Freshmen Jeremiah Tauai, Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa and Tyrese Tafai start for a Campbell defense that has forced multiple turnovers in the Sabers' past five games. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Freshmen Jeremiah Tauai, Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa and Tyrese Tafai start for a Campbell defense that has forced multiple turnovers in the Sabers' past five games. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Time and time again, the Campbell defense proves that it is the heart and soul of the team.

The Sabers have forced multiple turnovers in all of their league games, and sit at third place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Blue standings after their 12-6 double overtime win over Moanalua last Friday. 

Campbell's defense boasts many playmakers, but the biggest surprise of the unit is the fact that it starts three freshmen: safety Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa and outside linebackers Jeremiah Tauai and Tyrese Tafai. 

The trio was a key factor in the Sabers' win over Na Menehune. Adkins-Kupukaa had two interceptions on Moanalua quarterback Alakai Yuen, one coming on the final play of regulation and the other to end Na Menehune's drive on the first possession of the second overtime period. Tauai had a game-high 8 1/2 tackles, 3 1/2 for loss, and a sack while Tafai played bracket coverage on Moanalua star wideout Ryan Ramones to help limit him to a season-low 52 receiving yards. 

"Our defense, we started shaping up in the second half and we came together as one," said Tafai. "We all had to believe in each other and believe that if one gets their job done, we all get the job done."

Tafai said the freshmen trio learned a lot from the first two games of the season: a 38-0 non-league loss to Kapolei and a 34-14 loss to Farrington to begin the OIA season. 

"The first two games were rough games that made us into the players that we are today," he said. "We just had to keep working hard in practice and keep believing in what the coaches preach.

"Our three freshmen, we all play a big role. We can play wherever the coaches want. We're hybrid players and we have the instincts to play."

Campbell coach Amosa Amosa credits defensive coordinator Vince Nihipali and the rest of the defensive staff for utilizing the freshmen's skill sets effectively for the team.

"I think coach Vince Nihipali and our defensive staff are doing a tremendous job of taking advantage of our personnel, because you can pull someone up from the JV and not really know how to use them," said Amosa. "They've become some of our safety (net) guys too, so they're very talented."

Tauai provides an effective edge rusher for the Sabers defense, with three sacks on the season. Amosa referred to the 6-foot-1, 190-pound linebacker as Campbell's version of former Pittsburgh Steeler legend Troy Polamalu. 

"He's one of our sensational freshmen. We love that he has that 1-2 speed," Amosa said of Tauai. "He's a guy that we can bring off the edge real quick and really wreak havoc for the quarterback. He doesn't waste too much time trying to fight the bigger guys and he just kind of gets there and he can adjust well to what the quarterback does."

Adkins-Kupukaa is the ball hawk of the defense with six interceptions and one fumble recovery through six games. Whenever Campbell is able to get pressure on the opposing quarterback, Adkins-Kupukaa is able to pluck wayward passes out of the sky.

"Pokii is a great player," said Tafai. "He's one of our best coverage guys on the team and he always comes up clutch when we need him." 

Tafai doesn't have as many stats as his freshmen teammates do, but is a skilled defender in pass coverage with a pass breakup in each of the Sabers' previous two wins. 

The two freshmen linebackers also serve key roles on special teams. Tauai is the team's punter and has converted two runs on fourth down to extend drives this season while Tafai has reliable hands to receive punts.