'Mini Mo' follows 'Mighty Mo' as Leilehua quarterback

Brian Bautista | SL

WAHIAWA - During his days with the University of Hawaiii Rainbow Warriors, Bryant Moniz was touted as "Mighty Mo" as part of a Heisman Trophy campaign by UH in 2011. These days, the Moniz legacy continues with his daughter, Cali Moniz-Kealoha, affectionately called "Mini Mo" when she was younger.

At 5 feet 10 inches tall, she is hardly "mini" these days as the Leilehua sophomore is following her father's cleat marks as a quarterback, but for Leilehua's girls flag football team. She understands the history of her father, who ranks third in UH football history with 10,169 passing yards (behind Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan) and was an all-state quarterback for Leilehua.

"It's cool," Moniz-Kealoha said of playing for her father, the head coach of the girls' team. "I've always been known as 'Mini Mo,"'so to take it out on the field and perform, it feels good."

Perform indeed.

In Waianae's preseason tournament on Saturday, Moniz-Kealoha passed for 177 yards on 11-of-17 passing with TD passes of 7 and 47 yards in a 26-7 win against Campbell. In the second game, in less than a half, she was 6 of 8 for 100 yards and two TD passes, including. 50-yarder in a 33-7 win against Castle.

The regular season starts March 25.

Flag football was introduced in the fall by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association with five leagues participating. A state tournament is planned.

The progression for Moniz fell into place.

After his playing career, Moniz started the Hawaii Football Academy, a youth organization that plays flag football. Cali played in a mix league with boys, but was primarily a wide receiver, she said. With his daughter in high school now, it was only natural for Moniz to apply for the new coaching job. He had served as offensive coordinator for the Leilehua boys football team in the fall.

"I'm lucky to have her as a QB because coaching never stops, right?" Moniz said. "It's kind of to our advantage. We live together, so I can always coach her up. Definitely fortunate and more than anything I'm enjoying the time I get to spend with my daughter."

Cali realizes the position she is in having a father who played quarterback at a high level.

"It helps a lot," she said. "We have.a lot of advantage over other schools. We can put in extra work at home, talk together about film and just go over stuff other coaches wouldn't be able to go over with their quarterbacks."

But football is not Cali's first sport. Her favorite is volleyball. In fact, this week she is traveling to the mainland with her club team, Spike and Serve, for a tournament, where college recruiters will be watching. She played outside hitter for the Mules this past season.

"My mom always wanted me to play volleyball," Cali said, "so I just gave it a chance and I immediately fell in love the game, the atmosphere, the competitiveness."

Her dream is to play college volleyball at her father's alma mater and become a Rainbow Wahine.

Friends of Moniz, who played professionally in the Arena Football League and Canadian Football League, have heard of the new signal caller in the family and has taken some good-natured ribbing.

"My good friend from Waianae High School said, ‘I think you daughter is the best QB in your family.'"

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].