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Kamehameha Warriors

Head coach: Abu Maafala (5th season)
Offensive coordinator: Billy Borengasser
Defensive coordinator: Matt Wright

Players to watch: WR/SB Blaze Kamoku (5-9, 170, Sr.), WR/SB Kalanikuikahi Lorenzo (5-10, 170, Sr.), OL Marques Hickson (6-3, 340, Sr.), S/WR Evan Rau (5-10, 175, Sr.), DL Micah Kaonohi-Kaihenui (6-0, 235, Sr.)

Coach's words: "Overall, I like where we're at, but we're still going to experience some growing pains. I think we're pretty well-balanced, but with a lack of linemen and size, we'll be trying to use our speed and quickness to our advantage this season. We are talented, but untested. Our main focus will be keeping our guys healthy all season." - Abu Maafala

SL's take: The Warriors are the only team among the ILH's three Open Division teams to not have a new coach this fall. Maafala enters year No. 5 of his tenure at his alma mater and does do with a pair of new coordinators in Borengasser, who was promoted from JV head coach, and Wright, the former University of Hawaii linebacker and Saint Louis coach. The additions of Borengasser and Wright have allowed Maafala to delegate more of the daily responsibilities while he oversees the program - including the JV and intermediate teams - on a bigger picture. Maafala has approximately 65 players on the varsity team, including about a dozen linemen, many of whom will be asked to play both ways; Hickson won't be among them as he will focus primarily on playing OT. C Hiapo Kaapana is rated as a four-star long snapper and could very well land a scholarship for his special teams' prowess, according to Maafala, a former college special teams coordinator. Kealii Ah Yat (6-0, 180, Jr.) has the edge over Dwight Apao (6-0, 180, Sr.) and Ku Keopuhiwa (6-1, 190, Jr.) for the starting QB job. Ah Yat is the son of former Iolani QB Brian Ah Yat, who is in his first season as quarterbacks coach at Kamehameha. Kealii Ah Yat and Apao rotated in 2019, when they split the QB duties on the JV squad, but Maafala would like one guy to win the job this fall. Kamoku was the team's leading receiver as a sophomore two years ago, while Lorenzo led the Warriors in receiving touchdowns that season, including the game-winning TD reception with five seconds left in a 28-25 win over Farrington. Noah Bartley (5-9, 180, Sr.) and Micah Mahiai (6-0, 225, Sr.), a transfer from Kamehameha-Hawaii, are RBs with complementary styles and strengths. Bartley possesses more speed than Mahiai, who is more of a downhill, punishing style of back and will also play LB. The DL is very thin and will rely upon Kaonohi-Kaihenui, who served as the understudy to All-Hawaii first teamer and ILH Defensive Player of the Year Ezra Evaimalo in 2019. Rau, who will be a key contributor on both sides of the ball, but particularly so in the defensive secondary. While depth is certainly an issue this fall, Maafala is hopeful that the opportunity that his returnees got in the spring to practice three times a week alongside the departing members of the class of 2021 laid a solid foundation for this group moving forward.

SCHEDULE

Fri Aug 27  Punahouat Aloha StadiumL, 33-28
Fri Sep 24  Saint Louisat Aloha StadiumW, 23-21
Fri Oct 01  Punahouat Aloha StadiumW, 35-28
Fri Oct 15  Saint Louisat Aloha StadiumW, 34-31
Fri Oct 29  Saint Louisat Aloha StadiumL, 41-7
Fri Nov 05  Saint Louisat Aloha StadiumL, 35-21

league games bold *non-league **HHSAA tournament


2019 TEAM STATS

AVERAGESOFFENSEDEFENSE
POINTS15.326.9
YARDS207.2287.3
PASS142.6157.2
RUSH64.6130.1

TEAM CAPSULES


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