It’s raining in Pahala, but that doesn’t dampen the mood at Ka’u’s football practice one bit.
It’s raining in Pahala, but that doesn’t dampen the mood at Ka’u’s football practice one bit.
The wet conditions give coach DuWayne Ke a chance to test his team’s execution and meddle, and he playfully threatens to make players do push-ups after practice because of a dropped pass. The Trojans’ players don’t seem to mind.
“It’s dirty,” John Kalahiki said. “Down and dirty like we want it, just like we want it in the country. Instead of dry and clean.”
Ka’u isn’t hiding from its small-school stature, but something jumps out about the Trojans as they prepare for the season, and it’s not the new blocking sleds: The team, 28 to 29 strong, is big, especially by eight-man standards.
“Last year, we had these underclassmen, and they were a little bit short,” Ke said. “These are the same kids. They blew my mind. I asked them what did you guys do over the summer, eat string beans or something?
“I got big boys, I got hammers.”
One such hammer is senior Jamal Buyuan, a former center who will try to ram the ball down opponents throats this season at fullback.
“We’re much bigger this season,” said Buyuan, who was listed at 5-foot-6, 223 pounds in 2015. “Last season, the underclassmen were scrawny. You can see the difference on the field.”
The eight-man veteran on the island, the Trojans have learned as well as anyone about the strong emphasis that’s placed on running the ball in the smaller version of football. Ka’u is turning to the power game to try and get back to the top.
The island’s pioneers three seasons ago, Ka’u won the first BIIF eight-man title in 2014 but was knocked down a peg last season by Kohala.
For all the added bulk, one of Ka’u’s most important players is Kainalu Medeiros-Dancel. The shifty senior will help to fill the void left with the graduation of Evan Manoha, who won 2014 Defensive Player of the Year and 2015 Offensive Player of the Year.
“I’ll be all around and wherever the coaches want me,” said Medeiros-Dancel, who was listed at 5-8, 126 last season.
His job duties include running back, slot back, wide receiver, safety and returner.
“He’s dangerous everywhere,” Ke said. “He’s my Evan Manoha this year.”
Many of the underclassmen aren’t only big, they’re game-ready, the fifth-year coach said.
One of the Trojans’ strengths is an experienced defense spearheaded by five seniors, “Sticky” Ricky Souza, Daniel Garo, Jacob Flores, Buyuan and Medeiros-Dancel, as well as Kalahiki, a junior. Sophomore Ikaika Salmo-Grace is an emerging force at linebacker as well.
Flores will play quarterback this season and promises a “power-run” offense that will “power run” some more. A key cog in that plan is offensive lineman Nainoa Ke (5-11, 245 in 2015).
And then there is Garo, the younger brother of Donald Garo, a former BIIF volleyball Player of the Year at Ka’u.
DuWayne Ke jokes that while the older Garo is “skinny and tall,” Daniel is “short and big.”
He was ready to play at 420 pounds last season but couldn’t because Ka’u couldn’t find pads to fit him. He’s slimmed down some for his senior season.
“I’m just working on getting out of my stance to block, because we are going to be running and moving the ball,” he said. “Defense depends on how good my conditioning gets, because the coaches want me to play both ways.”
Former 11-man Ka’u coach Greg Rush returns to be the offensive coordinator and has helped instill a more disciplined approach. Ke credits defensive coordinator Darryl Shibuya as his backbone.
“I’m excited for the season,” Ke said. “When I call the first unit out, they all run on the field. That tells me that they all want to play.”
Team spirit
One player Ke wishes he could have play is Donald Mello.
The junior was born with a disability that limits his use of his hands, but he came to tryouts the first day of school and was ready to help the team anyway he could.
“I wondered if I could be a kicker,” Mello said, “but my mom never felt comfortable with me playing.”
Instead, Mello will help keep the team hydrated and cheer from the sidelines as one of he Trojans’ biggest fans.
“This boy got heart,” Ke said. “He’s out there doing what he can do.”
Schedule
Aug. 27
Ka’u at Pahoa, 1 p.m.
Sept. 1
Kohala at Ka’u, 2 p.m.
Sept. 17
Pahoa at Ka’u, 1 p.m.
Sept. 24
Ka’u at Kohala, 1 p.m.
Oct. 7
Kohala at Ka’u, 1 p.m.
Oct. 15
Ka’u at Pahoa, 1 p.m.