Kahuku sweeps Open Division preseason player of the year selections

ScoringLive photo illustration

ScoringLive Preseason Football Players of the Year - Open Division

Offensive Player of the Year: Kainoa Carvalho, Kahuku, WR/KR, Sr.

The play-making Carvalho accounted for 16 total touchdowns last, including five via kickoff and punt returns and led all of the Open Division in receiving yards. Carvalho posted 64 receptions for 1,029 yards and 10 TDs. He recorded 100-or-more receiving yards in his final six games of the year, including a season-best effort against Mililani when he notched 10 catches for 194 yards and two TDs. Despite the graduation of quarterback Jason Mariteragi, expectations remain high for Big Red with first-year starter Waika Crawford at the controls and Carvalho — Crawford's cousin — will surely have a big hand in that.

Others considered (in alphabetical order): Kealii Ah Yat, Kamehameha, QB, Jr.; Waika Crawford, Kahuku, QB, Sr.; John Keawe-Sagapolutele, Punahou, QB, Sr.; Tana Tavui, Campbell, ATH, So.

Defensive Player of the Year: Liona Lefau, Kahuku, LB, Sr.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Lefau is the brightest star on a Red Raider defense, that is yet again, loaded with talent. Three of the four Kahuku defenders who earned All-Hawaii First Team honors in 2021 return for their senior seasons, headlined by Lefau, who gave a verbal commitment to the University of Texas over the summer. In Kahuku's two state tournament games last December, Lefau tallied a team-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops, one sack and an interception against Saint Louis in the title game. He went on to be named All-OIA and All-Hawaii Defensive Player of the Year.

Others considered (in alphabetical order): Leonard Ah You, Kahuku, LB, Sr.; Blesyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu, Campbell, LB, Sr.; Gavin Hunter, Mililani, DB, Sr.; Iosefa Tapeni, Kapolei, DL, Sr.