It's likely an understatement to say that Kalani Meyers-Tuinei is wise beyond his years. 

Meyers-Tuinei, a freshman running back for the Waianae football team, has been able to parlay that maturity into success on the gridiron this fall. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound ball carrier is averaging a shade under seven yards per carry. In his last two games, Meyers-Tuinei has racked up 313 rushing yards on 36 carries. 

Seariders interim coach Whiston Kaleimamahu describes Meyers-Tuinei as a scatback type of ballcarrier with shiftiness and the ability to change directions on a dime. 

"He's not that typical Waianae back you would see in the past where they're 5-10, 225-pound guys that would smash through. We haven't been blessed with those types of backs in the past eight, nine years that I've been here, but he fits that new mode of running back you see: smaller, quicker, great feet," Kaleimamahu said. 

Kaleimamahu, who took over on an interim basis after former coach Vince Nihipali abruptly resigned two weeks ago, has developed a relationship with Meyers-Tuinei over several years of youth football. 

"I've known him personally since he was 11 through coaching him in park leagues in community in the offseason and being able to watch him grow has been quite a feat," Kaleimamahu said. 

He noted that Meyers-Tuinei's family is deeply-rooted into the Waianae community. His grandparents lead a prominent church on the Leeward coast, where his mother serves as pastor. On the football field, Meyers-Tuinei's biological father, stepfather and uncle all suited up for the Seariders in their prep days. 

"His whole family is Waianae; they're all Seariders. I know his mom and dad personally from growing up together. His (biological) dad died when Kalani was one. I played with the dad in high school and I also went to school with (stepdad) and the mom and they've created this safe space for him where he can be himself and grow and so I think his upbringing has a lot to do with his maturity," Kaleimamahu said. 

Meyers-Tuinei, as you would expect, is deep into his faith. 

"He does park league basketball, I think he messed around with baseball and he does a lot of pylon and offseason workouts. He's got a good frame for wrestling so I'm hoping he goes out for that and maybe track. His dad is on our coaching staff and Kalani is a football junkie. Outside of that he's always at church and is heavily involved in whatever is going on with the church," Kaleimamahu said. 

Meyers-Tuinei is one of three freshmen on the Seariders varsity squad. He and backup quarterback Memphis Baker have been teammates for a long time running. Starting quarterback John Michael "JJ" Kaio is a cousin of Meyers-Tuinei. 

"I think having Memphis up on varsity with Kalani helps because they've played at every level together. For Kalani, I think he tested at all the private schools and he might have gotten accepted at all the rival schools, but he wanted to stay home and come to Waianae, like the rest of his family did and in this day where kids want to go here or go there, it's nice to see some of the freshmen step up and stay home," Kaleimamahu said. 

Over the course of the summer, Meyers-Tuinei emerged as the starting running back job despite competing with a quartet of seniors. He did it via some good, old-fashioned hard work. 

"There were some workouts over the summer that he was the only running back — he was that kid that always showed up, that you could count on to be at practice — and through that he was able to gain the trust of the linemen. I think coach Vince gave him an opportunity and kind of imparted his wisdom on him and kind of supported him and let him walk through that growth and development on the varsity side and all of those are big factors in who he is," Kaleimamahu said. 

Early on in the fall, Meyers-Tuinei dabbled at slotback, but ultimately found his niche in the offensive backfield. 

"There were battles and challenges along the way but he always seemed to rise from it, learn from it and he puts in a lot of time on his own. He always does extra, stays after practice to work and never complains, so we just knew we had to get this kid on the field," Kaleimamahu said. 

Beyond Meyers-Tuinei's athletic ability, Kaleimamahu also has high praise for his character. 

"He's respectful, disciplined, accountable and he's very coachable. You tell him something and it's always ‘yes, coach,' or ‘no, coach.' In this time where everybody has an excuse, he just says ‘yes, coach.' He'll ask questions and he's just kind of epitomizes the kind of kid that we're trying to foster now and would be the model kid that we want. When we talk to the intermediate kids or kids in the park, we tell them to model yourself after someone like him," Kaleimamahu said. 

Although Meyers-Tuinei ran for a then career-high 117 yards on 15 carries against Moanalua two weeks ago, it came in a 27-13 loss to Na Menehune. That result followed a tumultuous 48 hours for the Seariders that saw Nihipali offer his resignation. 

Subsequently, there was a lot on the line for Waianae in its regular-season finale last Friday at Kaiser. 

"The stakes were high: we lose and we're out (of the playoffs)," Kaleimamahu stated. "We told our guys that to have such a good season and to not finish the race would be kind of a slap in the face to what they've done the whole season by just letting it slip away."

Kaleimamahu's crew responded to the call to action with a resounding 27-7 win over the Cougars to secure a spot in the four-team OIA Division I tournament. 

Meyers-Tuinei played a prominent role in the victory with 241 yards from scrimmage. He carried 21 times for 196 yards — both career-best marks — an average of 9.3 yards per rush and caught three passes for an additional 45 yards. 

With little more than three minutes left in the first quarter, Meyers-Tuinei stretched his team's lead to 12-0 with a 71-yard touchdown run. Kaleimamahu did his best to describe the impressive scoring play. 

"He was going left and it got all clogged up and the linebackers were coming free — he was dead to rights — but then he stops, pivots, cuts back right and he's out the door. There was no one there and he took it to the house, so his instincts on the field are better than most kids and that's something you can't really teach," Kaleimamahu said. 

It's certainly not the first time that Meyers-Tuinei has shown the ability to make a momentum-turning play. 

"Watching him run the past couple of weeks since I've taken over, he makes a lot of individual effort plays that I haven't noticed until I went back and watched film and I'll notice that we missed a block on that play, but he'll adjust and make something out of nothing," Kaleimamahu said. 

For as many jaw-dropping moments Meyer-Tuinei has been responsibility for with the football, it was one particular play from Friday where he didn't have the football that sums up the effort that he puts forth on a daily basis. 

"We were driving and our quarterback fumbles, the (defensive player) picks it up at the 50 and you see this little muskrat chase him down around the six- or seven-yard line and tackles him. Our defense then gets a sack and then they miss the field goal, so you're talking about a 14-point swing that helps us keep momentum in the second half and if there's a play that symbolizes what he's about, that's it right there and that was the first play I showed on film when we watched the tape on Monday," Kaleimamahu said. 

The win over the Cougars was not only necessary for the Seariders to extend their season, but one of redemption for Kaleimamahu and company.

"That win was huge and for me personally, because I've been a Searider my whole life and kind of stepping in and filling some big shoes that coach Vince left, especially how that Moanalua game went down, just to bounce back was big.

Waianae, the No. 15 team in this week's ScoringLive Power Rankings, is the No. 2 seed in the OIA D1 tournament. 

Meyers-Tuinei and the Seariders (8-2 overall, 5-2 league) will play host to third-seeded Aiea on Nov. 1. Kickoff at Raymond Torii Field is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. 

FOOTBALL

Emery Abilla, Waialua — Threw for 156 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-20 passing without an interception, ran eight times for 96 yards and a touchdown and scored on a 63-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kaimuki 

Jahren Altura, Saint Louis — Recorded an interception and scored on a 98-yard punt return for touchdown in a win over Kamehameha 

Luke Barner, Radford — Caught six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown and kicked a 17-yard field goal in a loss to Moanalua 

Tai Buenconsejo, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored on an 81-yard kickoff return for touchdown ina  win over Lahainaluna

Champ Colburn, Aiea — Caught six passes for 135 yards and a touchdown in a win over Nanakuli 

Talan Jay Domingo, Kaimuki — Ran for a touchdown and scored on a 37-yard interception return for touchdown in a loss to Waialua 

Shayden Domingo, Konawaena — Ran 16 times for 110 yards and a touchdown in a win over Keaau 

Trehsyn Fesili, Mililani — Made 10 ½ tackles, including two for losses and one sack and intercepted a pass in a win over Kapolei 

Cameron Jackson, Roosevelt — Ran eight times for 166 yards and three touchdowns in a win over McKinley 

Caizel Jesus-Kapesi, Aiea — Threw for 495 yards and five touchdowns on 23-of-41 passing without an interception in a win over Nanakuli 

Tayvin Kahele, Kailua — Caught six passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in a win over Waipahu 

Zade Kalua, Nanakuli — Ran 21 times for 110 yards in a loss to Aiea 

Ioane Kamanao, Roosevelt — Threw for 102 yards on 5-of-7 passing without an interception, ran eight times for 76 yards and three touchdowns and kicked six extra points and one field goal in a win over McKinley 

Isaiah Keaunui-Demello, Kailua — Threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-26 passing with an interception in a win over Waipahu 

Hiki Kim Choy-Keb-Ah Lo, Aiea — Caught 11 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns and made 4 ½ tackles and intercepted a pass in a win over Nanakuli 

Mose Lilo, Saint Louis — Threw for 147 yards and three touchdowns on 13-of-19 passing with one interception in a win over Kamehameha 

Malosi Muaau, Nanakuli — Caught eight passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Aiea 

Brennan Ramirez-Wojtowicz, Waialua — Ran seven times for 133 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kaimuki 

Nicholas Segawa, Kalani — Ran 22 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kalaheo 

Kingston Siliado, Saint Louis — Caught 10 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kamehameha 

Jahsiah Souza-Armstead, Konawaena — Caught nine passes for 105 yards and a touchdown and recorded an interception in a win over Keaau 

Afi Togafau, Radford — Ran 14 times for 139 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 50 yards in a loss to Moanalua 

Ethan Toia, Aiea — Made 10 ½ tackles in a win over Nanakuli 

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Uilani Ahana, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 22 kills, four digs, one block assist and an ace in a five-set win over Kekaulike 

Taimane Ainuu, Iolani — Had 14 kills, four digs, four block assists and two aces in a three-set win over Kamehameha 

Hillei Alo, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 48 set assists, five kills and three aces in a five-set win over Kekaulike 

Navaeh Brown, Roosevelt — Had 36 set assists, six digs and four aces in a three-set win over Waianae 

Archer Fabrao, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 16 kills, 16 digs, three block assists, three set assists and three aces in a five-set win over Kekaulike 

Gianna Facciolla, Waianae — Had 16 set assists and 11 digs in a three-set loss to Roosevelt 

Kacie Garnett, Roosevelt — Had 15 kills, eight digs, two block assists, one set assist and one ace in a three-set win over Waianae 

Poema Kalama-Kingma, Iolani — Had 13 kills, eight digs, one set assist and an ace in a three-set win over Kamehameha 

Zsiare Lakalo, Campbell — Had 26 set assists, 13 digs and two kills in a three-set win over Kalaheo 

Evan LeClair, Leilehua — Had 10 kills, 24 digs, 21 set assists and four aces in a five-set win over Waipahu 

Kacie Miyahira, Kapolei — Had 18 digs, five set assists and two aces in a three-set win over Kalani and had 24 digs, one set assist and an ace in a four-set win loss to Moanalua 

Cali Moniz-Kealoha, Leilehua — Had 18 kills, 25 digs, one solo block and a block assist in a five-set win over Waipahu 

Bailey Nakanelua, Iolani — Had 39 set assists, three digs, two kills and one block assist in a three-set win over Kamehameha 

Anny Scott, Kapolei — Had 30 set assists, nine digs, five aces and two kills in a four-set loss to Moanalua 

Tea Suan, Waipahu — Had 24 digs, nine kills, two block assists and one ace in a five-set loss to Leilehua 

Maila Tawata, Waipahu — Had 29 digs, two aces and one set assist in a five-set loss to Leilehua 

Cami Watanabe, Leilehua — Had 18 digs and four set assists in a five-set win over Waipahu