It won’t quite resemble the days of yesteryear, when Honokaa was just as happy to not even have to attempt a pass, but the run game is back in vogue for the Dragons.
It won’t quite resemble the days of yesteryear, when Honokaa was just as happy to not even have to attempt a pass, but the run game is back in vogue for the Dragons.
Honokaa will retain the spread, thanks in large part to dual-threat senior quarterback Nainoa Falk, but the read-option will allow for coach Hana Hanohano to take advantage of a strong slew of running backs, all of whom played different positions in the past.
“That’s the cool part. These boys are wide receivers and lineman,” Hanohano said. “Kind of what we did with Kamaehu Richards last year. He was a lineman pretty much all his career, and last year we gave him the opportunity to get the ball.
“We’re giving these boys the opportunity and they are stepping up.”
While Honokaa relied on the pass more in the preseason, that was in part so an the offensive line could lock down a zone blocking scheme.
The defense is switching from 4-4 to a 3-4 as the linebackers move farther away from the line of scrimmage after getting caught up in the wash too often last season.
The Dragons upset Waiakea early in the year and also beat Keaau, but injuries and academic probation took their toll for the second consecutive year, and Honokaa wasn’t always competing with maximum effort at the end of the season.
Senior offensive lineman Riley Rechiro noted an attitude change in the preseason, even as the Dragons finished 0-2.
“We pushed through all the way to the fourth quarter, even though we started pretty slow in the first half,” Rechiro said.
Another senior, Trueston Andrade, said improvement (three wins or more) would be the only acceptable goal this season.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Once a liability, Falk enter his third year as a starter, and Hanohano was happy with the way he distributed the ball in the preseason.
“Him knowing the game, it helps a lot,” Hanohano said. “He’s versatile. We can put him anywhere on the field and he can play. Even when we’re prepping our younger QBs, he’ll go to the wide receiver spot.”
Running backs
Hanohano saw this unit as such a team strength that he’s tailoring his offense around his deep corp of backs.
Micah Lorenzo will likely get the start in Thursday’s season-opener at Keaau, Kealaka’i Lindsey is the speedster of the group and Daynan Kauhi will also get carries.
Wide receivers
Hanohano was surprised when 6-foot-1 senior Jonathan Charbonneau came out for football, but he wasn’t going to turn him away.
“Baseball is his future,” Hanohano said. “This is his first high school season, but he’s been an awesome addition.”
Trent Tavares, a 6-1 junior, also will start and the position is deep with Kelvin Falk, Ocean Guerpo-Beamer and Kainalu Lau also in the mix.
If Honokaa employs a tight end, it will be Andrade
Offensive lineman
Honokaa is inexperienced at many positions, but this is not one of them.
There were some growing pains adapting to zone blocking in the preseason, but Jose Manriquez (5-10, 220), Rechiro (6-0, 240), Kale Pahio (5-11, 205), Kaenan Kaono (5-8, 185) and Kalena Roldan (5-8, 190) are all returnees.
DEFENSE
Defensive line
In the 3-4, the nose guard is responsible for taking up blockers, and for this endeavor the Dragons are turning to perhaps the biggest player in the BIIF, Shane Batalona, who is generously listed at 285 pounds.
“That’s very generous,” Hanohano said of the two-down player. “He can take up the center and two guards.”
Andrade (6-1, 185) racked up a pair of sacks in the preseason, and the other end will be Antonio Molina.
Pahio will also play nose tackle.
Linebacker
Keaka Swift was a playmaker as a freshman two seasons ago, but Hanohano said the preseason was an eye-opener for Swift.
“He’s hit a little plateau and I think he realized he’d been slacking,
“It’s all up to him. He’s progressing and working hard.”
The other linebackers are undersized, but Hanohano likes the potential possessed by Weljane Valdez (5-7, 145) and Christian Olivera (5-8, 155).
“God always puts the biggest hearts in the smallest players,” Hanohano said.
Defensive back
This is a position that will feature some two-way players.
Nainoa Falk and Charbonneau are the safeties, while the cornerbacks are Kelvin Falk and Kalae Pauli.