Football season kicks off with some roster concerns | News, Sports, Jobs

Kamehameha Schools Maui quarterback Kainoa Sanchez and the Warriors begin the season Friday night by hosting Kalaheo at Kanaiaupuni Stadium. The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

Roster size will be a factor for all three Maui Interscholastic League teams playing this week as high school football opens across the state.

“We’re trying to get to at least 22 kids so at least we can play 11 per side,” Kamehameha Schools Maui coach Ulima Afoa said — the Warriors host Kalaheo on Friday night at Kanaiaupuni Stadium.

“Their numbers aren’t going to be very big,” Afoa said of the Mustangs. “But ours aren’t going to be this week either because we’ve got some key injuries and stuff.”

Veteran MIL assistant coach Rodney Figueroa will make his head-coaching debut on Saturday night when Maui High takes on Kapaa at War Memorial Stadium.

“We’ll have about 35 eligible players,” Figueroa said. “We expect to have between 55 and 60 when we get them all going.”

Sheldon Frias (left) and Bailey Honda celebrate after Lahainaluna High School’s 21-14 victory over Kapaa in the Division II state championship game in November. The Lunas open defense of their first state title Saturday at Pearl City. The Maui News / ROBERT COLLIAS photo

Senior Kainalu Tancayo and sophomore Raymond Brex Delray are battling for the Sabers’ quarterback spot. Sophomore Sione Lolohea, a rugby standout who received a scholarship offer from Brigham Young University as an 8th-grader, will make his varsity debut.

“We want to see how the offense is going to run, two quarterbacks are competing for the job,” Figueroa said. “On the offensive line, a lot of them are newcomers, one returner (Justin Pagaduan). We want to see how they will compete.”

Lahainaluna will face Pearl City on Oahu Saturday — the Lunas beat the Chargers 29-0 in the opener last season and went on to win their first state title, at the Division II level.

The Lunas have 58 players at the varsity level right now and will travel with 45.

“The numbers are actually really, really good,” Lahainaluna co-head coach Garret Tihada said. “It might be too good — we probably have to make some cuts. Our grades, not too bad, just a handful of kids who are going to be out because of grades.”

Juniors Etuati Storer and Kamahao Acpal, sophomore Nainoa Irish and senior Bailey Honda will all see time at the Lunas’ quarterback spot.

“We’re doing the same thing now that we did at the end of the year last year, which is rotating a bunch of quarterbacks,” Tihada said. “One game, I think we had, like, six quarterbacks, so we’re going to use the same formula. Try to get everybody involved, try to play guys where their strengths are.”

Afoa enters his second season at the Kamehameha Maui helm after a 2-7 campaign last year.

“Well I think (this game) is kind of a benchmark as far as trying to find out how our program is progressing,” Afoa said. “These are games where you try to find the best competition and play to kind of figure out where you’re at.”

Warriors quarterback Kai-noa Sanchez, who was second in MIL passing last season with 660 yards in the air, and running back Damon Martin — the league rushing champion last season with 814 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground — begin their senior seasons against Kalaheo.

“Kainoa has made strides, I think it’s big that he’s had a quarterbacks coach who has helped him a lot,” Afoa said. “He’s done a great job of working on his body and his speed, just the mental part of the game and getting the ball out quick.

“Damon’s good when he’s healthy, but he has to stay healthy. The most durable player that we’ve had is Tristan Catan.”

Kamehameha Maui’s Tyerell Baldonado-Kaleiopu, who was offered a football scholarship by Navy a few months ago, has a fracture in his foot that will keep him out early in the season.

“Two, three, four weeks,” Afoa said. “It’s a weight-bearing area, but he’s been doing therapy. The luxury that we have is he’s got some time between now and when we open up (MIL play) with Maui High.”

Afoa said he expects “high 30s” for roster size when he has all of his players available.

“It’s tough sledding, but, hey, we’ll just continue to build, continue to get our kids bigger, stronger and faster,” Afoa said.

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

Nonleague MIL football

Friday’s Game

Kalaheo at Kamehameha Maui, 6 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Lahainaluna at Pearl City, 6 p.m.

Maui High vs. Kapaa at War Memorial Stadium, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 12

Kamehameha Kapalama at Lahainaluna, 3 p.m.

Baldwin vs. Saint Louis at Aloha Stadium, 3:30 p.m.

Maui High at Kamehameha Hawaii, 7 p.m.

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