[ HIGH SCHOOLS ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN
Heavy competition for the quarterback job two years in a row has helped Steven Pratt become a better player for the Kaiser Cougars.
QB is where
it’s at for PrattKaiser's signal-caller hails
from a sports-oriented,
historic Hawaiian family
For Kaiser quarterback Steven Pratt, there was no direct line to his taking an interest in football.
"My dad signed me up without me knowing," he said. "I didn't like it. I thought I'd play Pop Warner for a couple of years and then play basketball the rest of my life. I ended up liking it more down the road."
These days, he's liking football more and more. As the Cougars try to regroup this week after a heartbreaking loss to Kapolei last Friday night, that process can only be made easier with Pratt in the fold. His calm and confident style fits nicely with Kaiser's version of the run-and-shoot offense, although on game night -- and during the week -- his talk on the field is mostly limited to calling the plays.
"It's not in his personality to be a vocal leader," Kaiser coach David Maeva said.
Added Cougar offensive coordinator Brian Ah Yat, who was an All-American quarterback at Montana: "Steven's best attribute is his work ethic. Being a former quarterback, I tend to get on him a little hard sometimes, but he takes coaching really well. He tries to get better every day."
Ah Yat is the first to admit, "I wasn't a rah-rah guy, either," making him uniquely suited to tutor Pratt, who has thrown for 719 yards to date. His 131 passing attempts are more than any other quarterback in Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference. He threw 34 times on Friday night, but was hard-pressed to meet his average of 222 passing yards per game in what was a defensive struggle between Kaiser and Kapolei. He finished with 93 yards through the air. Another big test awaits the Cougars on Friday night when they host Radford.
Pratt is used to stiff competition, however. Last year, he had to beat out Kekoa Kamauoha to be Kaiser's quarterback, and this year he was pushed by Shannon Wise for the starting job.
"He had good competition this year with Shannon -- same deal as last year," Maeva said. "It took all of spring and summer to see who we would go with. Steve's doing really well. He's more confident, and he makes good decisions. His first turnover didn't come until our third game. And Shannon's too good to not be on the field, so we have him playing almost everywhere else."
George F. Lee / glee@starbulletin
Pratt, a transfer from Saint Louis, hangs out with teammates after games at his family's business, Tropical Smoothie, run by his sister, Shyanna.
Pratt has always favored basketball more, but, "this summer, it was all football," he said.
"Last year, it took us a while to get used to the offense," he said. "Now that we've had another year, we've got it together. I like our offense. I like to throw to a lot of receivers, and I feel stronger this year because of the way our coaches pushed us over the summer."
Kaiser's fall camp began with the team sleeping in the school's gymnasium for three nights. Parents volunteered to cook the meals, and the team participated in non-football activities.
"We became real close," said Pratt, who attended Saint Louis his freshman year, but quit football and transferred at year's end to Kaiser. As he had when still competing for the Hawaii Kai Dolphins, he wasn't sure he'd play football when he enrolled at Kaiser.
"My Dad told me I'd feel like I'd missed out if I didn't play my high school years," he said, "and I would have missed out because I've loved it here."
It's not hard to understand Steven Sr.'s desire to see his son on a football field, as Steven Jr. is the only boy in the family. Older sister Shyanna manages the family business, Tropical Smoothie, which is located in the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center. Tropical Smoothie re-opens after Kaiser home games on Friday nights, and members of the Cougars often review the films of their games there. Younger sister Shardé is a sophomore at Kaiser, where she plays three sports.
The Pratts are a family rich in Hawaii history: Steven's legal guardian is his grandmother Leolani, who is descended from the Kamehameha line, while her husband, the late Vernal Pratt, was a descendent of the missionary Gerrit Judd.
Although Leolani taught the Pratt children a bit of Hawaiian history during their formative years, sports were always a focal point in the household.
"Sports is all I knew growing up," Steven said. "My family is sports-oriented."
Although he didn't have a brother to share his interest in athletics, Shardé matched his competitive flare and gave him unconditional support.
"She was like my little brother," said Steven. "We would always play basketball at the park, and we'd throw the football. She's a natural athlete."
"He's the best brother you could ever have," Shardé said. "He makes people feel comfortable around him. Growing up, I always wanted to be like him. I'd always try my best in everything, like him."
Athletes of the Week
Boys
>> J.J. Eno, Baldwin football: Scored two punt return touchdowns in a win over Maui as the Bears clinched the Maui Interscholastic League first-round title.
Girls
>> Emily King, Moanalua cross country: Won the 2-mile invitational meet at Central Oahu Regional Park.
Honor Roll
Football
>> Brandon Pieper, Kapolei: Scored the winning touchdown on a 45-yard pass from Jon Medeiros in a come-from-behind 14-7 victory over Kaiser.
>> Quinton Sayers, McKinley: Rushed for 156 yards in a win over Kaimuki.
>> Kali Kuia, Aiea: Threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown in a win over Waialua.
>> Chris Lave, Waianae: Scored two touchdowns and rushed for 118 yards in a victory over Waipahu.
>> B.J. Batts, Saint Louis: Rushed for 120 yards and scored a TD in a win over Punahou.
> John Morris, Punahou: Completed 27 of 37 passes for 266 yards in a loss to Saint Louis.
>> Damien Torres, Kailua: Rushed for 235 yards and three TDs in a victory over Roosevelt.
Bowling
>> Zachary Lee, Maryknoll: Bowled a high-game 253 and high-series 649 in a win over Mid-Pacific.
Cross Country
>> Ryan Shell, Radford: Won the 3-mile invitational meet in Waipio.
>> Jessica Domingo and Haunani Kane, Kamehameha: Placed fourth and fifth at the Ram Invitational in California.
Air Riflery
>> Eric Okamoto, Saint Louis: Shot a 268 in a win over Academy of the Pacific.
>> Shannon Li, Sacred Hearts: Scored 275 in a win over Hawaii Baptist/St. Francis.
>> Joey Lum, Kapolei: Scored 255 in a win over Waipahu.
>> Chelsey Villanueva, Kapolei: Scored 255 in a loss to Kalaheo.
Volleyball
>> Kawika Lopez, Damien: Had 13 kills in a win over Mid-Pacific.
Football standings
ILH
Division I League Overall Team W L T PF PA W L T PF PA Kamehameha 2 0 0 58 33 4 0 0 127 39 Saint Louis 1 1 0 35 22 2 1 0 69 34 Punahou 0 2 0 26 64 2 3 0 92 112 Division II League Overall Team W L T PF PA W L T PF PA Iolani 2 0 0 35 14 4 2 0 148 73 Damien 1 1 0 38 27 1 2 0 57 64 Pac-Five 0 2 0 14 46 2 2 0 62 75 OIA
Red East Conference Overall Team W L T PF PA W L T PF PA Kahuku 4 0 0 161 19 5 0 0 195 19 Castle 3 1 0 117 64 4 1 0 173 85 Kailua 3 1 0 187 55 4 1 0 209 62 Farrington 3 2 0 120 130 3 3 0 120 133 McKinley 2 2 0 100 87 3 2 0 125 99 Roosevelt 1 4 0 40 167 2 4 0 50 174 Kaimuki 0 5 0 19 199 0 6 0 26 220 Red West Conference Overall Team W L T PF PA W L T PF PA Mililani 4 0 0 132 52 5 0 0 146 59 Pearl City 4 1 0 154 68 5 1 0 195 68 Nanakuli 3 2 0 73 97 4 2 0 110 116 Leilehua 2 2 0 62 55 3 2 0 84 55 Waianae 2 2 0 80 78 2 3 0 80 99 Campbell 0 4 0 46 130 0 5 0 53 140 Waipahu 0 5 0 48 128 0 6 0 59 184 White Conference Overall Team W L T PF PA W L T PF PA Kapolei 4 0 0 152 27 5 0 0 173 27 Aiea 4 0 0 135 27 4 1 0 142 41 Radford 3 1 0 61 30 3 2 0 61 52 Kalaheo 3 1 0 138 75 3 2 0 138 116 Kaiser 2 2 0 87 58 2 3 0 99 92 Waialua 0 4 0 66 130 0 5 0 79 149 Kalani 0 4 0 13 191 0 4 0 13 191 Moanalua 0 4 0 17 131 0 5 0 29 177 KIF
Conference Overall Team W L T PF PA W L T PF PA Kauai 3 0 0 90 32 3 2 0 112 93 Waimea 1 1 0 33 32 3 1 0 84 73 Kapaa 0 3 0 20 64 1 4 0 51 126 MIL
x-clinched first-round title
Conference Overall Team W L T PF PA W L T PF PA x-Baldwin 4 0 0 110 25 6 0 0 143 25 King Kekaulike 3 1 0 101 63 4 1 0 128 70 Maui 2 2 0 60 33 4 2 0 104 39 Pac-Three 1 3 0 27 96 2 3 0 54 104 Lahainaluna 0 4 0 28 109 0 5 0 28 143
BIIF
Conference Overall Team W L T PF PA W L T PF PA Kealakehe 4 0 0 175 13 4 1 0 175 54 Hilo 4 0 0 108 28 4 0 0 108 28 Waiakea 3 0 0 78 34 4 0 0 124 46 Hawaii Prep 2 2 0 85 80 2 4 0 113 147 Kohala 1 2 0 56 64 1 3 0 58 71 Konawaena 1 2 0 45 57 1 3 0 45 94 Honokaa 1 3 0 59 86 1 5 0 74 140 Keaau 0 3 0 32 105 1 4 0 39 148 Ka'u 0 4 0 20 188 0 4 0 20 188 Last weekend's scores
Friday, Sept. 26
Iolani 21, Damien 6
Saint Louis 22, Punahou 6
Nanakuli 22, Campbell 20
Kahuku 40, Farrington 7
Kailua 47, Roosevelt 7
Pearl City 21, Leilehua 19
Waianae 34, Waipahu 13
Kapolei 14, Kaiser 7
Waiakea 37, Kohala 6
Hilo 33, Honokaa 7
Kauai 34, Kapaa 14
Baldwin 16, Maui 6
Saturday, Sept. 27
McKinley 41, Kaimuki 6
Aiea 49, Waialua 13
Hawaii Prep 43, Ka'u 0
Kealakehe 43, Keeau 0
King Kekaulike 27, Lahainaluna 21
