Story by Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin
IOLANI'S Joe Igber must be glad to see St. Louis' Tony Tata move on to college. In 1998, there will be one less large obstacle standing between Igber and the state career rushing record.
Igber and Tata made a big impact on different sides of the ball in 1997, and it's obvious the Interscholastic League of Honolulu wasn't big enough for both of them.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Igber, a junior who shattered the ILH single-season rushing record, is the Star-Bulletin's All-State Offensive Player of the Year.
Tata, the quick and agile senior defensive lineman who terrorized backs such as Igber all season, is the Defensive Player of the Year.
They are the cornerstones of the Star-Bulletin's All-State high school football team.
Igber's 1,567 yards in 10 games topped the previous record of 1,483, set in 1973 by former Punahou, Southern California and NFL star Mosi Tatupu.
Igber, who also is an honor student, averaged 6.7 yards a carry and scored 20 touchdowns.
He rushed for more than 700 yards his sophomore season and has his sights set on former Kahuku High and Brigham Young University star Mark Atuaia's state career record of 3,404 yards.
Tata is one of four repeat all-state selections.
In 14 games, he made 74 tackles, including 23 for losses and 10 quarterback sacks. Tata also had 37 hurries and 19 knockdowns. He forced three fumbles and recovered one.
Three other players were selected to the team first team for the second consecutive season.
At quarterback is St. Louis senior Jason Gesser.
Before suffering a cracked bone in his left arm in the 11th game of the season, Gesser had completed 129 of 235 passes for 2,368 yards and 29 touchdowns. He threw for 1,891 yards and 23 touchdowns through nine games of the ILH season.
Senior running back Jacob Ordenstein of Kamehameha scored 10 touchdowns and rushed for 631 yards on 118 carries in the 10-game ILH season.
Also repeating is senior linebacker Fabian Manumaleuna (formerly Fonoti) of St. Louis.
The all-state coach of the year is St. Louis' Cal Lee, who guided the Crusaders to a 13-1 record and a 12th straight Oahu Prep Bowl championship.
In so doing, Lee, 51, chalked up his 189th victory, making him the winningest coach in Hawaii prep football history (189-28-4).
First team
Offense
QB Jason Gesser (St. Louis, 6-2, 195, Sr.)
RB Joe Igber (Iolani, 5-8, 180, Jr.)
RB West Keliikipi (Waianae, 6-0, 200 Sr.)
RB Jacob Ordenstein (Kamehameha, 5-10, 185, Sr.)
R Gerald Welch (St. Louis, 5-8, 175, So.)
R Reinaldo Pacheco (Iolani, 5-11, 160, Sr.)
OL William Lobendahn (St. Louis, 6-3, 260, Sr.)
OL Kainoa Hall (St. Louis, 6-0, 245, Sr.)
OL Rockne Freitas (Kamehameha, 6-4, 270, Sr.)
OL Nahina Tuinei (Waianae, 6-1, 270, Sr.)
OL Mose Fonoti (Waianae, 5-11, 260, Sr.)
Defense
DL Tony Tata (St. Louis, 6-3, 230, Sr.)
DL La'anui Correa (St. Louis, 6-3, 215, Sr.)
DL Mark Muasau (Campbell, 6-5, 295, Sr.)
DL Lauvale Sape (Leilehua, 6-3, 285, Sr.)
LB Matt Wright (Iolani, 6-1, 210 Sr.)
LB Fabian Manumaleuna (St. Louis, 5-11, 230, Sr.)
LB Joe Siofele (St. Louis, 6-2, 230, Jr.)
DB Nate Jackson (Waianae, 6-0, 150, Sr.)
DB Jason DeMello (Kamehameha, 5-8, 167, Sr.)
DB Keala Loo (St. Louis, 5-11, 185, Sr.)
DB Ethan Taomae (Iolani, 5-9, 160, Sr.)All-purpose Justin Takasaki (Kamehameha, 5-10, 164, Sr.); Craig Stutzmann (St. Louis, 5-11, 180, Sr.)
Kicker Mark Lau (St. Louis, 5-8, 150, Jr.)
Coach Cal Lee, St. Louis
Second team
Offense
QB Kana Kawai (Waianae, 5-8, 155, Sr.)
RB Noah Campbell (St. Louis, 5-11, 210, Jr.)
RB Kamuela Black (Waianae, 6-0, 180, Sr.)
RB Cameron Watson (Leilehua, 5-10, 190, Sr.)
R Kekumu Vasconcellos (Kamehameha, 5-8, 146, Sr.)
R Kaui Ho (St. Louis, 5-5, 160, Jr.)
OL Ray Fonoti (Aiea, 6-3, 290, Sr.)
OL Aukeso Tuiolemotu (McKinley, 6-3, 260, Sr.)
OL Siuaki Livai (Kahuhu, 6-2, 288, Jr.)
OL Josh Kaakua (Punahou, 5-7, 215, Sr.)
OL Hanale Vincent (Kamehameha, 6-5, 285, Sr.)
Defense
DL Ing Aleaga (Aiea, 6-3, 280, Sr.)
DL Sam Taulealea (St. Louis, 6-2, 300, Sr.)
DL Ben Alualu (St. Louis, 6-1, 240, Sr.)
DL White Sosene (Waianae, 6-2, 270, Sr.)
DL Stanford Evaimalo (Waianae, 6-2, 255, Sr.)
LB Winston Keliikipi (Waianae, 5-10, 195, Jr.)
LB Robby Takara (Campbell, 6-1, 245, Sr.))
DB Kerwin DeMello (Campbell, 5-8, 145, Sr.)
DB Edward Fiaseu (St. Louis, 5-8, 180, Sr.)
DB Jason Cooper (Kamehameha, 5-8, 141, Sr.)
DB Seneca Oshiro (Waipahu, 5-6, 167, Sr.)
