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Waialua Bulldogs

Head coach/Defensive coordinator: Gary Wirtz (1st season)
Offensive coordinator: Kawika Apau

Players to watch: ATH Kawika Benz (5-10, 160, Sr.), RB/DB/K Ezekiel Sheridan (5-9, 160, Sr.), TE/DE Sebastian Stone (6-4, 240, Sr.), MLB/RB Jonah Baker (5-7, 175, Sr.), QB Tyson Apau (6-0, 160, Jr.)

Coach's words: "We've got tough competition and it's hard to say exactly how we stack up with the rest, because a lot of us in this division are right there around the same caliber and one play can change things either way - for the win or the loss - and I think it's like that throughout the whole division, but honestly, I see us making the playoffs. I see more plays going for the positive for us than the other way and us making the playoffs." - Gary Wirtz

SL's take: Wirtz, a native of Columbus, Ohio and a former Army Ranger and Green Beret, takes over as head coach of the Bulldogs after Lincoln Barit retired earlier this year after more than three decades with the program. Wirtz was an assistant under Barit for a few seasons and has had one son, Samuel, a recent Waialua graduate, play for the team and another, Gabriel, is a currently a sophomore LB and TE - a family affair, to be sure. Although this is the first time that Wirtz has been a head football coach, he's familiar with just about all of his current players through his time as a youth football and baseball coach. One of them is Benz, whose athleticism will be counted on in any number of positions this fall, including QB, WR and KR. Sheridan played DE as a sophomore, but has moved to S and will handle the kicking duties. Apau is a dual-threat QB that Wirtz compares to Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson. Wirtz would like to utilize Apau's mobility, but would also like to limit the amount of contact that he takes. The Bulldogs have gone away from the run-and-shoot offense, in favor of a power spread attack utilized by Urban Meyer at Florida and Ohio State. With a traditionally small roster, Wirtz noted that the power spread - which includes a tight end and a more balanced run-to-pass ratio than the run-and-shoot - should allow for the defense to get more time to rest before getting back on the field. An important piece to the new system will be Stone, who will play the TE position (in addition to DE on defense). Stone is raw in terms of football knowledge, but very athletic and with his size, will be a matchup problem for teams. Good things are expected from youngster Landon Teixeira (5-11, 270, Fr.) on the OL, which has good depth and interchangeable pieces. Baker, the MLB, plays much bigger than his listed height and will also be part of a rotation at RB, including Taylor Calaro (5-9, 160, Fr.) and Kingston Pascual (5-4, 150, So.). Unlike most other programs, Waialua's roster has grown to the 40s,�the most on the team in 10 years or so, which bodes well for the future.

SCHEDULE

Sat Oct 16  McKinleyat RooseveltW, 15-13
Sat Oct 23  Kaiser L, 31-7
Sat Oct 30  Kalani L, 30-7
Sat Nov 13  Kalaheo W, 21-15
Sat Nov 20@   Radford L, 62-21
Fri Nov 26  Pearl City L, 22-17
Fri Dec 03@   Nanakuli L, 58-7
Sat Dec 11  Kaimukiat FarringtonL, 28-14

league games bold *non-league **HHSAA tournament


2019 TEAM STATS

AVERAGESOFFENSEDEFENSE
POINTS26.531.5
YARDS273.5367.5
PASS188.1201.0
RUSH85.5166.5

TEAM CAPSULES


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