[ OIA RED EAST PREVIEW ]
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Castle linebackers coach Harry Paaga, top left, says his linebackers -- Guy Humalon and Elde Agcaoili, front, and Antone Watanabe and Blaze Soares, back -- are the best he's ever coached at Castle. Head coach Nelson Maeda is at right.
Castle still speedy,
but loaded linebackers
are looking to hitOIA champion Knights one of many
contenders in the race to win the Red East
For all the talk about Castle's speed and quickness defensively, it would be a mistake to underestimate the Knights' ability to knock heads.
"The real fun is getting onto this field and seeing that other guy lined up across from you," said Castle linebacker Blaze Soares. "You know he wants to hit you and you want to hit him. I love the feel of hitting somebody."
Football, as Soares is quick to remind us, is a physical game, after all, and speed translates into power.
But while that would seem to neatly summarize the Knights' assertiveness to the football, to hear Castle defensive coordinator Harry Paaga tell it, to excel at linebacker is to already have a certain mind-set firmly in place.
"I always say that you have to be kind of crazy to play linebacker," said Paaga with a laugh. "They have to be the stronghold of your defense. We view the linebackers at Castle as the captains of our defense -- just as we view our quarterback as our leader on offense."
In Soares (6-1, 187), Antone Watanabe (5-11, 190), Elde Agcaoili (5-7, 175) and Guy Humalon (6-0, 195), Paaga has one of the best linebacker corps he's ever had at Castle, no small feat for a program that has turned out its share over the years.
Of course, Paaga was a linebacker himself at Castle from 1979 to '82 and made his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore.
Castle head coach Nelson Maeda remembers Paaga all too well from that era. He was then the head coach at rival Kailua, not far removed from his own playing days at the University of Hawaii, and still feeling his way in the coaching ranks.
"I remember him well," said Maeda, whose team was the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion and state tournament runner-up last year. "To start as a sophomore at Castle, especially in those days when they had so much talent, says a lot about him."
Paaga is in his second stint tutoring the linebackers at Castle, having been an assistant coach in the program from 1994 to '95. He left to coach the Kahaluu Broncos Pop Warner program (in large part to coach his own sons) but joined Maeda's staff in 1999. This fall, he has added the title of defensive coordinator. Last year's defensive coordinator, Tony Pang-Kee, remains on the staff, but in a slightly different capacity, having changed his day job over the offseason.
One thing that hasn't changed is Castle's ability to fit its personnel to its scheme.
Offensively, the Knights will boast two of the most explosive players in the state in Ikaika Ho and Jarred Suzui, but defense remains a point of emphasis at Castle. That will certainly be true tonight if the Knights are able to field enough players to host Mililani.
Nineteen of Castle's players are suspended for tonight's game due to their part in a scuffle that took place at the end of last November's state championship game with Saint Louis. Among those suspended are Ho and Suzui, both of whom will also play defense this year, while Soares, Watanabe and Humalon are eligible to play tonight.
"Size-wise, they're not your prototypical linebackers," said Paaga of the group. "If you see them walking around in T-shirts and shorts, you wouldn't think they're linebackers. But the linebackers I look for have to be well conditioned and quick. I look forward to working with these guys every practice. Their strength is their commitment to learning the defense. They absorb a lot of information. Anything you say to them, they put into work."
For much of last season, Soares and Agcaoili received much of the accolades for Castle's defensive play, along with Cory Daniel, who has completed his eligibility.
Watanabe had been the unheralded member of the bunch, but made his presence known in the OIA championship game when he stepped into the path of a Kailua screen pass and went 21 yards for a touchdown in the Knights' 25-0 victory. Last Friday night, he picked up a Waipahu fumble and ran it in for a score, only to have the play called back because of a penalty. His attitude best typifies the team unity that has carried the Knights in recent years.
"Antone's a great team player -- a real good guy," said Soares. "He's just all 'team,' and he's athletic, and he loves to hit."
Soares was the MVP of the OIA championship game and is only a junior.
"I don't think he's reached his potential yet," Paaga said of Soares. "In fact, I can't wait till next year. Outside of football, he's a fun kid -- very polite and always smiling. On the field, he can turn it on."
Soares runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, further enhancing Castle's reputation for developing players who can cover a lot of distance in a short time.
"We have some strength, but we're mostly about speed," admits Humalon, whose father, Victor, starred for Waianae in the 1970s.
Agcaoili attributes the Knights' conditioning program to much of their success. Castle won its share of games last year by its play in the fourth quarter.
"What you put in is what you get out of it," said Agcaoili. "I'm a senior this year, so you have to play every game like it's your last one. We put a lot of effort into practice, especially our conditioning, so we have high expectations."
With that in mind, expectations are understandably high elsewhere in the Red East, where parity is the order of the day. Kailua figures to have one of the top secondaries in the state, and if their were any doubts about the Surfriders coming into this season, they were quickly dispelled last Friday night in their 22-7 win over Punahou in preseason action.
Kahuku also hopes to regain its swagger after a 6-3 season in 2002 that was considered a disappointment for a program that has won eight of the last 14 OIA championships.
At Roosevelt, six starters return defensively from a group that got the entire state's attention in their 23-13 upset of Kahuku last October, while Farrington boasts arguably the league's most complete back in Matt Bell.
An all-star cast returns at McKinley, meanwhile, where quarterback Abel Werner and running back Mike Vasconcellos figure to make the Tigers one of the most difficult offenses to defend.
The mystery team in the Red East may be newcomer Kaimuki, which inherited key members from a JV team that went 10-1 a year ago en route to finishing as the OIA's runner-up to Kahuku. Bulldog running back Sheldon Sarcedo, the team's quarterback last year, should rate as one of the conference's most exciting players.
Here is a detailed look at the division:
CASTLE KNIGHTS
Coach: Nelson Maeda2002 record: 4-3 in OIA Red East, 10-5 overall
2002 postseason: Beat Kailua 25-0 for OIA championship; lost 34-15 to Saint Louis in state championship game.
Players to watch: SB Ikaika Ho, SB/LB Jarred Suzui, LB Blaze Soares, LB Antone Watanabe, LB Guy Humalon, RB/LB Elde Agcaoili, K Ethan Gonsalves.
Outlook: The afterglow of the Knights' riveting postseason run of 2002 was dimmed slightly by the suspension of 18 players for tomorrow night's game with Mililani for their part in a fracas in the closing minute of the state championship game. How well the Knights weather this distraction remains a key question. Defense carried Castle last season and should lead the way again with a solid linebacker corps. Offensively, Ikaika Ho and Jarred Suzui rate among the most exciting players in the state. Maeda is likely to go with Louis Mansanas Jr. at quarterback, although sophomore Bryce Kalauokaaea has been impressive in fall camp. As always, the Knights will count on the areas that have traditionally made up the foundation of their program: conditioning, solid special teams and a balanced offensive attack.
FARRINGTON GOVERNORS
Coach: Randall Okimoto2002 record: 3-4 in OIA Red East, 6-7 overall
2002 postseason: Lost to McKinley 14-10 in OIA third-place game; eliminated by Saint Louis 41-23 in first round of state tournament.
Players to watch: RB/FS Matt Bell, FS/CB/WR Taeao Fagalele, PR/KR Jerome Crisostomo, LB/SS Jeffrey Aching, WR/FS Alvin Faumui, DE Josiah Milo
Outlook: The Governors have built their attack largely around the running of senior tailback Matt Bell, who will also return kickoffs and punts as well as hold down a safety spot on defense. "He has great vision, he sees the openings on the field, and he's tough to tackle one-on-one," said Farrington coach Randall Okimoto. Less settled is the offensive line, which will feature five newcomers. "Three of the five played JV, but they're not proven on the varsity level, so that's a concern," Okimoto said. Junior Eti Atonio gets the call at quarterback. Defensively, six starters return from a unit that fueled the Governors' upset of Kahuku in the quarterfinals of the OIA playoffs. "Defense and special teams are always our priority, and that (approach) fits the kids best at Farrington," Okimoto said.
KAHUKU RED RAIDERS
Coach: Siuaki Livai2002 record: 6-1 OIA Red, 6-3 overall
2002 postseason: OIA Red East champions, lost to Farrington in first round of OIA playoffs
Players to watch: OL Jeremy Perry, QB Waika Carvalho, RB Paea Vaimoui, DL Shosei Yamauchi, LB Walker Vave, DB Toriano Taulogo.
Outlook: Coach Livai has a much better feeling about the Red Raiders going into this season than last year when they were knocked off from their two-time defending state champions perch. "We have experienced boys at every position and we have a good number of boys," Livai said. "We're excited to put it together to see what we can do." Carvalho is back at quarterback with a year of experience under his belt, and Perry leads another sizable offensive line, and Vaimoui could be the steady running back that the Raiders lacked last year.
KAILUA SURFRIDERS
Coach: Darren Johnson2002 record: 6-1 OIA Red East, 9-3 overall
2002 postseason: Lost to Castle 25-0 in OIA championship game; lost to Waimea 24-21 in first round of state playoffs.
Players to watch: WR/DB Michael Kealoha, RB/DB Bronson Kamaka, DB Derek Mailau, RB Kekoa Sua, DL Sione Tuifua, LB Jermaine Hisatake-Se'i
Outlook: After a regular season that saw them run over their Red East opponents, the Surfriders dropped the OIA title game to Castle and followed with a tough loss to Waimea in the first round of the state tournament. With that in mind, the Surfriders enter the 2003 season with unfinished business. The return of 25 lettermen, including 11 starters, figures to help their cause considerably. Highlighting the list of returnees are defensive backs Michael Kealoha, Bronson Kamaka and Derek Mailau. Kealoha and Kamaka will play on both sides of the ball. Offensively, tailback Kekoa Sua is coming off a monster game against Punahou last weekend, while junior Kelroy Kohatsu gets the call at quarterback, having earned the job in the spring. Johnson calls senior kicker Mike Sakaba "as good a kicker as we've had here."
KAIMUKI BULLDOGS
Coach: Ronald Oyama2002 record: 5-2 OIA White, 5-4 overall
2002 postseason: Lost to Castle 27-7 in first round of OIA playoffs.
Players to watch: LB/RB/SB Sheldon Sarcedo, RB/LB Semi Qoro, QB/S Shaye Aso'au, OL/LB Herb Lee, T/DE Tony Fa'asoa, WR/FS Dylan Kuratsu
Outlook: Kaimuki coach Ronald Oyama hopes the Bulldogs' stay in the Red East will be a long one. "You want to compete against the best." But regardless of what conference the Bulldogs compete in, their offseason program remains "the reason for the success of our program." Senior Sheldon Sarcedo best typifies Kaimuki's work in the weight room. An All-White conference defensive back last fall, he added 16 pounds of bulk in the offseason and will play linebacker, running back and slotback this year. He was the Bulldogs' starting quarterback last year. This fall, junior Shaye Aso'au gets the call at quarterback. Look for the Bulldogs to be more balanced between the run and the pass. Oyama inherits the bulk of a JV team that finished 10-1 and was the OIA's runner-up last year. First-year assistant Charlie Miyashiro is entering his 41st year of coaching, having come over from Pac-Five.
MCKINLEY TIGERS
Coach: William Moeava2002 record: 4-3 in OIA Red East, 9-5 overall
2002 postseason: Beat Farrington 14-10 for third place in OIA; lost to Castle 27-21 in semifinals of the state tournament.
Players to watch: QB Abel Werner, RB Mike Vasconcellos, DL Randy Faletoi, LB Dixson Lauofo, DB Daniel Sesoto, LB Tony Sefo, DL Jeremiah Mata
Outlook: In veteran quarterback Abel Werner and running back Mike Vasconcellos, the Tigers figure to boast one of the best 1-2 punches in the state, offensively. "(Werner) is like an extra coach out there," said first-year head coach William Moeava, who was the Tigers' Junior Varsity coach the past three years. "If there are adjustments to be made, he'll make them." Although seasoned at the skilled positions, offensively the Tigers will start two juniors and a sophomore up front. Defensively, the Tigers return seven starters, led by defensive linemen Randy Faletoi and Jeremiah Mata. With a veteran team -- 25 lettermen are back from 2002 -- Moeava sees staying healthy as a key for the Tigers. "When you play in the Red (East), you get banged up every week," he said.
ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDERS
Coach: Les Parilla2002 record: 2-5 in OIA Red East, 3-5 overall
2002 postseason: None
Players to watch: LB Ricky Eusebio, LB Brandon Davis, OL/DL Bula Kalilimoku, OL/DL Tim Howard, OLB Erik Nariyoshi, OLB Josh Danz, QB Laakea Moikeha
Outlook: For all the interest the Rough Riders' "Duck-and-Goose" offensive set created in the aftermath of their upset of Kahuku last October, it was "our defense that did it," Roosevelt coach Les Parilla is quick to point out. Parilla expects defense to lead the way again for Roosevelt this season, especially with the return of linebackers Ricky Eusebio, Brandon Davis, Josh Danz and Erik Nariyoshi. "They're very aggressive, and they flow to the ball well," Parilla said. "Defensively, we can finally match up with the people we play." The Rough Rider offense will be in the hands of quarterback Laakea Moikeha, who was a part-time regular in 2002. Depth remains a concern for the Rough Riders. "We don't have that many kids ... so we need to make sure we stay together. If we think 'team' instead of 'individual,' we'll pull through. Hopefully, our play will speak for itself." And will opponents and fans see the "Duck and Goose" set from Roosevelt this season? "I'm sure you will," says Parilla. "It's part of our offense."
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