Senior RB Ieke Seei-Cleveland rushed for 172 yards and scored three touchdowns while catching five passes for 85 yards in Kaimuki's 41-34 win over Kalani. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Athlete of the Week: Ieke Seei-Cleveland, Kaimuki football
No one has to question where Ieke Seei-Cleveland's mind is at when it's game time.

The senior running back carried the ball 26 times for a career-high 172 yards with three touchdowns to lead Kaimuki to a 41-34 win over Kalani last Saturday night at Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union Field at Aloha Stadium.

Seei-Cleveland, a four-year varsity player, added five receptions for a team-high 85 yards to help the Bulldogs improve to 2-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II standings.

"What can I not say about that guy, his numbers speak of how he really takes the game serious," said third-year Kaimuki coach David Tautofi. "He's driven and focused like no other. He's definitely been on top of his game."

The numbers do not lie when it comes to Seei-Cleveland. In nine games in 2016, he led the team in rushing with 384 yards. In just two games this year, the 5-foot-9, 210-pound running back has already amassed 334 rushing yards on just 40 carries.

Tautofi said that Seei-Cleveland's success comes from preparation.

"This year, he's definitely done his homework in watching film, watching some of the NFL and college greats," said Tautofi. "If you're on the field to watch this guy prepare and warmup and see how he runs, you can tell of the drive and focus that he has."

While Seei-Cleveland has been putting up big numbers so far, he also come up clutch in key moments in the Bulldogs' shootout win over the Falcons. The senior running back got past the sticks on five of Kaimuki's 11 third down attempts and added a 29-yard reception on a fourth-and-10 situation.

"The one thing that makes Ieke a special kind of back and guy, is that he always has a plan," said Tautofi. "When he's running, there's always something that he's aiming to do, and he looks at the down and distance and what the call is. He's determined and he'll make every option and effort to make sure it happens."

Seei-Cleveland made his presence known from the start of the game, catching a 12-yard pass on Kaimuki's first play from scrimmage and a 19-yard pass two plays later.

"Ieke is probably the most sure-handed receiver on the team," said Tautofi. "When I started here couple years ago, he was a slot receiver. He's had that experience as a receiver, but to put that along with his skills in the backfield, it's a pretty deadly combination."

On the same drive, Seei-Cleveland converted a third-and-9 situation with a 22-yard run to give the Bulldogs first-and-goal at the 8-yard line. He ran in the first score of the game on the next play to give Kaimuki the early advantage.

The Bulldogs scored on their next possession, but Kalani came right back to make it a 14-all game heading into the second quarter. After a long punt return by Naomas Asuega-Fualaau, Seei-Cleveland ran in a 4-yard TD to give Kaimuki the lead for good at the 8:53 mark of the second period.

The senior running back scored his last TD of the night on a 19-yard run on third-and-7 to make it a 35-27 game midway through the third quarter.

"When he runs, he runs with a passion, he runs with a purpose," said Tautofi. "It's really his willpower that does it. When he wants it, he'll go get it. That also plays into my confidence that I have in him. When I look at him, I don't need to second guess where his mind is at."

Tautofi added that Seei-Cleveland has been a positive influence on the younger players of the team.

"He sets the examples by his actions, and he's very emotionally driven, like a Ray Lewis. He's not as vocal, but when he's vocal, he's vocal. He'll push his teammates in a way where they grow.

"There's no doubt in my mind that every kids on this team sees that in him. It speaks volumes for these kids and that's a healthy thing and a good thing for us."

Seei-Cleveland and the Bulldogs will travel to Iolani Saturday afternoon for a non-league contest.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Saige Kaahaaina-Torres, Iolani — Had a match-high 13 kills in a two-set win over Kamehameha to help the Raiders win the Hawaii Volleyball Invitational

FOOTBALL
Ethan Abe, Konawaena — Forced and recovered a fumble and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown in a loss to Saint Francis

Pokii Adkins-Kupukaa, Campbell — Caught five passes for 140 yards with two touchdowns and also scored on an 87-yard interception return in a win over Aiea

Miki Ah You, Kahuku — Had three tackles and scored on a 52-yard punt return in a win over Waianae

Isaiah Ahana, Kapolei — Caught four passes for 87 yards with two touchdowns and ran for another score in a win over Castle

Jonan Aina-Chaves, Saint Francis — Carried 16 times for 233 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Konawaena

Wendell Alob, Farrington — Intercepted two passes in a win over Nanakuli

Akila Arecchi, Damien — Caught five passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Villa Park

Ikaika Asinsin, Pearl City — Threw a touchdown pass and ran for another in a win over Roosevelt

Bronson Buck, Castle — Had 15 1/2 tackles, two for loss, and one sack in a loss to Kapolei

Tony Cabral, Waianae — Made seven tackles, including one for loss, in a loss to Kahuku

Stephen Eter, Farrington — Passed for 110 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Nanakuli

Reginald Faamatau, Farrington — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Nanakuli

Nathan Facuri, Kamehameha-Maui — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Maui

Torey Faimealelei, Kaimuki — Had two sacks and forced a fumble in a win over Kalani

Tausili Fiatoa, Kahuku — Had 7 1/2 tackles, including three for loss, forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass in a win over Waianae

Dillon Gabriel, Mililani — Threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-26 passing in a win over Leilehua

Kaniala Kalaola, Kapolei — Completed 23 of 28 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Castle

Justin Kenoi, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a win over Waiakea

Siolei Lopes-Liutolo, McKinley — Threw a touchdown pass and rushed for another score in a loss to Kalaheo

Kaimi Like, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Threw a touchdown pass and ran in another score in a win over Waiakea

Treven Maae, Kapolei — Had four tackles, 2 1/2 for loss, and scored on a 7-yard fumble return in a win over Castle

Wembley Mailei, Saint Francis — Scored on a 35-yard interception return and recovered a fumble in a win over Konawaena

Kilifi Malepeai, Mililani — Rushed 11 times for 100 yards with two touchdowns and caught two passes for 38 yards and another score in a win over Leilehua

Scott McLeod, Saint Francis — Caught a touchdown pass and rushed for another score in a win over Konawaena

Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala, Kapolei — Caught six passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in a win over Castle

Charles Mortensen, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a win over Waiakea

Raysen Motoyama, Mililani — Rushed six times for 78 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Leilehua

Kekona Naipo-Arsiga, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a win over Waiakea

Dylan Naehu, Kapolei — Had six tackles, 2 1/2 for loss, one sack and forced a fumble in a win over Castle

Enoch Nawahine, Kahuku — Rushed eight times for 98 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waianae

Suliveti Nisa, Kaimuki — Recorded two sacks in a win over Kalani

Justus Neufelt, Kalaheo — Threw four touchdown passes in a win over McKinley

Derek Perez, Lahainaluna — Scored on a 57-yard punt return in a win over King Kekaulike

Justin Pulido, Maui — Ran in two touchdowns in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui

Elijah Ragudo, Lahainaluna — Ran for two touchdowns in a win over King Kekaulike

Samson Rasay, Kailua — Rushed 19 times for 138 yards with a touchdown in a win over Buckeye Union

Alihikaua Rodrigues, Pearl City — Recovered two fumbles, including one he returned for a 21-yard touchdown, and had a sack in a win over Roosevelt

Kainoa Sanchez, Kamehameha-Maui — Threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another in a win over Maui

Jordan Solomon, Kaimuki — Threw for 128 yards with a touchdown and rushed for 87 yards and two other scores in a win over Kalani

Tyrese Tafai, Campbell — Rushed for a touchdown and intercepted a pass in a win over Aiea

Thane Tanuvasa, Farrington — Had two sacks in a win over Nanakuli

Liki Taoai, Farrington — Recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a win over Nanakuli

Seth Tina-Soberano, Kalani — Completed 18 of 28 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another score in a loss to Kaimuki

Anthony Trevino, Kealakehe — Rushed for a touchdown and caught another score in a loss to St. Margaret's

Mykah Tuiolemotu, Mililani — Had four tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble in a win over Leilehua

Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Pearl City — Caught a touchdown pass, recorded a sack and forced a fumble in a win over Roosevelt

Reichel Vegas, Mililani — Caught five passes for 121 yards and a touchdown in a win over Leilehua

Kamalei Watson, Lahainaluna — Scored on a 30-yard punt return in a win over King Kekaulike

Zachary Wong, Kalani — Caught two touchdown passes in a loss to Kaimuki

Ryu Yamane, Kalani — Caught five passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kaimuki