Last season, Keli‘i Perez-Poai displayed the type of dedication that would make any football coach proud. He was on time and always hungry to play.
Last season, Keli‘i Perez-Poai displayed the type of dedication that would make any football coach proud. He was on time and always hungry to play.
Still, Waiakea coach Moku Pita was unfazed.
“Last year, he had a bad attitude and changed after we cut him,” Pita said. “He showed up every day at practice. He asked, ‘Coach, can I come back?’ Every day, he showed up on time. But I said, ‘Nope.’
“He showed up every day from the spring through the summer. He never used to do that before. He changed and has a good attitude.”
When Pita talks about winning not being the most important thing and taking a backseat to building character, he means it. Action always speaks louder than words, and Pita proved that when he sacked one of his best players.
“It was tough love and some kids need that,” he said.
The Warriors haven’t won a BIIF championship since 2001, two years before the introduction of statewide classification.
But Pita scored the biggest victory of his coaching career, teaching a player with rough edges one of most important lessons of not only sports but life as well: Everyone falls. You have to learn to pick yourself back up.
Perez-Poai has made an all-around improvement.
The senior linebacker will be an important run-stuffing cog in Waiakea’s 4-4 defensive front. Perez-Poai (5-8, 210), who’s built like a pitbull, still has rough edges, but he’s channeled it to making tackles.
“He brings a bit of nastiness when he plays,” Pita said.
When there is conflict, Perez-Poai acknowledges that being a team player carries the same weight as a hard worker.
He and receiver Cody Cuba grew up playing football together. They don’t hang out at each other’s house. But they bleed the same Warrior blue blood.
“We go back to Pop Warner a long time ago,” he said. “We may not always agree, but we’re on the same team, and we’ve got to work together.”
After graduation, Perez-Poai is looking to join the Army, following in his maternal grandpa’s footsteps to serve his country.
“Coach made us change our attitude,” he said. “I never listened before. But I changed for the better. Some of my friends on the team look up to me.
“The same linebackers have been playing together the past couple of years. We’re working hard to be better than last year. This year, we’re working more together to become one. Our experience is there.”
With Perez-Poai touting his linebackers, let’s look at Waiakea’s defense first instead of starting a team preview with the offense.
Linebackers
Senior outside ’backer Noah Matsuura made the All-BIIF first team last year. He led the Warriors in tackles.
Chance Silva-Borero will be at the other outside spot. Blaze Tacuban will join Perez-Poai in the middle.
“Noah has gotten faster getting to the hole,” Pita said. “Blaze is a smart kid. He can attack and rush. Chance gained some pounds during the summer.”
Defensive line
Youth will in the trenches with sophomore end Dayson-John Keahi-Broad, and junior tackles Xavier Sakaria, and Fafo Tevaseu.
Basketball import Kahinu Alapai, a senior rookie, will provide his 6-1 height and leverage at one defensive end.
“In the defense we’re running, we’re hoping to free up the linebackers,” Pita said. “Fafo is a young guy. When he comes in, he does a good job. Kahinu is tall and will be a good end.”
Secondary
Ethan McBraun-Keiki will be a strong safety and he’ll also punt, and draw snaps at slotback. Hunter Rapoza, another two-way player at receiver, will be the free safety.
“Ethan knows how to play the game. He’s pretty much always around the ball,” Pita said. “Hunter is quick and that’ll help with him being the last guy in the back.”
Isaiah Pagay (5-4, 110) isn’t biggest Warrior on the roster. But Pita likes the toughness the freshman offers.
“He’s real small, but he’s not afraid to tackle. He beat out two seniors for the spot,” Pita said.
Darrien Sasaki will start at the other corner.
“He’s a rugby player, so he’s aggressive and strong,” Pita said.
Offense
Quarterback
Junior quarterback Gehrig Octavio will be in his second year running the spread offense, featuring a read-option run game.
“I like his speed and he’s athletic,” Pita said. “As far as his personality, he’s a good kid. He shows up every day and I get no headaches from that boy.”
The benefit of the read-option is a defense has to account for a dual threat QB as a running or passing threat, losing the mismatch 12 vs. 11 advantage with a non-mobile passer.
Octavio (5-7, 150) is not tall and can hide behind his linemen. He’s savvy fast and has a strong arm. His production depends a lot on his blockers.
Offensive line
Mafu Tei (6-0, 336) is the only returning starter on a green line that lost a valuable anchor in Zach Devela, who’s at Jamestown College, an NAIA school in North Dakota.
“Mafu has gotten bigger and he’s more agile,” Pita said. “He’s another good kid. He comes from a good family.”
Tei’s parents are pastors, and he’s unfailingly polite. If there were a BIIF award for high character, Tei would be a leading candidate.
Pita’s next O-line prospect is someone to keep an eye on: sophomore left tackle Isaiah K-Aloha (5-10, 215).
He owns national powerlifting records for his age group. K-Aloha was sixth in the discus at the BIIF track and field championships as a freshman, competing against upper classmen.
The discus requires coordination, footwork and strength. Those are traits found on the O-line, and the best of the mobile and strong are called dancing bears.
“He can be one of the best linemen in the up and coming years. During the summer, Oregon State and UNLV talked to him,” said Pita of his young bear. “He’s a smart kid, too. He’ll be the future of our offensive line at Waiakea for the next couple of years.”
Tristan Higashida (5-10, 215) will start at center, and takes over for Tei, who’ll be at left guard. Justice Gugu-Suan (5-11, 280) will start at right guard.
K-Aloha and Higashida are just sophomores. Tei and Gugu-Suan are juniors as is Anthony Benevides Jr. (6-1, 205), who’ll see time at right tackle.
Nick Kamau (6-4, 300) provides beef and experience as a senior and candidate for right tackle.
“Tristan is a smart kid and the future looks good for us. He’ll make the line calls and Mafu will help him,” Pita said. “Justice is another big kid. He’s pretty powerful and can push guys around.”
Receivers
The key to any sound passing attack is a clean pocket. It’s a chore for an offense to have a sustained drive going Playground QB, unless you’re Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M.
If the O-line can get its timing down and fire off the ball together, Octavio will have a nice selection of weapons: returning wideouts turned receivers Cody Cuba and Hunter Rapoza, and Alapai and Kalen Fragas (6-0, 160).
“Kahinu and Kalen are tall, big and can run,” Pita said. “We can put in different packages in the red-zone (20 yards and in) for them.”
Running back
Austin DePeralta (5-5, 155) will start at running back. Makoa Andres (5-10, 210) will also draw snaps, and showed his versatility during the preseason with his running and receiving skills.
“Austin’s a smart runner. He sees the hole and attacks,” Pita said. “He’s a junior, so we’ve got time with him.”
Outlook
The best blueprint for success in the BIIF or any football league, for that matter, is to be able to run the ball, and stop the run. Converting third-and-short is the most efficient way to extend drives.
Perez-Poai and his crew will be counted on to plug holes. Tei will be asked to push a young line. Octavio doubles as the kicker, so hopefully the Warriors score more touchdowns than they allow.
“We’ll be all right,” Pita said. “Pretty much everybody in the BIIF lost a lot of players. We’ve still got work to do.”