St. Louis' Randyn Akiona might be the fastest receiver
for the Crusaders in their championship run.
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin

Fans who are aware that No. 85 can fly, focus on him, hoping to see him touch the ball and take off.

When he's racing downfield in a deep pattern, expectations run high in the Aloha Stadium stands. Soda, popcorn and chili spill on laps as spectators jump to their feet for a better look. Lineup editions crumple in fists clenched with anticipation and defensive backs scramble like NATO jet fighter pilots to pursue the intruder.

A player with game-busting potential is someone Crusader fans have come to expect during St. Louis' long reign over the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

"Randyn gives us a real threat - everyone wants a threat who can take you deep and get the home run ball," St. Louis head coach Cal Lee said.

"He's the fastest guy we've faced so far, and he has moves as well as speed," said Waianae head coach Leo Taaca, whose team lost to St. Louis in preseason.

"He forced us to double up on him - we had to."

Taaca said he expects all teams will have to devote double-coverage to Akiona, and that's fine with Lee.

"If they double him, that leaves a lot of guys open," Lee said.

The extra coverage he receives, combined with the fact that St. Louis has an abundance of excellent receivers, has limited Akiona's chances in three games.

Teammate Craig Stutzman had 120 yards in receptions and two touchdowns in the ILH-opening 37-6 victory over Damien.

"But coaches tell us that even if we see only two passes in a game, we should play them like they're the last passes we'll ever get," Akiona said.

The barely 6-foot, 180-pound Akiona, second in receiving for the Crusaders in 1995, inherited the go-to mantle as soon as St. Louis wrapped up its 10th straight Prep Bowl title.

He realized the importance of the role he might play for the Crusaders, who are ranked 25th in the country by USA Today, and the fact that colleges look for exceptional speed in wide receivers.

So Akiona, who was an ILH sprinter last spring, decided it would be wise to take up Punahou track and field coach Dacre Bowen on his invitation to work with him and fleet Buffanblu receiver Tafiti Uso during the summer.

One of the first things Bowen, a former Canadian Olympic sprinter, did was put Akiona on the hip flexer workout apparatus at Punahou.

"It's a machine that catches your running mistakes," Akiona said.

What the machine detected was that Akiona was running inefficiently, a trait Bowen noticed during track season.

"Some people have the bad habit of wasted motion," Akiona said. "I had a lot of wasted motion."

In fact, his running style had contributed to making his hamstring too strong for his quad muscle. That led to an early season injury last year.

He said his follow-through stride was too long and his heels were almost coming up and kicking his rear end.

"He was getting to his top speed and trying to run harder, which compounds the dilemma," Bowen said. "Then he'd wind down like a toy. No doubt about it, that running style can lead to injuries."

Akiona said Bowen taught him to run evenly and consistently with more compact leg and arm movement.

"You have to try to keep loose and maintain your speed," Akiona said. "You can only run so fast. You cannot expect to have another boost when somebody comes at you. I found out that if you just maintain the same speed and you'll outrun him."

Bowen said he found Akiona to be "an emotional runner," a characterization with which the player agreed.

"I always have to win and I'd get tensed up - even in track season," Akiona said. "But I'm looser now."

The intensity is still there in spades. But Akiona is better able to channel it, as he did on electrifying touchdown pass plays of 79 yards against Waianae and 52 yards against Baldwin in preaseason.

On the 79-yarder, a play he said is the current highlight of his prep career, he ran into offensive lineman, Roy DeCaires.

"I bounced to my right and from there, I was gone," he said. "Actually, bumping into Roy pushed me in the right direction, away from the defense."

Not many receivers could manage to burn defenses even after colliding with their own lineman.

Many contend that Akiona could be the fastest offensive player St. Louis has had during the current championship streak.

"He's just a beauty - one of the really good ones," said Lee. "It's just a delight for us on the sidelines and the people in the stands to watch him. He runs like he's on skates."

With Punahou once again in the ILH hunt, Bowen was asked if he didn't feel any conflict about helping Akiona.

"No," Bowen said. "In high school sports that's not a factor. If I can help someone with talent get a scholarship, I will."

So far, Akiona has had inquiries from Utah, Brigham Young and Colorado. He said the University of Hawaii has yet to make contact with him.

When Akiona is not playing football or in class, the Waipahu resident is at a beach in Nanakuli or Ewa, spear-fishing.

His other passion off the field is - most appropriately - dancing. He occasionally gives his nimble feet a workout on the floor of a club for youth under 21 on Nimitz Highway.

"I love to dance," he said.

It's up to the rest of the ILH to figure out a way to cut in between him and St. Louis before they boogie into the Prep Bowl again.