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SB FILE / DECEMBER 2004 Isiah Smith is one of two productive rushers returning for state Division II champion Campbell.

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Rams, Menehunes, others
try to unseat Sabers

The teams

After claiming the Division II state football championship last year, Campbell established itself as the team to beat this season in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference.

However, the loss of some key players to graduation, coupled with the maturation of some other promising young squads of a year ago, should make for a tightly contested conference.

"I think everybody will be gunning for us, but last year doesn't count anymore," Campbell head coach Tumoana Kenessey said. "I believe it's going to be a battle. The conference has teams that can beat (Red Conference) opponents. If you can come into a game with all your guns, you have a chance."

While every team has a shot at the title, Radford and Moanalua are led by experienced groups of veterans and are viewed as front-runners in the division title race. Each squad returns 15 of 22 starters from last year. The game-tested units will look to gain an edge over the younger, less-experienced teams like Kalani, Kaiser and Waipahu, the latter of which finished 6-1 in the conference last year. However, coaches are aware that anything can happen in high school football and are not overlooking any opponent.

"From what I'm hearing, we probably have the toughest conference, so it's gonna be a run for our money," Radford head coach Fred Salanoa said. "Game in and game out, we need to fight for each one. It's going to be a dogfight every week with every team we play. We have to look at everybody realistically and take it game by game."

Kalaheo and Waialua also have the majority of last year's starters returning, 18 and 15 respectively, but lack size and depth.

"Our size is our weakness, but we're pretty fast, and like to hit," said Waialua head coach Lincoln Barit. "We need to just take it one game at a time, and hopefully our leaders can pick up the team."

Those in the White Conference don't look at themselves as second-class teams.

"People kind of connote the White division as junk, but we have great players and coaches," Moanalua head coach Arnold Martinez said. "I don't think a lot of people give the White a chance, but we expect some battles."

This season also marks the debut of two coaches taking over in the OIA White. Russ Ramos steps into the spot vacated by Tony Tuioti at Kalaheo, while Pat Samsonas takes the helm at Kaiser in place of David Maeva.

"I just want to make sure we go out and do well on Friday nights," said Ramos. "I was out last year, so just being involved in OIA football ... it's great for the community and the state. The whole thing is all good. I like it a lot."

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Here's a look at the OIA White, team by team:

Campbell Sabers

Coach: Tumoana Kenessey
2004 Record: 10-2 (8-1 conference)
Total returnees: 25
Returning Starters, Offense: 8
Returning Starters, Defense: 4
On paper: Campbell will look for a repeat performance of last season, which resulted in the Division II championship. The offense is based on the "Wing T," a misdirection offense that incorporates three running backs who look for open angles without having to rely on large linemen.
The skinny: The Sabers will count on their offense to tire out defenders with speed and deception. Running backs Isiah Smith and Jesse Lee should carry the load, and three quarterbacks battle for time under center. This year's team also needs to plug holes at receiver and in the defensive secondary, but it will help to have most of the nucleus returning.
Coach says: "This year, more so than last year, we need a total team effort. Everybody is going to have to contribute. I'm just looking forward to playing mistake-free football at the highest level, but our role players need to step up."

Kaiser Cougars

Coach: Pat Samsonas
2004 Record: 4-5 (4-4 conference)
Total Returnees: 15
Returning Starters, Offense: 1
Returning Starters, Defense: 5
On paper: There are no superstars here, so the team will focus on playing as a unit. Senior Pa'a Kamauoha will spend time at quarterback and wide receiver in the pass-heavy run-and-shoot offense, while running back Isaac Saffery heads the ground attack. Sophomore Kyle Niiro will handle both kicking and punting duties, and has made field goals of 57 yards in practice with a strong wind at his back.
The skinny: This is a very young and inexperienced team, but the influence of a strong JV program should make the transition much smoother for those moving up.
Coach says: "Lots of (other teams in the division) have lost guns, too, but it looks like everyone else has reloaded. I think it's going to be real close this year."

Kalaheo Mustangs

Coach: Russ Ramos
2004 Record: 3-5 (3-4 conference)
Total Returnees: 28
Returning Starters, Offense: 9
Returning Starters, Defense: 9
On paper: Ramos was hired in May amidst spring practice to replace Tony Tuioti, so he has spent the summer months preparing feverishly for the season.
The skinny: The Mustangs return almost all of their starters from last year, and their strength is the competitive fire coming from all the players wanting to do well. However, these emotions tend to cause players to get frazzled, so the team needs to gain composure and stay in games mentally as well as physically.
Coach says: "I'm hoping we can be competitive. We have some of the athletes who can compete, but we're not very deep. Our goal is to win the conference, but if not, make the playoffs. We're hoping that the senior leadership will come forward."

Kalani Falcons

Coach: Greg Taguchi
2004 Record: 1-7 (0-7 conference)
Total Returnees: 15
Returning Starters, Offense: 7
Returning Starters, Defense: 7
On paper: This squad has worked hard to overcome a lack of size and experience. There are quite a few newcomers, some of whom have never played football before and are still learning the fundamentals of the game.
The skinny: There is not a lot of individual talent, but if players can work together as a team and everyone does their job, the Falcons may turn some heads.
Coach says: "We're coming along a little slow, so we gotta pick it up a little. There's times where we show a lot of potential where we can be successful on the field. We're facing a lot of uphill battles this year. I don't know if people overlook us, because all the coaches respect every team in this division, because on any given day any team can beat any team, and if we show up and get it done, we have a chance."

Moanalua Menehunes

Coach: Arnold Martinez
2004 Record: 4-4 (3-4 conference)
Total Returnees: 19
Returning Starters, Offense: 7
Returning Starters, Defense: 8
On paper: The group of players who started as sophomores during Martinez's first year on the job has matured into a senior core in charge of leading a well-rounded, balanced squad. Senior quarterback Stanford Leti will use his 4.6 speed in the 40 to run the triple-option offense along with slotback John Estores, who also returns punts and kicks. Linebacker Quinton Tang, last year's OIA White Defensive Player of the Year, is back for his senior season after working out, along with Leti, at the Nike Combine held on the University of Southern California campus over the summer.
The skinny: The Menehunes kept every game within reach last year, but suffered losses in their final four contests, thanks in part to crucial mistakes down the stretch. While there are only 38 players on the roster, they are well-conditioned, thanks to a rigorous offseason training program.
Coach says: "We graduated half the team last year. You lose so much at one time, so to stay at the championship level we're at is good. We just have to get on the field, execute the package ... and make them respect us."

Radford Rams

Coach: Fred Salanoa
2004 Record: 5-4 (5-3 conference)
Total Returnees: 30
Returning Starters, Offense: 7
Returning Starters, Defense: 8
On paper: The up-and-coming unit of last year has developed into an experienced team. Cornerback Trevor Maldon and defensive end Russell Wantowski will look to parlay stellar individual performances last season into a championship. On the other side of the ball, opponents will have to contain quarterback Ryan Burciaga and running back Alex Daniels behind the protection of offensive lineman Ramsey Feagai.
The skinny: There are quite a few returnees and a wealth of veteran leaders who have been to the playoffs before and have the hunger to return. However, the team lacks depth at some key positions, so the drop-off in talent will be a factor if some of the starters are forced to miss any time.
Coach says: "(We're) better at this point than last year, and I think we have a championship team, but it will depend on which team shows up on Friday or Saturday night. You hope it will be the championship team you think you have."

Waialua Bulldogs

Coach: Lincoln Barit
2004 Record: 1-7 (1-6 conference)
Total Returnees: 23
Returning Starters, Offense: 7
Returning Starters, Defense: 8
On paper: Brothers Elvin and Adam Foster, senior running back and junior slotback respectively, will be the go-to guys on offense. The defense could prove to be the team's anchor with all of last year's linemen and linebackers returning, including middle linebacker Walter Fore and defensive tackle Lanakila Deirra, both seniors.
The skinny: Speed and conditioning are vital for this team to succeed, as they try to overcome their lack of size -- the team's average height is 5-foot-9. Despite a strong front seven, the defensive backfield could prove suspect as new players try to fill vacancies created by graduation.
Coach says: "We're very mature and have some leaders in our senior core coming back. (If we continue) working as a team, being in condition and using our speed, I think we'll have a positive year."

Waipahu Marauders

Coach: Sean Saturnio
2004 Record: 7-4 (7-2 conference).
Total Returnees: 15
Returning Starters, Offense: 3
Returning Starters, Defense: 4
On paper: While the team has 42 players on the roster, Waipahu will start the first two games of the season with only 26 on the field thanks to two major injuries and 14 academically ineligible players. Center/nose guard Shannon Faili stands out as a team leader after earning the defensive lineman award at the Just Win Camp on Maui earlier this summer. The use of the triple-option offense could prove to be the great equalizer if ballcarriers can burn opposing defenders with speed and deception.
The skinny: The Marauders have a collection of unproven, inexperienced youth who need game experience, but the players are well-conditioned and will rally around each other.
Coach says: "It's going to take time for the cogs to get greased and the wheels to roll together. It's taken us a few years for us to get where we wanted this program to be, so over the course of this year and upcoming years, we want to give fans something to watch and admire."

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