ka'aiKamehamehaDEJr.6-4235
V.J. FehokoFarringtonDESr.6-0210
Justin VeleFarringtonLBJr.6-0200
Seth IlaeFarringtonLBSr.5-10200
Tyson Tynanes-PerezCampbellLBSr.5-11200
Ikaika KamakaRadfordCBSr.5-9175
Reid Saito'IolaniCBJr.5-10175
Xavier PetersonMoanaluaSSr.6-0200
Guyson AminaWaianaeSSr.5-10155
Ikaika MarfilKamehamehaPSr.6-0200