Football
Malepeai, Santiago garner All-Hawaii D1 POY honors




Offensive Player of the Year: Vavae Malepeai, Mililani, running back, senior
After leading Division I schools is rushing the previous two seasons, Mililani senior running back Vavae Malepeai still managed to out-do himself. It is a main reason he is ScoringLive's All-Hawaii Division I football team's Offensive Player of the Year.

Malepeai rushed for 1,350 and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore when the Trojans finished second in the state. He rushed for 1,337 yards and 24 TDs in helping the Trojans win their first state title in 2014. This past season, he rushed for state-leading 1,944 yards and 29 TDs.

When last year's Offensive POY, quarterback McKenzie Milton went down with a mid-season shoulder injury, Malepeai kept on going, even when teams knew he was getting the ball.

"He was able to step up when McKenzie was out," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said of Malepeai. "That really showed he was able to take the team on his shoulders. To me, he actually stepped up his running."

Malepeai's improved performance hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Every year he got better," Campbell coach Amosa Amosa said. "He did a good job or preparing himself every year."

The 6-foot, 200-pound Malepeai beat opponents with his speed. When defenders caught him, he would drag them a couple more yards or simply break out of their grasps. He had "the best combination of power and speed," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez.

"Not since Kahuku's Malosi Te'o's insane run in 2005 have I seen a back put up such big yards in big games," Hernandez added.

Also receiving consideration for Offensive POY was Saint Louis junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He was instrumental in helping the Crusaders claim their first Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I crown since 2010, when they were led by a future Heisman Trophy winner and NFL QB in Marcus Mariota. Comparisons are already being made between the two dynamic players.

"He made big plays when it counted," Okimoto said.

Tagovailoa nearly single-handedly led the Crusaders' offense. Running back after running back went down with injuries throughout the season. Still, Tagovailoa carried his team. He led Division I QBs with 2,916 yards passing and had 24 TDs. He also led his team 446 yards rushing and 11 more TDs. When Tagovailoa ran the ball, he rarely went into the slide to avoid contact from a tackler. He would run right through tacklers, much like Malepeai.

"We really don't want him running the ball, but to his credit, he has that ability," Lee said. "I think he's learned, like anything else, he has to be careful. He's not a fullback; you don't try to run over people, but that comes from being mature and I think he learned a lot this year. You look at his calves, you'd think he's a fullback."

Defensive Player of the Year: Keala Santiago, Kahuku, safety, senior
On its star-studded defense, Kahuku safety Louis Keala Santiago shined the brightest and he is ScoringLive's All-Hawaii team Defensive Player of the Year.

Granted, Santiago was surrounded by an all-star cast on defense starting with a front seven that applied pressure on opposing quarterbacks. While fellow defensive backs had their share of interceptions, it seemed Santiago came up with those that broke opponents' backs.

But Santiago wasn't just a ball hawk. He was a reliable tackler.

"He has a nose for the ball," Waianae coach Walter Young said. "He was always in the right place. Defensively, he made tackles in open spaces."

What also made Santiago stand out was his versatility. He occasionally played wide receiver in the rare times Kahuku passed. But he was dangerous as a return specialist. He returned three punts for TDs this past season.

"He makes many plays, not just the safety position, but as punt returner," Mililani coach Rod York said.

Download a printable version of the 2015 All-Hawaii Division I Football team.

Added Campbell coach Amosa Amosa: "He impacts all three phases of the game."

The only other players considered for the top defensive player were from Kahuku. Among them was linebacker Hirkley Latu and lineman Bradlee Anae.

"That Anae, trying to block him is ridiculous," York said.

Kahuku's defense allowed fewer than a touchdown per game (4.1 points). The team posted six shutouts and allowed more than one TD in its last game of the season – the Division I state title game - against Saint Louis. And even then, one of the TDs came off a blocked punt.

Coach of the Year: Walter Young, Waianae
First-year coaches excelled this past football season.

One, Kahuku's Vavae Tata went undefeated and won the Division I state title. Another, Waianae's Walter Young, brought the school's first top four finish since 2010.

Kahuku might have had the best collection of talent, but Waianae made one of the biggest turnarounds. After going 5-4 and getting eliminated from postseason in the Oahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinals, the Seariders finished third in their league and was eliminated in the Division I state semifinals to end with a 9-4 record. Waianae's only losses were to top five teams in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division I Power Rankings, three to the top three teams, two against state champion Kahuku.

Young, a 1998 Waianae graduate, is ScoringLive's All-Hawaii Division I team's Coach of the Year.

Young "changed the culture by having his kids give back to the community," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said.

In keeping with Waianae's tradition of focusing on team instead of the individual, Young restored the pride of the west side. You could not tell who were first-team players, especially at running back. It was not unusual to see 10 different rushers in a typical Waianae game. Everyone literally carried the load.

Off the field, the Seariders were just as impressive. Players did community service projects and were expected to dress with pride off the field.

Waianae also held Kahuku to its fewest points this season in a 13-0 loss in the Division I state semifinals. It was a huge turnaround from its 30-0 regular-season loss to the Red Raiders.

Also receiving consideration for the coach's honor was Tata, a Saint Louis graduate who beat Kahuku in the Prep Bowl. He inherited a team that was loaded, but had to overcome early adversity when he lost his quarterbacks to injuries and was forced to make the best with the talent he had – talent that other schools wished they had.

"All Tata did was go undefeated in his first season and restore the Kahuku dynasty," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "And he beat Hawaii's most iconic and winningest coach (Saint Louis' Cal Lee) and shut down a marvelous QB in Tua Tagovailoa."


2015 ALL-HAWAII DIVISION I FOOTBALL


FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE


Tua Tagovailoa
Saint Louis  •  Jr
QB  •  6'1  210

Kesi Ah-Hoy
Kahuku  •  Jr
RB  •  6'0  215

Vavae Malepeai
Mililani  •  Sr
RB  •  6'0  200

Wayne Taulapapa
Punahou  •  Sr
RB  •  5'11  205

Kumoku Noa
Kamehameha  •  Sr
WR  •  6'0  180

Kalakaua Timoteo
Mililani  •  Sr
WR  •  6'2  200

Toleafoa Auwae
Kapolei  •  Sr
OL  •  6'5  300

Nate Herbig
Saint Louis  •  Sr
OL  •  6'4  330

Julius-Pedro Muasau
Punahou  •  Sr
OL  •  5'11  270

Tamatoa Neher
Kahuku  •  Sr
OL  •  6'3  290

Andru Tovi
Mililani  •  Sr
OL  •  6'2  325

DEFENSE


Bradlee Anae
Kahuku  •  Sr
DL  •  6'4  220

Tanielu Evaimalo
Saint Louis  •  Sr
DL  •  6'2  240

Jess Kanongataa
Kahuku  •  Sr
DL  •  5'11  210

Christian Mejia
Kailua  •  Jr
DL  •  6'4  210

Tainoa Foster
Kamehameha  •  Sr
LB  •  6'2  205

Hirkley Latu
Kahuku  •  Sr
LB  •  6'4  205

Isaac Slade-Matautia
Saint Louis  •  Jr
LB  •  6'0  220

Stokes Botelho
Kahuku  •  Jr
DB  •  5'8  140

Kekaula Kaniho
Kahuku  •  Jr
DB  •  6'0  170

Keala Santiago
Kahuku  •  Sr
DB  •  6'0  185

Ronson Timbreza
Saint Louis  •  Sr
DB  •  5'10  160

SPECIALISTS


Adam Stack
Kamehameha  •  Jr
K  •  6'2  170

Kekoa Sasaoka
Kahuku  •  Sr
P  •  5'11  200

Keala Santiago
Kahuku  •  Sr
RET  •  6'0  185

Nicolas Tom
Kaiser  •  Sr
UTIL  •  5'10  175

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

QB: McKenzie Milton, Mililani - Sr • 5'11  160
RB: Challen Faamatau, Farrington - Jr • 5'10  193
RB: Michael Feliciano, Moanalua - Sr • 5'10  185
WR: Noah Esprecion, Campbell - Sr • 5'8  155
WR: Keoni-Kordell Makekau, Iolani - Sr • 5'11  170
WR: Ty-Noah Williams, Kapolei - Sr • 5'10  175
OL: Michael Eletise, Kaiser - Sr • 6'4  315
OL: Vili Fisiiahi, Kahuku - Jr • 5'10  260
OL: John Kapua VI, Waianae - Sr • 6-0  250
OL: Netane Muti, Leilehua - Sr • 6'4  280
OL: Tytus Timoteo, Saint Louis - Sr • 6'0  335

DEFENSE

DL: Alema Kapoi, Kamehameha - • 6-0  275
DL: Kaimana Padello, Mililani - Sr • 6'0  200
DL: Alekisanita Vimahi, Kahuku - Jr • 6'4  250
LB: Kawena Alo-Kaonohi, Baldwin - Sr • 5'10  190
LB: Pesa Lefau, Kahuku - Sr • 6'0  215
LB: Laakea Look, Punahou - Sr • 6'1  220
LB: Aaron Tapusoa, Kahuku - Sr • 5'8  208
DB: Jay Amina, Kapolei - Sr • 5'10  190
DB: Mosiah Brame, Waianae - Sr • 6-0  165
DB: Laakea Kahoohanohano-Davis, Baldwin - Sr • 6'1  180
DB: Kalei Kealoha-Machado, Kailua - Sr • 5'11  140

SPECIALISTS

K: John Toner, Punahou - Sr • 6'4  190
P: Noah Auld, Kailua - Sr • 6'2  205
RET: Kumoku Noa, Kamehameha - Sr • 6'0  180
UTIL: Jeremy McGoldrick, Castle - Jr • 5'7  140

HONORABLE MENTION

Quarterbacks: Noah Auld (Kailua), Nick Kapule (Punahou), Taulia Tagovailoa (Kapolei), Kaale Tiogangco (Hilo)

Running backs: Freedom Alualu (Farrington), Harmon Brown (Kahuku), Jensen McDaniel (Kaiser), Javen Towne (Waianae), Jurick Valdez (Waianae)

Wide receivers: Eamon Brady (Punahou), Isaiah Freeney (Waianae), Tyreek Keough (Leilehua), Kame Kim Choy-Keb-Lo (Aiea), Drew Kobayashi (Saint Louis), Jaymin Sarono (Kapolei), Andrew Simanu (Waipahu), Bryson Ventura (Mililani)

Offensive lineman: Kanai Eldredge (Punahou), Nilsson Gaisoa (Kailua), Mataio Fatuesi (Moanalua), Jedediah Heffernan (Kahuku)

Defensive lineman: Kahewai Kaaiawaawa (Mililani), Chance Kalaugher (Kaiser), Kawehe Kohatsu (Kailua), Isaac Liva (Mililani), Johnny Morrison (Kapolei), Christian Naeole (Iolani), Joey Nuuanu-Kuhiiki (Waianae), Logan Serikawa (Moanalua)

Linebackers: Manaia Atuaia (Kahuku), Jaylen Gonzales (Waianae), Brandon Hattori (Waianae), Melvin Hoomanawanui (Iolani), Jordan Iosefa (Saint Louis), Matthew Leilua (Waipahu), Toto Mailo (Waianae), Rocky Savea (Kapolei), Tyson Tafai (Campbell), Maa Tanuvasa Jr. (Mililani), Dylan Toililo (Saint Louis), Logan Williams (Punahou)

Defensive back: Kyle Bender (Moanalua), Awa Byers (Kailua), Tana Liana (Kapolei), William Prescott (Farrington), Kea Rodrigues (Moanalua), Jalen Saole (Saint Louis), Ramsey Tacadena (Mililani)

Utility: Aaron Bunting (Campbell), Parker Higgins (Kaiser), LeRod Tongi (Kahuku)

Other coaches that recieved consideration: Vavae Tata (Kahuku), Pohai Lee (Baldwin)






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