Wednesday, November 21, 2001
[ PREP FOOTBALL ]
Mokofisi cousins IN those anxious seconds spent waiting for the center to thrust the ball into his quarterback's hands, Felipo and Malakai Mokofisi can hear their grandfather's words drifting in their ears.
have their sights
set on St. Louis
Felipo and Malakai lead the
Surfrider defense against the
Crusaders in the state semifinalsBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com"Play with your eyes and your feet will follow."
And by using the football instincts instilled by their elders, the cousins have hunted down ball carriers all season for the Kailua defense, helping the Surfriders advance to the semifinals the Chevron State Football Championships.
"They're key to our defense," Kailua defensive coordinator Brad Hewahewa said. "The two of them make plays and they make big plays."
The duo began playing football together when they were barely out of diapers. And after a year apart, their bond has helped the Surfriders elevate their play entering Kailua's showdown with Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion St. Louis.
"You have somebody who can pick you up when you're down," Felipo said. "Your teammates can do that, but you listen to family. ... It makes you want to go faster, play stronger and harder when you have a family member next to you."
Kailua and St. Louis will meet in the second game of Friday's state semifinal doubleheader at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Defending state champion Kahuku will face Waimea in the first game at 5 p.m.
For Kailua to defeat the Crusaders and move on to the state championship game, it will need another stingy performance from its rapidly improving defense.
The Surfriders limited Castle to 139 total yards in a 13-7 win to clinch a share of the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship on Nov. 10. The victory gave Kailua its first football title since 1965.
Felipo, a senior defensive end, displayed his knack for pursuing the football in that contest, recording 10 tackles, two sacks and three hurries against the Knights.
"He's a natural," Hewahewa said. "You cannot teach that kind of stuff."
And last Friday, Kailua held Waiakea to minus-14 yards rushing in the Surfriders' 53-8 victory in the state tournament quarterfinals in Hilo.
"It's starting to come together," Malakai said. "Defense wins championships, so we just have to step it up and play hard."
"They're finally starting to believe in themselves and understand other people's roles and not just their own," Hewahewa said of his defensive unit. "You have to react, but you have to understand why you're reacting this way and that's what they're starting to do. ... They're starting to understand a lot more of the game."
The Mokofisi cousins were raised in a family that thrived in contact sports. Felipo was named after their uncle who was a defensive standout for the University of Utah, while Malakai bears the name of the grandfather who taught them the mantra that fuels their relentless pursuit of the ball.
"(Malakai Sr.) used to play rugby and in rugby you have to have a nose for the ball," Felipo said.
But it was their uncle, Miki, who pushed the boys to play football and taught them many of the techniques that would transform them into ball-hawking tacklers. He passed away a couple of years ago after battling a long illness, but his memory continues to inspire his nephews.
"The Castle game I dedicated to him and my grandma," Felipo said. "I visited the grave site the day before the game, said a little prayer for them and for the team and we went out and did the job."
The cousins played their Pop Warner ball in the Koolauloa program, and many of their teammates went on to play at Kahuku, which beat St. Louis for the state championship last year.
Malakai was on the sidelines for last year's state title game as a member of the Crusader squad. After spending his sophomore year at St. Louis, he transferred to Kailua this fall and made an instant impact for the Surfriders.
"When we heard that he came in from St. Louis we knew that he had all the tools and he was well coached and it was only a plus for us," Hewahewa said.
At 6 feet and 170 pounds, Malakai's size and speed make him a valuable asset for the Surfrider secondary, which will be tested this week by St. Louis' precision passing attack. But he should have an idea of what to expect after facing the Crusader offense in practice last year.
"Playing your ex-teammates just makes you work harder," Malakai said. "We're trying to get the intensity level up there. Everybody's gotta stay focused this week, step up to a big challenge and hopefully we can cross this obstacle."
Felipo also took a circuitous route to Kailua. He played for the Surfriders as a sophomore, but spent his junior year in Utah playing at Woodscross High School. He then transferred back to Kailua for his senior year.
He returned to Utah in August for the Surfriders' preseason contest with Snow Canyon. Kailua weathered 100-degree heat and the altitude to rally for a 29-28 win, which set the tone for its OIA title run.
"I think the biggest game of the season was in Utah," Felipo said. "We had to face the crowd, the heat, the air, the travel, everything and we overcame that."
College coaches hoping to recruit Felipo, who stands 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, may have to wait a while since he plans to go on a church mission next year. Malakai indicated he may do the same after he graduates.
But for now, the cousins are busy enjoying the Surfriders' first venture into the late rounds of the state tournament.
"It's like walking into a candy store, you always want to taste something good," Felipo said. "So it's kind of like a new candy store for us, and we want to taste something new."
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