HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Warriors get respect
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Kamehameha is No. 5 in the Star-Bulletin's preseason high school football poll, not bad for a team that played .500 ball last season.
TOP 10 COUNTDOWN
With high school football starting on Friday, the Star-Bulletin is counting down its preseason Top 10, as determined in a poll of coaches and media members:
10. Farrington
9. Mililani
8. Kapolei
7. Baldwin
6. Waianae
5. Kamehameha
4. Tomorrow
3. Wednesday
2. Thursday
1. Friday
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The Warriors were 4-4-1, but all of those losses came to leaguemates Punahou and Saint Louis, which are expected to be ranked in the top four. But that is life in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
Kamehameha is no stranger to high expectations, being ranked No. 3 in the preseason poll last year, but has not played in the state tournament since winning the championship in 2004.
Head coach David Stant implemented a new offense last year, and it took some time to get rolling. The Warriors averaged 14 points in their first four games and 26.4 in their final five.
Kamehameha will find out early if its offense will pick up where it left off last year, opening up with Kahuku and visiting Kapolei before jumping into the meat of its league schedule with Saint Louis and Punahou.
A lot of the brunt of running the offense will fall on senior quarterback Edmund Kamano, who spent last season as the backup.
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In a high school football season marked by exhilarating highs and devastating lows, it was perhaps fitting that Kamehameha was most uncomfortable occupying the space between.
NO. 5 KAMEHAMEHA
Here's a look at Kamehameha's recent history and its schedule this season:
2007 (4-4-1)
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Castle |
W 21-12
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Campbell |
T 21-21
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Punahou |
L 7-28
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Saint Louis |
L 7-14
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Damien |
W 31-6
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Pac-Five |
W 42-6
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Punahou |
L 17-31
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Iolani |
W 35-21
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Saint Louis |
L 7-25 |
Previous four years
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2006: 8-3
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2005: 8-4
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2004: 12-1-1, state champ
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2003: 7-2
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2008
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Aug. 16 |
Kahuku*
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Aug. 22 |
at Kapolei
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Sept. 19 |
Saint Louis*
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Sept. 26 |
Punahou*
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Oct. 4 |
Damien*
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Oct. 11 |
Iolani*
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Oct. 18 |
Pac-Five*
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Oct. 24 |
Word of Life
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Oct. 30 |
Saint Louis*
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Nov. 6 |
Punahou* |
* - at Aloha Stadium
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Last year, the Warriors outscored their Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II opponents 108-33, while losing to their Division I counterparts 98-38 en route to an uncharacteristic 3-4 conference record (4-4-1 overall).
"Our level of confidence varied depending on who we played. It was night and day," second-year head coach David Stant said.
The wavering confidence and erratic play of last year's squad can be attributed to an unfamiliarity with Stant's pass-happy offensive system, which he introduced as a first-year coach.
"There was some frustration, the players were so used to running the ball," said Stant in reference to former head coach Kanani Souza's run-first philosophy. "It was tough to change the offensive mentality."
The voting panel of coaches and media, no doubt intrigued by the glimpses of offensive firepower and defensive domination Kamehameha displayed last season, voted the Warriors to a No. 5 ranking in the Star-Bulletin Football Preseason Top 10.
After a season of transition and patient tutelage, Stant's Warriors seek to re-establish themselves as one of the state's preeminent football powers as soon as Friday, when they battle Kahuku in a preseason nonconference game.
On paper: The Warriors return 36 players from last year's squad, but lost 11 of their 12 ILH All-Stars, including first-team All-State offensive lineman Mykenna Ikehara and shut-down corner Jordan Gomes. Five offensive starters and four defensive starters remain.
On defense, senior defensive end and vocal team leader Kaohu McCabe is a load at 5-foot-11, 228 pounds.
With McCabe anchoring the line, twin brothers Michael and Tony Tokunaga will have free rein as free and strong safeties in Kamehameha's defensive backfield. Both are hard hitters and unafraid of contact.
"Watching these guys push each other makes me wish I had a twin," said Stant.
Returning senior linebacker Conrad Scheidt (6-2, 225) will solidify a defense that many expect will be among the state's best.
On offense, last year's receiver corps remains largely intact, led by Maika Mataele (5-10, 160) and Pii Minns (6-2, 165). Most intriguing, however, is tight end-turned-wide receiver Rylee Urasaki (5-9, 175), who has improved markedly this offseason by maintaining his weight while increasing his speed.
"Last year he ran a 4.8 40. This year we clocked him at 4.4," said Stant, who plans to rotate as many as eight receivers in three- and four-wideout packages this season.
The skinny: The keys to Stant's offense will be given to senior quarterback Edmund Kamano (5-9, 155), who last season saw little playing time backing up Michael Hoke.
The real question mark, however, is the inexperienced offensive line that returns no starters from last season. Though young and athletic, this year's line is smaller than its predecessor and could fall victim to larger defensive tackles.
X-factor: Flanked by experienced wideouts but protected by an untested line, Kamano will rely more heavily on his running backs to keep defenses honest. Brandon Dumlao (5-10, 170) is an experienced back possessing smooth cuts and excellent downfield vision.
Stant will also find time for junior running back Kupono Park (5-10, 175). A bruising north-south runner, Park is the son of former Kamehameha running back great Radford Park, who played alongside quarterback Blane Gaison in the 1970s.
"He lowers his shoulder, just like his dad," said Stant.