Top Performers
Damien's Faufata-Pedrina, Kahuku's Williams earn weekly honors




Male Athlete of the Week: Marcus Faufata-Pedrina, Damien
In each of Damien's three games this football season, Marcus Faufata-Pedrina has rushed for more than 100 yards and averaged nine yards per carry.

Not bad for a quarterback.

The Damien junior did it again Saturday, when he ran for a team-high 114 yards — nearly half of those coming on a 60-yard touchdown run — on just 10 carries. Faufata-Pedrina threw for 232 yards and three other scores for good measure in the Monarchs' 41-7 win over Kealakehe in a non-league game played at Aiea High School.

The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Faufata-Perdina completed 13 of 20 pass attempts and was not intercepted.

"I think he did a good job of executing the offense," Damien coach Eddie Klaneski said. "We're still kind of working on his game and what he needs to do in situations, but for the most part Saturday, he ran the ball and used his legs when he needed to and got the ball out there when the opportunities were there to throw it."

As a team, the Monarchs marched to 526 yards of total offense in a balanced effort (283 yards rushing, 243 pass). Six different players caught a pass, including tight end Shaun Apiki's six receptions for 59 yards. He was on the receiving end of a 4-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and a 13-yard scoring strike in the third, both from Faufata-Pedrina.

"We have a bunch of athletic guys that can run after the catch, so we have certain plays set up for certain people and Marcus is doing a good job of getting it to those guys, although he does have to make some reads," Klaneski said. "Also our guys have been catching the ball well and running after the catch."

Running backs Deacon Kapea (5 rushes for 92 yards) and Justice White (10 for 77) came through with complementary performances to Faufata-Pedrina. Kapea's 68-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter closed out the scoring.

For the season, Faufata-Pedrina has completed 61.1 percent (44 of 72) of his passes for 590 yards with 9 TDs to 3 INTs. He has already exceeded his touchdown total from all of last season.

"He studies a lot, he knows the game and he thinks about what he's doing," Klaneski said. "He's still kind of learning the little intricacies of the passing game and reading things pre-snap, but he's getting better at that. He's been doing a good job of being a leader on the field and earning the respect of everyone on the football field."

The Monarchs have rebounded with back-to-back wins after a 46-24 loss at Moanalua, in which Faufata-Pedrina threw for 356 yards and six touchdowns, but was also intercepted three times.

"We made a few mistakes offensively and he made a few decisions that he would take back, but when we'd look back at the tape it wasn't just him making mistakes, but people around him were making mistakes, so it definitely was a learning experience for us and for him," Klaneski said. "It's helped him to develop through the last couple of games and in practice so that when we had those certain play calls again, he knows that he can't make the same mistakes again."

One week later Faufata-Pedrina threw for 220 yards and five TDs — without an interception — and rushed for 132 yards to lead Damien to a 33-0 win over Maui.

Faufata-Pedrina and the Monarchs are 2-1 after playing three Division I opponents in as many weeks and will have a week off before opening up defense of their Interscholastic League of Honolulu D2 title against Saint Francis on Sept. 2.

-Kalani Takase


Female Athlete of the Week: Carey Williams, Kahuku volleyball
Carey Williams lets her play on the court do the talking for her.

The senior 5-foot-9 outside hitter had 11 kills, seven digs, two blocks and two aces to help the Red Raiders defeat defending state champion Kamehameha in the 13th annual Hawaii Girls Volleyball Invitational final Saturday afternoon. The set scores were 25-23, 21-25 and 25-22.

Although she didn't have her best game, Williams was clutch when her team needed a point. Ten of her 11 kills helped regain the serve for the Red Raiders.

"She was struggling, but she just kept firing and coming back," Kahuku second-year coach Mounia Tachibana said on Williams. "Carey did an awesome job in getting back on her two feet. Sometimes she falters, but she's really good at returning her (head) back in the game."

Tachibana said that Williams leads and motivates the team through her actions more than her words. 

"She barely does any of the talking for our team, but a lot of our girls take to her because of how she plays, especially during games when we need it the most. She's that kind of leader to take care of business, and people follow her for her actions."

Following Williams' lead is easy to do when her level of play is consistent from practice to game day. 

"She's a hard worker, whether it's academically or athletically, but the way you see her on the court, that's how she is in practice," said Tachibana. "She doesn't work hard just on game days. The way you see her hit, pass and dig, it's nothing different in practice. She's pretty much an open book. What you see is what you get and what she gives you is what you get, which is a 110 percent." 

Tachibana added that she has noticed a sense of urgency in Williams' demeanor this year.

"She's a lot more focused," said Tachibana. "For her, she knows what to expect from me. She knows what kind of game we want to play so it's nothing different for her. I think because it's her senior year, she has even more motivation to leave everything on the court."

While Williams has the power to make opposing players fear, she is also crafty enough to earn points with finesse. 

"She's grown a lot," said Tachibana. "In the (Ann Kang) tournament she had two 6-foot-2 players blocking against her. Although she had a few kills and blocks, she had to figure it out. She developed her (volleyball IQ) as well, just knowing how to get it around bigger blocks." 

When the Warriors tried to put up a double block on her, Williams used a timely tip to give Kahuku a 11-10 lead in the third set. Her final two kills of the match were also off the Kamehameha block, which tied the game at 17 and 20.

The Red Raiders struggled with service errors in the first and second set, but cleaned it up in the deciding game to stun the Warriors. 

"Our coach just told us to just put our serves in so we can have a chance to play, instead of giving them free points," said Williams, who had six kills and six digs in the third set alone.

After Williams' kill tied the third set at 20, Kahuku got back-to-back aces from setter Sharie Niu to go up 22-20. Kamehameha came back to cut into Kahuku's lead, 23-22, but lost the serve on a service error and the Red Raiders were able to celebrate a thrilling win. 

"It was pretty exciting because we don't play (Kamehameha) during the regular season, but we just had to come out with energy and just cheer on every point," said Williams. "We're very excited for our season." 

The Red Raiders host Kalani next Monday to begin league play in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division.

-Michael Lasquero


GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Kayla Afoa, Kamehameha — Had 13 kills, seven digs and two aces in a loss to Kahuku

Phoebe Grace, Kahuku — Had seven kills, five blocks (one solo) in a win over Kamehameha

Kyra Hanawahine, Kamehameha — Had 11 digs and six aces in a loss to Kahuku

ShaRae Niu, Kahuku — Had 23 assists, three kills and three aces in a win over Kamehameha


FOOTBALL
Feleti Afemui, Maui — Scored on an 89-yard fumble return in a win over Lahainaluna

Chayce Akaka, Baldwin — Rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another score in a loss to Edison

Shawn Apiki, Damien — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Kealakehe

Brandon Bender, Moanalua — Caught 10 passes for 88 yards with a touchdown and made seven tackles with a pass break-up in a loss to Waianae

Tony Cabral, Waianae — Scored on a 58-yard interception return in a win over Moanalua

Ryan Chang, Mililani — Caught three passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in a win over Castle

Dustin Cho, Konawaena — Intercepted two passes in a win over Saint Francis

Kainoa Davis, Maui — Intercepted two passes in a win over Lahainaluna

Austin Deperalta, Waiakea — Rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in a loss to Honokaa

Challen Faamatau, Farrington — Rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries in a win over Kailua

Nathan Facuri, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored on a 22-yard fumble return in a win over King Kekaulike

Dillon Gabriel, Mililani — Threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-20 passing in a win over Castle

Justin Genovia, Iolani — Caught six passes for 102 yards in a win over Waimea

Ocean Guerpo, Honokaa — Threw for 181 yards and five touchdowns on 14-of-22 passing in a win over Waiakea

Calton Joseph, Kaimuki — Scored on an 81-yard kickoff return in a loss to Kalani

Micah Kalei, Saint Francis — Scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone in a loss to Konawaena

Kekaula Kaniho, Kahuku — Scored on a 65-yard kickoff return in a win over Aiea

Josh Kansana, Kapolei — Ran for two touchdowns in a win over Leilehua

Luke Kava, Saint Louis — Scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone in a win over Hilo

Kasey Kikuyama, Pearl City — Intercepted two passes in a win over Roosevelt

Kailiohu Kila, Mililani — Rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries in a win over Castle

Pomai Kim, Damien — Scored on a 10-yard fumble return in a win over Kealakehe

Shaun Kim, Kaiser — Scored on a 71-yard kickoff return in a win over Kaiser

Steven Lombard, Kahuku — Rushed for three touchdowns in a win over Aiea

Hanisi Lotulelei, Maui — Scored on a 15-yard fumble return in a win over Lahainaluna

Fangaima Mailei, Campbell — Caught six passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kaiser

Wembley Mailei, Saint Francis — Rushed for a touchdown, intercepted two passes and scored on a 25-yard pick-6 in a loss to Konawaena

Omar Mareko, Kapolei — Made a team-high seven tackles, including one for loss, and intercepted a pass in a win over Leilehua

Damon Martin, Kamehameha-Maui — Rushed for 244 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in a win over King Kekaulike

Tai-John Mizutani, Iolani — Threw for 236 yards and a touchdown on 14-of-24 passing in a win over Waimea

Calvin Mock, Pearl City — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Roosevelt

Stokes Nihipali-Botelho — Scored on a 25-yard interception return in a win over Aiea

Gehrig Octavio, Waiakea — Threw for 160 yards with three touchdowns and ran for 103 yards in a loss to Honokaa

Jalen Olomua, Mililani — Rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown on six carries in a win over Castle

KJ Pascua, Iolani — Rushed for three touchdowns in a win over Waimea

Jorell Pontes-Borje, Waianae — Rushed for a touchdown and caught another score in a win over Moanalua

Ryan Ramones, Moanalua — Caught eight passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Waianae

Kea Rodrigues, Moanalua — Made seven tackles and scored on a 45-yard fumble return in a loss to Waianae

Rico Rosario, Waianae — Rushed for 125 yards with a touchdown on eight carries and caught three passes for 88 yards and another score in a win over Waianae

Ezekiel Samuelu, McKinley — Scored on a 21-yard interception return in a loss to Kalaheo

Kainoa Sanchez, Kamehameha-Maui — Threw a touchdown pass and rushed for another in a win over King Kekaulike

Jaymin Sarono, Kapolei — Caught seven passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Leilehua

Kalani Segovia, Kapolei — Intercepted two passes in a win over Leilehua

Iosua Sevao, Campbell — Intercepted two passes in a win over Kaiser

Kekainalu Simon, Pearl City — Threw three touchdown passes in a win over Roosevelt

Frank Steffany, McKinley — Rushed for 121 yards on 10 carries in a loss to Kalaheo

Taulia Tagovailoa, Kapolei — Threw for 231 yards and three touchdowns on 19-of-35 passing in a win over Leilehua

Tua Tagovailoa, Saint Louis — Threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-16 passing in a win over Hilo

Tristan Thulin-Marsh, Kalaheo — Caught six passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in a win over McKinley

Seth Tina-Sobarano, Kalani — Threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-25 passing in a win over Kaimuki

Chad Uehara, Kalani — Scored on a 25-yard interception return in a win over Kaimuki

Jaren Ulu, Waianae — Passed for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-16 passion in a win over Moanalua

Kawika Ulufale, Campbell — Threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-32 passing

Braxton Victor, Leilehua — Made a team-high seven tackles, including 4 1/2 for losses, and three sacks in a loss to Kapolei





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