KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Ben Ah Mook Sang has already scored eight touchdowns this season -- four receiving, three passing and one on special teams -- for Na Alii.
Follow the leader
Do-everything senior
Ben Ah Mook Sang has
what it takes to lead Aiea to
the OIA White championship
A championship football team usually consists of a mistake-free quarterback to run the offense, an agile running back to make big plays and a sure-handed wide receiver to convert crucial third downs.
This year, Aiea has all of the above.
His name is Ben Ah Mook Sang.
Last year's first-team OIA Red West Conference receiver has continued his dazzling play in leading Na Alii to a 5-0 record in the OIA White as they head into a first-place showdown with undefeated Kapolei on Friday night at Mililani High School.
Even with the conference lead at stake, Ah Mook Sang views this game the same way he does every game.
"Football is a privilege, and you have to think that way every day, because you can wake up tomorrow and it could be gone," he said.
"No matter who you're playing, you can't take anything for granted."
That attitude, which Ah Mook Sang takes into every game, is what makes him such a great leader, according to Aiea coach Wendell Say. But things haven't always been that way for his star wideout.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Ah Mook Sang doesn't take his abilities for granted. "Playing football is a privilege," he said, "and you have to think that way every day, because you can wake up tomorrow and it could be gone."
A difficult offseason resulted in Ah Mook Sang missing a few summer workouts, which worried his coach at first. But after sitting down with his star player, Say believes fighting through certain adversity has made him a better leader.
"A lot of the kids on the team look up to him," Say said.
"I reminded him of that after talking with him when he missed those workouts.
"I told him that the team recognizes when he is not there, and I think knowing how important he is to this team and his teammates especially inspired Ben to rededicate himself to playing football."
Being expected to step up as a leader and having the preseason expectations of a returning OIA West first-team wide receiver has made Ah Mook Sang's senior year his toughest one yet.
"It has been up and down during the offseason, but when I step onto that football field, I get into that mood," Ah Mook Sang said.
"If you don't have that mood when playing football, you'll do nothing except get hurt out there."
That mood has Ah Mook Sang once again making his presence felt on the field. The senior already has scored eight touchdowns during OIA play this year: four receiving, three passing and one on special teams.
"It's not difficult playing multiple positions," Ah Mook Sang said. "You play football because you love the game and that love for the game allows you to know what to do all the time no matter what position you're playing."
Experience helps in playing multiple positions as well. Ah Mook Sang started playing football as a tailback when he was 6, and he actually never played slotback until last year. He spent his freshmen and sophomore seasons playing quarterback at the junior varsity level.
"When I moved up to varsity, I was used to playing quarterback, but we had experienced guys already playing that position," he said. "So Coach moved me to receiver and I just took it from there."
According to Say, the move from quarterback to receiver for Ah Mook Sang wasn't a tough decision at all.
"Quarterbacks can make good receivers, because usually they are very coordinated and they know how to see the field," Say said. "The great thing about Ben is he is willing to do whatever it takes to make us successful, because he just wants to win games."
"Winning games is all that counts," Ah Mook Sang said. "When we step out on the field, we're more than just a team. I believe in every guy that stands next to me on the field, and we just go to war together."
While some teams have expressed concern and disappointment over being labeled as a Division II team, Ah Mook Sang wasn't affected when Na Alii moved down a notch this season.
"We could care less what division we're in," he said. "Everyone wears a helmet, puts on pads and has two hands and two feet. All that matters is the people on the other side of the field and as long as we take care of them, we'll be fine."
And unfortunately for Kapolei, that attitude isn't going to change anytime soon.
"We know we can beat them," Ah Mook Sang said. "But the question is, can they beat us?"
