Upland TE: Devin Mahina

A short athlete profile of Tongan TE Devin Mahina of Upland HS (CA).

Then: Mahina moved with his family from Tonga to the U.S. when he was a baby. Tall for his age, he began playing youth football at age 8. He played lower-level football as a 6-foot-4 freshman, when he began lining up at tight end full time. Mahina joined the varsity his sophomore year, during which he had two sacks and caught five passes, including one for a touchdown. He spent his junior season playing in a double-tight-end set with John Reese, now a freshman at Oregon State. Although he was somewhat overshadowed by Reese, that didn't prevent Brigham Young from offering a scholarship last winter. Schools such as Colorado, Arizona, Washington State, Oregon and UCLA followed suit.

Now: Mahina, now 6-6 and 225 pounds, has emerged as the cornerstone of one of Upland's best teams in years. The Highlanders opened their season in impressive fashion last Friday, defeating visiting Covina Charter Oak, 38-14. The Chargers were ranked No. 2 in the San Gabriel Valley by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Working primarily as a decoy on offense, Mahina caught only one pass. Mahina, who also plays basketball to help with his conditioning and footwork, developed another talent over the summer — the ukulele.

Quote: "I came home and picked it right back up," said Mahina, who was inspired during a trip to Tonga with his family. "It's like the guitar, just four strings instead of six."

Navy QB: Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada

Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada helped Navy defeat Stanford today 37-9 as a back up QB. Earlier this week the Honolulu Advertiser had a short write up on the Kapolei graduate.

Posted on: Wednesday, September 13, 2006

HOMEGROWN REPORT
Kaheaku-Enhada at helm of Navy victory

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada went from second string to scoring in Saturday's 21-20 win over Massachusetts.

Kaheaku-Enhada, a 2004 Kapolei graduate, entered the game in the second quarter and directed a touchdown drive, then scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 19-yard run in the third.

"It was interesting, a learning experience. Coach told me there was a good chance I would go in," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "But when he first called my number I really wasn't ready. He threw me in halfway through the second quarter, and that's kind of early. But once I got in and got a couple of snaps I was OK."

Senior Brian Hampton led a touchdown drive on Navy's first possession, but was yanked by head coach Paul Johnson — a former University of Hawai'i offensive coordinator — after an interception and two punts.

"I'm still the backup; we still have a lot of trust in our starter," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "He just had a bad week, and he'll bounce back."

Kaheaku-Enhada took over with 9 minutes remaining before halftime and drove Navy 80 yards on six rushing plays. Fullback Matt Hall scored on a 53-yard run to tie the score at 14.

On Navy's next possession, Kaheaku-Enhada's first pass of the season was caught by receiver Jason Tomlinson for a 21-yard gain to the UMass 27. The drive ended two plays later when Hall fumbled on a dive play.

Hampton opened the second half at quarterback, but Navy went three-and-out on its first possession. Kaheaku-Enhada then led five of Navy's final six possessions.

He scored on a 19-yard keeper up the middle to put Navy ahead 21-17 late in the third quarter.

"I came off the dive and hit the hole and I saw daylight, and I thought, 'Wow, I'm really going to score,' " he said. "Honestly, I couldn't tell you what I was thinking because it happened so fast. I was just thinking to get into the end zone and get some points on the board."

Kaheaku-Enhada completed 1 of 4 passes, and rushed 12 times for 41 yards and the touchdown. He fumbled three times and lost one.

"It was just poor execution on the entire offense, especially me. I was messing up on my reads and that led to my fumbles," he said.

Last season, Kaheaku-Enhada threw one pass (an incompletion against Stanford) and played mostly on special teams and as a backup receiver.

"Switching positions helped me in a lot of ways. It helped me see the field from different angles," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "I was able to see coverages that I never used to look at in high school. The game is so much different from high school. It helped me out a lot on seeing things develop."

Damien HS (Honolulu, HI): Sione Tau

Posted on: Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Tau's hard work helps Damien football, family

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

	"No. 1, above all else, he's a great kid," Damien football coach Dean Nakagawa said of Sione Tau, who has drawn interest from 16 colleges. RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser
	SIONE TAU SCHOOL: Damien Memorial POSITION: Offensive tackle DIMENSIONS: 6 feet 6, 286 pounds INTERESTS: Senior class vice president, music, school ministry RECRUITING: Colorado, New Mexico State, Boise State and Portland State have made scholarship offers. Twelve other schools are showing strong interest.

When it comes to being a team player, perhaps no one personifies it better than Damien Memorial School senior Sione Tau.

It's not because he plays offensive line, where blocking gets no glory, or serves as senior class vice president, where he is second fiddle to the president.

No, it is on the homefront that Tau is truly at his finest.

During summers and any other days off from school or football or basketball practice, Tau can be found sweating it out with his father, Ulipo Tau, as a stone mason. While it is not uncommon for high school students to hold part-time jobs to earn spending money, it is rare for athletes to do so because of time constraints. Yet, Tau doesn't work so he can buy an iPod or other luxuries. Instead, he gives a sizeable portion of his earnings back to his father so bills can be paid and food can be put on the table.

The irony is Tau could use a portion of that money he earned so he could put food on his cafeteria table at lunch.

"My dad is the only one working (in the family) and sometimes my dad comes home with no money," Tau said. "I don't even ask him (for money) because I know he's having a hard time with money so sometimes I just come to school and just drink water."

Fortunately, his team is a close-knit unit. Teammates share their lunches with him. A good idea, especially if it is a ball carrier because it would be to their benefit to keep the 6-foot-6, 286-pound Tau well-nourished to protect their welfare on the field.

"My friends keep (my spirits) up," he said. "They don't like seeing me on the side not eating. But most of the time, I just stay in one place and drink water."

Despite the hardship, Tau is considered one of the team's hardest workers, Monarchs' coach Dean Nakagawa said. He said Tau has only recently started bench pressing 300 pounds. He is just grazing the surface of his potential. Nakagawa said Tau might be slightly behind as far as his potential strength.

"Sometimes sleep and food, the basic necessities of life, were lacking," Nakagawa said. "But the kid doesn't complain or make excuses."

Tau said his father encouraged him to do well in school — he makes A's and B's — so that he would not have to do the same kind of work for a living.

"He said, 'If you don't focus on school, this is what you're going to do. You're going to take up the family business, build walls for the rest of your life,' " Tau said. "He planted that seed in my brain, so I don't have to live his life."

But Tau is more than just a player making good grades. He was junior class president last year, and is also involved in the campus ministry and plays electric guitar for the music ministry. He said he got interested in extra-curricular activities since he attended Pu'uhale Elementary, where he was student government secretary in fourth and fifth grades.

It also was at Pu'uhale where he came to admire future Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who visited the school as a volunteer story reader.

"He's just one of the few Polynesian people trying to help other people," Tau said. "Not too many Polynesians want to run for office."

Just as Tau looks up to the Mayor — well, at 6-6, he probably can see him eye-to-eye these days — younger Damien students do the same with Tau.

"He's a real nice kid, very humble," said former Damien co-coach Rudy Alejo, the school's athletics academic advisor. "He has a good rapport with our instructors and he's a great role model for the younger guys."

Still, it is on the football field that Tau makes an impression, though not because of the pancake blocks he makes. Some 16 Division I programs have inquired about Tau, the third-highest ranking recruit in the state by Rivals.com. He has offers from Colorado, New Mexico State, Boise State and Portland State. He will make an official recruiting visit to Colorado over the weekend. He will leave after Friday's game against Pac-Five. Mike Sipili, a 2005 graduate of Damien, is a freshman lineman at Colorado.

Whoever gets Tau is getting more than a football player.

"No. 1, above all else, he's a great kid," Nakagawa said. "We wish he could be a bit more nasty on the field, but he's such a nice kid. He's just a good guy. Period."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Washington High School Poly Football Round Up: Sept 15-16

Lamont Afuvai (Franklin Pierce-Seattle): Ran for 124 yards on 20 carries and 3 TDs in a 56-28 loss to Auburn HS (WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/highschools/story/6099859p-5345878c.html

Sonny Aumoeualogo (Fife-Tacoma): Rushed for 82 yards on 16 carries and 1 TD helping Fife defeat Long 60-21.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/highschools/story/6099858p-5345852c.html

Roman Pula (Lincoln-Tacoma): Ran for 131 yards and 3 TDs leading Lincoln past Mount Tahoma 27-7.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/highschools/story/6099855p-5345786c.html

Tobias Togi (Evergreen-Seattle): Rushed for 64 yards on 12 carries and 2 TDs in leading Evergreen 67-26 over Highline. Evergreen teammate Nuve Kongaika rushed for 94 yards on 4 carries, including a 64 yard touchdown.
http://kingcountyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060917/PREP03/609170341

Tyler Tuiasosopo (Mariner-Everett, WA) : Was 6 for 10 for 86 yards and threw for 3 TDs in leading Mariner past Jackson 42-18.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/highschoolsports/2003261433_riley16.html

Western United States HS Football Wrap Up: Sept 15-16

Doug Fiefia (Bingham, South Jordan, UT): Ran for 2 TDs (19, 49) leading Bingham over Kearns 42-18.
http://www.sltrib.com/prepsports/ci_4348780

Josh Fitisemanu (Murray HS, UT): Ran for 121 yards on 9 carries and 21 TD in a 27-10 loss to Cottonwood HS (SLC).
http://www.sltrib.com/prepsports/ci_4348780

Faifo Levale (Juneau Douglas, AK) helped lead Douglas over No 1 ranked Alaska high school football team Colony 22-13. Levale made the play of the game in the 3rd quarter when he blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone to put Juneau ahead 14-13.
http://www.adn.com/sports/prep/football/story/8200435p-8094261c.html

TC McCartney (Fairview-Boulder, CO) led Fairview to a 49-17 over Boulder HS. McCartney threw for 202 yards and 2 TDS. McCartney hit tight end Thomas Kankiewicz for a 55-yard touchdown pass that gave Fairview a 21-7 lead.
http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/hs_football/article/0,1713,BDC_2442_4998790,00.html

Jake Muasau (Buena-Sierra Vista, AZ) caught a 60 yard TD in helping Buena defeat Casa Grande 42-21. Buena lost team leader starting middle linebacker Tu'ugalue Muasau to a leg injury.
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2006/09/16/sports/sports1.prt

Austin Tialavea (Chaparral-Las Vegas, NV) had 3 rushing touchdowns in a loss to Green Valley 20-19
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Sep-16-Sat-2006/sports/9694740.html

Fili Vakapuna (Hunter, West Valley City, UT): rushed for 184 yards on 20 carries and an 18 yard touchdown leading Hunter over Copper Hills 38-7.
http://www.sltrib.com/prepsports/ci_4348780