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Find the football, find Kevin Burke.

The Leilehua linebacker has shown a knack for being around the pigskin, as evidenced by his performance in the Mules' 41-27 win over Iolani last Friday. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Burke tallied a team-high 8 ½ tackles, including eight solo stops, with 1 ½ tackles for loss, one sack, one pass break-up and one quarterback hurry.

Furthermore, Burke forced three fumbles by the Raiders, including one that led to a defensive touchdown for Leilehua on a 39-yard scoop-and-score.

Mules' coach Mark Kurisu describes Burke as the consummate competitor.

"He just practices hard and is very intentional about what we do. We do drills every single day, but he doesn't just go through the motions. He tries to find something to get better at," Kurisu said.

Burke's versatility has played to the favor of the Mules. He earned a starting spot at outside linebacker as a junior a year ago, but has primarily shifted inside for the 2024 season (although he aligned mostly at outside ‘backer in the season opener against Kamehameha two weeks ago).

"We rotated him back to the inside this week and you kind of saw what he's able and capable of doing, but I knew Kevin was gonna be special," Kurisu said, "and he's just a good kid. On and off the field, he's a great kid, who earns good grades."

Beyond his defensive prowess, Burke also has seen spot duty on the offensive side of the ball at slotback.

"He's a big blocker for us out there, but he also catches the ball well," Kurisu remarked.

Burke's versatility has helped to give him a greater understanding of alignment and assignment on both sides of the football

"He can play slot so it helps him to play linebacker and vice versa. He knows how receivers try to stem routes to get you where they want, so he's able to understand what they're trying to do and how to counter that," Kurisu added.

Conditioning, as well as understanding concepts, are obviously paramount to Burke's ability to contribute in multiple facets.

"He's got a motor in addition to his high IQ. He's the type of kid that is able to call out plays, he knows how to read linemen, how to read stance and if there's a runner coming his way he knows how to attack the ball. He gets himself to the ball, causes turnovers and is a tough re-router versus receivers, so he's just a playmaker that makes everybody better because he knows what he's doing and players trust him so he communicates well," Kurisu said.

Against Iolani Friday night, Burke made plays against the run (he helped to limit the Raider to only 40 rushing yards on 21 carries), in the backfield (the Mules racked up eight tackles for loss) and in pass coverage.

"That's part of what we ask of our guys: don't just be old school linebackers that stop the run, but do nothing against the pass. I think him understanding the game allows him to get back on passing plays and not just passing situations. He knows that he doesn't have to crowd the line (of scrimmage) so much based on what he's seeing – the linemen are not in stance to run block – so that goes back to IQ," Kurisu noted. "He knows the highly-likely play that's gonna be coming out."

Leilehua built a 20-7 lead on the Raiders after one quarter of play. The visitors cut it to a three-point game after a touchdown and a field goal in the first seven minutes of the second stanza. Iolani had a chance to pull ahead, but Burke came up with a strip-sack on quarterback CJ Villanueva, whose fumble was recovered by Gabriel Liua, who returned it 39 yards the other way for a Mules' touchdown.

"Iolani was getting close after we had made some mistakes defensively. We got some stops, but they got it to a (three-point game) and we called a blitz to get some pressure and he came off the edge and when I saw him jump around the tackle I knew we had a chance. The ball popped up in the air and Gabe was able to scoop and score and that was big for us, it got us to re-focus, so it was good to see that (Burke) had to be that guy to kind of re-center the team," Kurisu recalled.

Kurisu noted that Burke is one of the leaders on the team. Beyond football he is heavily involved with his church.

"He does a lot for his community off the field and all the things he's accomplished on the field is just a testament to his hard work, plus he has the ability to match it so he just works hard and his talent is able to shine a little bit brighter, but I still think the best is yet to come for him," Kurisu said.

Burke was honored by the NAACP Hawaii Chapter earlier this year with its Youth of the Year Award. He was selected based on leadership, academic excellence and his commitment to bettering his community. Burke is involved in numerous non-profit organizations that serve the needs of the less fortunate. Among his extensive volunteer work, Burke collected donations during the holiday season and packed Christmas shoe boxes. He carries a grade point average of 3.75 and hopes to pursue a career in engineering.

"It all speaks to who he is as a person. He loves the game of football, but he puts it in perspective and it's just a part of the person that he is, so you could certainly say that he has his ducks in a row," Kurisu concluded.

Burke and the Mules (1-1), who are ranked ninth in this week's ScoringLive Power Rankings, have a bye this weekend before they depart for Oregon next Wednesday. Leilehua will take on Portland's Central Catholic on Aug. 30 before returning home to host Kailua to open the OIA Division I regular season on Sept. 6.

FOOTBALL

Shaysen Akiona, Nanakuli — Made 6 1/2 tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Castle 

Keenan Alani, Konawaena — Threw for 248 yards and five touchdowns on 17-of-22 passing without an interception in a win over Waiakea 

Tyson Alualu-Iu, Moanalua — Scored on a 36-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Liatama Amisone, Kapolei — Threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns on 12-of-17 passing without an interception in a win over Lahainaluna 

Lyric Anuenue, Nanakuli — Caught six passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Castle 

Chance Asinsin, Nanakuli — Scored on a 44-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Castle 

Gregory Givens, McKinley — Scored on a 52-yard interception return for touchdown in a loss to Kaiser 

Kaniela Hao-Hose, Radford — Made four tackles, including one sack, and forced two fumbles in a win over Redlands 

Isaac Harney, Moanalua — Threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns on 26-of-40 passing with one interception in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Hiram Hendri, Radford — Scored on a 24-yard interception return and recovered a fumble in a win over Redlands 

Kekama Kane, Iolani — Caught 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Leilehua 

Kyson Kealoha, Moanalua — Caught nine passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Dane Kellner, Punahou — Made 10 tackles in a loss to Sierra Canyon 

Josiah Kia, Punahou — Made nine tackles, including two for losses, in a loss to Sierra Canyon 

Franky Komiti, Radford — Recorded two sacks and one fumble recovery in a win over Redlands 

Gabriel Liua, Leilehua — Scored on a 39-yard fumble return in a win over Iolani 

Elias Malapit, Konawaena — Made 6 1/2 tackles, including six for losses, with two sacks and forced a fumble in a win over Waiakea

Malosi Muaau, Nanakuli — Caught four passes for 115 yards in a win over Castle 

Hanohano Plunkett, Leilehua — Threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-34 passing with one interception in a win over Iolani 

Keon Preusser, Iolani — Caught 11 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Leilehua 

Kyin Rivera-Galbraith, Leilehua — Ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in a win over Iolani 

Kingsten Samuelu, Farrington — Ran for 153 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries in a win over Tafuna

Teva Sanchez, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Recorded two sacks in a loss to Moanalua 

Jiohvanni Soto Ramos, Konawaena — Ran for 108 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in a win over Waiakea 

Austin Takaki, Konawaena — Caught nine passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waiakea

Trav Takeshita, Iolani — Made 10 1/2 tackles, including two for losses, and one sack and recorded one pass break-up in a loss to Leilehua 

Makana Taylor, Kapolei — Scored on a 49-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Lahainaluna 

Kanoa Torres, Nanakuli — Threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-26 passing without an interception in a win over Castle 

Donte Utu, Punahou — Recorded 10 tackles, including two for losses, and one sack in a loss to Sierra Canyon

CJ Villanueva, Iolani — Threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns on 31-of-48 passing with one interception and also ran for a touchdown in a loss to Leilehua