KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kailua junior running back Kekoa Su'a has rushed for 710 yards and 13 touchdowns on 47 carries in three games.
Su‘a stays grounded
The Kailua running back is
running up some big numbers
Take a glance at the gargantuan numbers being put up by Kailua High School junior running back Kekoa Su'a and you might start thinking the season is already over.
But three games do not make a football season, so you may want to check back to see Su'a's final tallies in December.
Running behind the Surfriders' highly touted offensive line, Su'a has amassed 710 yards and 13 touchdowns on 47 carries in wins over Punahou, Campbell and Kaimuki.
"He's a quiet, humble young man," Kailua coach Darren Johnson said. "He runs hard and he knows he's not always going to break it, but he wants the offensive line to know that if everybody's trying as hard as they can that every once in a while he will break one."
Su'a is likely to be the focal point tomorrow night as the Surfriders take on the arch rival Castle Knights at 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.
Castle upset Kailua 25-0 in the OIA championship game last year, and it's no secret that the Surfriders want redemption.
"This whole season, I've been concentrating on the Castle game," Su'a said. "I've been focusing on playing them and beating them. We can't take them lightly because they're a tough team."
Knights coach Nelson Maeda thinks the key to the outcome is slowing down the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Su'a.
"Kekoa is one of a great tradition of running backs at Kailua," Maeda said. "He's the focal point of their offense. They love to run, and with the offensive line they have, he's very dangerous. The amount of TDs he has is incredible."
Maeda doesn't want his players to overemphasize their concentration on stopping Su'a because he knows Kailua can hurt defenses in other ways.
An interesting battle is shaping up between Su'a and quick Knights middle linebacker Elde Agcaoili.
Su'a is stronger and faster than he was last year after hitting the weight room in the offseason. He thinks the Surfriders have more discipline than in the past, and he's hoping it pays dividends.
"This year we want to go all the way, no falling back, and just keep winning," Su'a said. "I have a lot of faith in the team this year. It's basically the same team as when I was a freshman playing JV and we had a great year back then."
Kailua running backs coach Aaron Keo thinks Su'a's low running base makes it difficult for opponents to bring him down.
"He's a very hard worker and mature for his age," Keo said. "He doesn't like to be in the spotlight and he credits his linemen and everyone around him. He's a team player and would play anywhere we asked him to."
Su'a gets his yardage with the help of tackles JD Puli and Kainoa Lacount, guards Ko'o Kamalamalama and Kea Crowell, center Ryan Rodrigues and tight ends Tanu Paleafei and Kava Fine.
Lacount is Sua's cousin.
"We would like to think we have a tighter team this year," said Johnson, who is really high on the cohesiveness of the offensive line.
"Usually you have one lineman who steps up and becomes the leader, but the whole package is different. This bunch is there for each other and they really back each other up," he added.
Johnson said tomorrow's game against Castle is a "wonderful" opportunity for the team to see exactly where it stands as the OIA Red East Conference season gets closer to the halfway point.
Su'a also plays left field for the Surfriders' baseball team and was part of last spring's squad that placed second in the state tournament. He played JV basketball last winter and is hoping to move up to the varsity.
"I like my sports," Su'a said. "It keeps me away from doing the wrong things and going the wrong way."
