The Daily News which includes which includes it's Burlingame, East Bay, Palo Alto, Redwood City and San Mateo daily papers. A large contingent of Samoans, Tongans, and other islanders were selected to the post season team.
1st Team
DT - Josh Afungia, M-A (Jr.)
TE - Rhett Ellison, St. Francis (Sr.)
C - Ty Famuumu, Aragon (Jr.)
LB - Sinosaia Haatoa, M-A (Sr.)
G - Chris Havili, Aragon (Sr.)
G - Fred Koloto, Palo Alto (Sr.)
DE - Latani Moimoi, M-A (Jr.)
RB - Seta Pohahau, Aragon (Jr.)
DT - Paul Tuiono, Woodside (Sr.)
S - Tiuke Tuipulotu, Serra (Jr.)
2nd Team
RB - Sione Mataele, Palo Alto (Jr.)
NT - Joape Pela, Mt. View (Sr.)
QB - Matt Pelesasa, Woodside (Sr.)
RB - Lopeti Taufoou, Woodside (Sr.)
LB - Blue Tuufuli, Los Altos (Jr.)
Honorable Mention
Kelvin Asaeli (Capuchino HS, San Bruno, CA)
Ben Naufahu (San Mateo HS)
Martin Tauolo (Aragon HS, San Mateo, CA)
Josh Uikiufi (Mills HS, Millbrae, CA)
Raymond Vainikolo (Menlo-Atherton HS)
Note: Selections were based on all-league teams, success in league and postseason play, strength of competition, coaches' recommendations and writers' observances. Teams were limited to a maximum of three honorable mentions. Players must play at least 75 percent of their respective team's games to be eligible and must be on a team in the Daily News coverage area, which stretches through most of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Timpview (Provo, UT): Devin Mausia
Devin Mausia (LB, 6'0, 170, Sr) of Timpview High School in Provo, Utah helped lead his team to the Utah 4A State Championship and was also named the 4A MVP by the Salt Lake Tribune in addition to being selected Daily Herald Football Player of the Year. In the 4-A championship against Highland, he had 10 tackles, two sacks, a pass breakup, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Mausia recorded 90 total tackles, had 12 sacks and returned an interception for a touchdown for the season.In addition Mausia's teammate Eathyn Manumaleuna (OL, 6'2, 269) was named to the Daily Herald's Elite 11 Team. Manumaleuna transfered to the Utah school from East High School in Anchorage, Alaska where he was first team all state as a junior and Lineman of the Year and verbally committed to BYU. Despite battling a foot injury, Manumaleuna finished second on the team in sacks with five and had four hurries and forced three fumbles. The 6-2, 280 pound senior also played on the offensive line that produced a 1,700 yard rusher in Jackson Owen and a 1,400 yard passer in quarterback Quinn Mecham.
Mausia named Football Player of the Year
Neil K. Warner
Daily Herald
Timpview High School football coach Louis Wong took the fifth.
He had the right to reserve judgment.
Was the 2006 Timpview defense the greatest in school history?
Greater than the 2004 state championship team? More dominant than the championship team of 1997? More complete than the 1991 title team?
Mum's the word. Wong skirted around the issue like a politician who was asked about his stance on Middle East.
That was until Timpview beat Highland 21-12 in the state 4A title game.
Now Wong has an announcement to make.
"I didn't tell them that (before the game), but we had to hold Highland to three points (in the championship) to become the team that has allowed the fewest points in a season," Wong said. "But if you look at what they've done the whole year, I think it's the best defense Timpview has ever had. It's tough to compare teams with each other. It's like I told our players when they asked me that question. I told them I can't say. I told them if you win a state title than I will say yes."
As Timpview's former defensive coordinator and now current head coach, Wong now believes it is the best he's even had at Timpview. And if this is Timpview's best defense, what does that say about the leader of the defense, senior linebacker Devin Mausia?
Mausia led the team in unassisted tackles with 50. He was third on the team in assisted tackles with 21. He recovered three fumbles and caused one. He led the team in tackles for loss with 10 and was second on the team in interceptions with three.
What that says about Mausia is that he is the Daily Herald's Valley Player of the Year.
"His intensity and how he's been involved in a leader on defense is what has made him so important to our team," Wong said. "He always gave a hundred percent. Combined with the other talent we had at linebacker allowed him to be efficient."
Mausia stepped up his game in the playoffs and helped Timpview's defense surrender just 33 points in the four playoff games.
In the state championship game, Mausia sealed the deal with his play on defense. He led the team with 10 tackles. He hit Highland running back Liam McNally, and caused a fumble that Houston Reynolds recovered that set up a 1-yard Jackson Owen touchdown run. Mausia later recovered another Highland fumble on punt return.
Another game, another big day.
In the eight years the Daily Herald has been selecting an All-Valley team, a full-time defensive player has never been selected as the "Player of the Year," until now.
"That's pretty cool. I'm honored to be the first defensive MVP," Mausia said. "Being state champions has made it all worth it. Lifting weights all summer, getting up at 6 a.m. in the summer to run as a team, it was all worth it."
As the undisputed leader on defense, he led a team that recorded five shutouts on the year. Timpview's 5.9 points per game allowed was not only the best in 4A, it was the best by a mile. Sky View allowed the next-fewest points per game. The Bobcats gave up 14.9 points per game.
"I think our defense has been so good because we're all friends," Mausia said. "We help each other out and communicate what we're going to do in certain situations. Our coach kept is humbled. He wouldn't let us get to full of ourselves. He kept kicking our butts."
Since winning high school football's most elusive goal, Mausia has noticed a lot of things have changed and some have not. Neighbors have gone out of their way to congratulate him, but he still hasn't managed do get out of doing the dishes, something he thought he would get a reprieve from. No such luck. He teams up with his younger brother Dewey, who is a junior wide receiver, and takes turns.
Mausia doesn't know where he'll go from here. He would like to play at the next level, but knows at 6-foot, 175 pounds, he may have to try and walk on somewhere.
"I'm keeping my options open right now," he said. "I would like to play, but I don't know if any colleges have noticed me."
If his career is over, what a way to go. He's the Daily Herald's "Valley Player of the Year" and the rings are on order.
HUB Senior Bowl (Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama)
The 2006 HUB Goodwill Senior Bowl, presented by Hawaiian Telcom is on Saturday, December 9th at Kunuiakea Stadium. Pre-Game is at 7:00 PM and Kick –off is scheduled for 7:30. Tickets are available at the Aloha Stadium Box Office: General Admission is $5.00 and 6yrs and under get in free.West 34, East 0
| East | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| West | 7 | 14 | 6 | 7 | -- | 34 |
West--Adam Foster 4 pass from Caleb Fore (River Kim kick).
West--Aaron Santiago 10 pass from Brett Kan (Bryant Moniz kick).
West--Fore 1 run (Jordan Torres kick).
West--Lofa Liilii 16 pass from Moniz (kick failed).
West--Moniz 8 run (Kim kick).
RUSHING--East: Keenan Gonda 3-(-3), Isaac Saffery 4-18, Liko Satele 3-6, Lehi Aumua 2-8, Elijah Filifili 3-1, Tilton Kaluna 1-15. West: Micah Abreu-Laybon 5-13, Moniz 3-22, Ryan Montez 5-15, Foster 1-(-2), Jordan Torres 5-9, Kan 4-1, Fore 2-(-7), Kenneth Rossi 2-7, Ostrowski 1-0.
PASSING--East: Kaluna 5-13-1-19, Filifili 1-6-2-0, Maeli Siliga 1-1-0-46. West: Moniz 9-13-0-123, Fore 6-12-0-49, Kan 8-13-1-121.
RECEIVING--East: Siliga 1-3, Shaun Forges 1-0, Shane Ahlo 1-5, Scott Keiter-Charles 2-54, Jordan Ho-Ching 1-0. West: Lofa Liilii 4-38, Ostrowski 4-68, Kim 3-30, Foster 6-81, Aaron Santiago 2-31, Rossi 1-12, Abreu-Laybon 1-9, Kyle Whitford 1-2, Montez 1-18.
To watch a replay of the game click on the link
UH Lineman Tala Esera Selected for East-West Shrine Game
Hawaii's Esera to East-West Shrine
Hawaii left tackle Tala Esera has accepted an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Game, Jan. 20 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
"I'm kind of nervous because I don't know what to expect," Esera said. "But I think there will be some other (UH players) there, too."
Esera's stock rose steadily during Hawaii's 10-3 regular season, in which he helped anchor the nation's statistically best offense. One scout said Esera was graded a potential free agent before the season started, but is now considered a likely third-round draft choice.
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UH offensive line assistant Dennis McKnight does.
"He's the best offensive tackle I've seen on film this year. He should be at the Senior Bowl," McKnight said. "The East-West Shrine Game is a helluva opportunity and he is very deserving."
Esera replaces Warriors teammate Samson Satele, who had a Shrine Game invitation, but opted for the Senior Bowl instead.
"Tala was next in line at tackle, so he had a good chance of making it anyway," Shrine Game board member John Murphy said.
Esera came to UH from Kahuku High School in 2002 as a defensive tackle, but was moved to offense before the start of the 2003 season. He has started 41 consecutive games and was named to the All-WAC first team earlier this week.
Esera also received UH's Most Inspirational Player award at Sunday's banquet.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Pac-Five: Jordan Ho-Ching
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Ho-Ching's family affair
The Pac-Five player is in the groove in school and on the field with support from two families
HE doesn't remember a lot, not about the breakup. Jordan Ho-Ching was 5, more knowledgeable about Barney and Elmo than the looming problems between his mother and father. So, when Cecilia and Vincent split up, there was no concept of a normal home, not in Jordan's mind. As the only child, the blueprint for his upbringing would be crafted, something of a patchwork, but ultimately, planned out by none other than his divorced, yet amicable parents.
Somehow, he figured out a way to stay focused on academics and athletics, though not necessarily in that order all the time. When he was an eighth-grade basketball standout at St. Elizabeth, mom benched her son.
"I told his coach, 'Sorry, he can't play,' " Cecilia said. "Just because you're the star player doesn't mean anything. If you don't study, you shouldn't play."
So, Jordan complied. When he graduates from Maryknoll next June, his grade-point average will be in excess, he says, of 3.2. He has a 3.8 GPA in the recent trimester to prove his point, and Cecilia's, for that matter.
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When the HUB Goodwill Senior Bowl concludes on Friday, he will put on his basketball gear for the Spartans. He is one of the best two-sport athletes in the state, and along the way, Ho-Ching also became all-world in diaper-changing, bottle-feeding and babysitting.
Pretty good for a naturally persistent, occasionally stubborn young guy who easily could have walked the other way.
AFTER LONG SEASONS of struggle with the Pac-Five football team, Ho-Ching is relishing an extended season as a senior. The Wolfpack annually compete well with Oahu Interscholastic Association Red and White Conference teams, winning more than losing in nonconference matchups. But then the Interscholastic League of Honolulu schedule begins, and the 'Pack slide in the state's toughest football conference.
Ho-Ching saw the Wolfpack make strides over the past four years, but early-season wins over Kaiser and Kalaheo don't register in the ILH scroll of wins and losses. His fans, of which there are more than he ever imagined, know the highlights. Seven catches for 127 yards against Kaiser. Eight receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns against Radford. Eight carries for 140 rushing yards against Iolani. An 82-yard kickoff return to the end zone against Saint Louis. Twelve catches for 157 yards against Kamehameha. A total of 139 yards from scrimmage against Iolani in the teams' second meeting.
But the one that Ho-Ching remembers is a performance against Damien in the final game of the season. He ran for 126 yards on just 14 carries with a touchdown. He will clutch that memory, though, because the Wolfpack finally won an ILH game after weeks of frustration.
AFTER VINCIENT and CECILIA divorced, Vincent moved to Seattle, where he continued his career in law enforcement. Jordan flew there for the summers. Cecilia and Jordan moved to New Jersey, where her sister lives, for a couple of years. Once they returned to Hawaii, she supported their bonding all the way through.
By the time Jordan was 9, Vincent was still a police officer and still hanging out with his son. In Seattle, they'd go to the park, where Vincent put his son through all kinds of drills.
"He was strict on me playing football. Every day, I ran routes and tried to perfect my cuts. These were drills where he'd whip the ball at me. He'd whip it, the ball's halfway and then he'd call 'ball,' then I could turn and look," Jordan recalled. "In the beginning my hands could not handle it, but he took me there every single day."
When Vincent moved back to the islands, the workouts continued. It was just a way of life for the former Kaimuki standout, who grew up in Palolo with a Chinese father and Samoan mother, and became a standout middle linebacker in football and forward in basketball for the Bulldogs in the early 1980s. Always talented, always soft-spoken.
"If it wasn't for him, I would be nowhere in sports. He took me every day to play at the police academy (in Waipahu). We used to train when he would train," said Jordan, who would tag along and run the mile with pops.
LOSING HURTS, but when the season ends, the ties remain.
"The frustrating thing was our team was working hard and we kept coming up short. It bothered me that we weren't winning because we could do better than that, but it wasn't dreadful at practice. We kept working hard," said Ho-Ching, who wouldn't trade his career at Pac-Five and Maryknoll for anything else.
"Nope, I would've stayed with Pac-Five all the way. The group of guys, I got to know them and they supported me no matter what happens. The guys on the team, there's nothing I would trade," he said. "Honestly, I've never had a winning football season, but that kind of humbles me. The coaches are good to me. They treat me good."
Coach Kip Botelho raves about Ho-Ching, but from his point of view, it was discipline that was most important. Botelho, Ho-Ching says, has the right balance.
"Coach Kip is strict when he needs to be. He's a good guy. He helped out our team and he's one of the coaches who tries to focus on everybody and encourages everybody to work hard. You're always one step away from starting, and it's true," Ho-Ching said.
Maybe it's the coach within Ho-Ching, the kid who learned the ropes from a stern, task-oriented father. Or maybe he's just a scout at heart. When he thinks about his three siblings, he thinks big. Real big.
For a long time, he was that only child, and as an only child grows up, the desire for a baby brother or sister rarely wanes. When his parents remarried (other people), he soon got his wish. And then some.
"My baby brother is 2. We call him Johnny, and he's already up to my waist," he said.
Christina, his 6-year-old sister, is already up to his chest. His other 2-year-old brother, Shane, is more of an intellectual.
"He's really smart. I haven't been able to see him, so when I'm with him, I play with him as much as possible."
This is the life of Jordan, who lives with two sets of parents and has siblings that the rest of the world calls "half-brothers" or "half-sisters." In Jordan's book of life, they are embedded in his heart, fully and completely.
Until recently, he lived with his mother's and father's families on an alternating-week schedule. That meant half of his stuff was at one house, with the other half at the other house.
Now that he's busy filling out college applications -- a tedious, time-consuming task -- he is sitting put in Cecilia's home until the chaotic paperwork is done.
"He's such a scatterbrain when it comes to that kind of stuff," she said, probably echoing the sentiments of hard-driving moms everywhere.
Her help, along with her husband John, have made the transition easier for a teenaged kid living in the middle of two households. Vincent's second wife, Deanna, also has a very supportive role.
"I don't identify them as stepparents. Uncle John has always been supportive like my dad. My stepmom is really cool. it's been easy for me to bond with my stepparents. They're the kind of people who make it easy for me to adapt to," he said.
The trickle-down effect of parenting, leadership, even accountability, go beyond Vincent and Cecilia. Lita Paleafei, Jordan's maternal grandmother, lays down the law to an extent.
"She's hard on me, and I'm hard on the sons, but she's not hard on the grandchildren," Cecilia said.
"For a long time," Jordan said, "my mom has always stressed to thank God for everything. Before we could eat, my grandmother would tell us we have to remember and say what we learned at Sunday school.
So the family trekked to nearby St. Elizabeth church in Aiea, where Jordan attended middle school before attending Maryknoll.
The life of alternating homes wasn't impossible, but it certainly wasn't easy for a lone star. Once, he was out of deodorant while staying at Cecilia's house. He almost resorted to using her deodorant, but thought better of it.
"I almost used it, but I decided just to be stink for a while," he said.
No such problem at dad's house, of course. The weaving and transporting, it gets tough, along with the commutes to school in Makiki.
"One of the things that helped me was just praying a lot, asking God to help," Jordan said. "And that really helped."
SOMEHOW, IT COMES back to playing catch. Doing drills. Spending time together with dad. Ho-Ching doesn't bring it up, but he'll speak about the importance of role modeling when he's asked. It's so clear in his mind.
"Everything I can do athletically is thanks to God and my dad. I used to want to be a cop, but he says try something different. I just want to be like my dad. The perfect father," he said.
The academic supervisor, a.k.a. Mom, knows time is running short. Wherever her oldest son goes to college, he just won't be around as often. The son thinks he could have been less, well, persistent.
"Me and my mom didn't always have the best relationship. We didn't always see eye to eye. We're both stubborn. When I became a teenager, I was really stubborn with my mom, but I thank her. She's always there when I need her. She's always there to lend a hand. She's in charge of everything I do and knows what I'm practicing for, what I need to do," he said.
"I talked to her about going to school. Because my dad's been away to Seattle, I think he'll be OK when I'm away. But my mom thought about it when I was in church, and I heard she almost started tearing because she's gonna miss me. I'm gonna miss my younger brothers and sister growing up."
Cecilia has no regrets. Everything she needed to say was said.
"I was on him a lot about a lot of things, and I didn't let him slack. He's the typical teenager, but in our Samoan culture, it's you remember who you talk to. I'm glad he chose good friends," she said.
There is always time to remember the pain. There is, however, also a time to celebrate the gain. Between two homes, four parents, three siblings and two sports, Jordan Ho-Ching chooses the obvious.
He chooses to celebrate.
UW Recruit Ronnie Fouch may arrive by Spring
Washington QB recruit may arrive by spring
By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter
Ronnie Fouch, the California high-school quarterback who committed to Washington last summer, might be on campus for spring practice.
Fouch will graduate from Redlands (Calif.) East Valley High School this spring, according to Dawgman.com.Fouch committed to the Huskies on July 3, a few minutes after being offered a scholarship. Fouch said at the time he had also been offered scholarships by Texas-El Paso, Boise State, Nevada and Wyoming. High-school players can sign letters of intent in February.
The Huskies will need some depth at quarterback next season, with just Jake Locker and Carl Bonnell returning. Johnny DuRocher, who was recently released from Harborview Medical Center after having surgery to remove a brain tumor, is almost certainly done playing football.
Dawgman.comand RealDawg.comboth reported Tuesday night that the Huskies have received a commitment from California running back Brandon Johnson. He would be the fourth running back to commit to the Huskies, adding depth at another thin position.
Johnson, from Dominguez High in Compton, reportedly had offers from Oregon and California.
US Poly Football Round Up: Week of Dec 1-2
Randen Abafo DB, 5'10, 165, Sr (King Kekaulike HS, Pukalani, Maui): Scored on a 22 yard interception for the game's first score and on a 38 yard fumble return for a TD in the second quarter to lead King Kekaulike to a 33-20 win over Kaua'i for the Hawai'i State DII State Championship. Running Back Shannon Kamakaokalani (5'4, 140, Sr) also had 142 yards rushing on 17 attempts including a 27 yard TD in the 3rd Quarter.
Honolulu SB
HHSAA
Maui News
Maui News
Honolulu SB
HHSAA
Maui News
Palo Alto Daily News
SF Chronicle
SJ Mercury News
Richard Torres QB, 5'8, 150 Sr (Kahuku HS, HI): Option Quarterback ran for 108 yards on 20 rushes and completed his second pass of the evening with a 14 yard TD pass to Jordan Kapu with 23 seconds left in the game to lift Kahuku over St Louis for their second straight DI Hawaii State Championship. Running Back Lehi Aumua (5'8, 180, Sr) also ran for 100 yards on 12 rushes. On the defensive side BYU bound Safety Gary Nagy (6'2, 180, Sr) had 6 solo tackles and also filled in for injured punter Ian Rigterink. Defensive lineman Nai Fotu (5'11, 242, Sr) had 5.5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss and Alema Tachibana (6'3, 200, Jr) had 4.5 tackles and 1 sack. St Louis was led on defense by Jacob Barit (LB, 6'2, 215, Sr) with 7.5 tackles and excellent punting, Scott Smith (DE, 6'7, 245, Sr) with 5 tackles and 1 for loss, and Solomona Aigamaua (DE, 6'3, 205, Sr) with 4 tackles and 1 sack.
HHSAA
Honolulu SB
Sacramento Bee
Carlsbad High School: Defeated Poway to win the San Diego Section Division I title and finish the season 10-0-2. Carlsbad was led by Junior Wally So'oto (NG, 6'0, 200) who was selected 1st Team All State (All Sophomore Team) by Cal-Hi Sports in 2005.
SD Tribune
Daily Review
Oceanside High School (9-3-1): Edged Helix 14-7 for its third straight San Diego Section Division II Crown. Polynesian starters included Zeke Mauga (LB, 6'0, 205, Jr), David Motu (DT, 6'0, 210, Sr), Matthew Segi (LB, 5'11, 225, Jr) Otis Siatiu (G, 5'8, 215, Jr), Roy Tialavea (LB, 5'11, 190, Jr), Jordan Vaeena (DE, 5'9, 210, Sr). Vaeena also scored on a 9 yard run in the 4th quarter to put Oceanside up 14-0.
SD Tribune
NCAA Clearinghouse Info
If you are a senior (class of 2007), and plan to participate in an NCAA DI or DII school for athletics, then you need to get registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse. This is the "qualifying" process you must complete in order to compete - it takes a long time to get it all done. Their online service allows prospective student-athletes to register electronically.
If you are a junior (class of 2008) then learn this process and become very familiar with it. Make sure you have your SAT scores sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse from your account on www.collegeboard.com . ACT scores need to be sent in as well.
Here's what you need to do. Go to NCAA Clearing House, and click on the "Prospective Student-Athletes" link. Follow the steps and you will have your own login for future reference. Check back routinely to see the status of your registration.
While you are at it, go to NCAA and check the new requirements for NCAA DI and DII athletic participation. This site has all the GPA and SAT/ACT requirements that athletes need to achieve in order to play sports at the next level.
In the future, we'll keep a link to this article, and the SAT registration web site on "Quick Links" on our lev hand navigation bar.
Underclassmen/parents - learn this process in advance.
Do it now.
University of Hawaii Football Senior Class
Posted on: Friday, December 1, 2006
Warriors create 'special' blend
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
To be sure, the
It features three sixth-year players (running back Nate Ilaoa, wideout Ian Sample and free safety Leonard Peters).
One defensive end, Melila Purcell III, is from
Sample, wideout Chad Mock, linebacker Chris Williams and safety Mike Malala are not on scholarship.
Alama-Francis, running back Reagan Mauia, defensive lineman Renolds Fruean, linebacker Bully Fergerstrom and punter Kurt Milne started their UH careers as walk-on players.
Fruean takes the bus every morning from the
And all of them could exit with the winningest season in the program's history.
"This senior class has been kind of special," head coach June Jones said. "They've taken real leadership off the field and on the field."
The most special might be team manager Marissa Bonilla, who is completing her fifth season.
"She's been great," Jones said. "She has been very reliable and accountable. She does what she's supposed to do. She's going to be a great teacher one day in the school system. And she's a good snapper."
Indeed, as one of her many roles, Bonilla snaps the football to the quarterbacks during three of the passing drills.
"She has probably hundreds of snaps a day," quarterback Colt Brennan said. "She's unbelievable with the football. She can throw the ball like 30 yards, tight spirals. She's got great hands. The receivers throw the balls in, and she catches them with one hand, then turns around and snaps it to us. I'm impressed with how well she does her job."
She also helps set up the equipment, times the drills and, on game days, braids the players' hair.
Bonilla lettered in volleyball, basketball and softball at Kaua'i High. She learned of the manager's job through former athletic director Hugh Yoshida.
"I told my mom that's the only reason that I would stay in
Bonilla, who will graduate when she completes her student teaching, said she treasures her time with the program.
"I'm going to miss all of the coaches," she said. "They're like second fathers to me. They've been nothing but nice to me for five years."
Position: Defensive right end.
Hometown: Kane'ohe.
High school: Kalaheo.
Graduation day: May 2007 (sociology).
Fun fact: He knows every single line from the movie, "Predator."
Best UH football memory: "The friendships I've made. I can't say enough about the people I'm around every day. I'll remember some of the games, but I'll remember all of the friendships. They're such loving people. I'm blessed to be in a place like this."
Position: Slotback.
Hometown:
High school:
Graduation day: Dec. 17 (political science).
Fun fact: He aspires to run for public office.
Best UH football memory: "This past game. It was the greatest game of my life, the way we came back and fought for each other. That's what a team is all about."
Position: Left tackle.
Hometown: Hau'ula.
High school: Kahuku.
Graduation day: Dec. 17 (sociology).
Fun fact: "I can juggle three balls. And I can do a head stand."
Best UH football memory: "The best is yet to come."
VICTOR "BULLY" FERGERSTROM
Position: Linebacker.
Hometown: Kamuela.
High school:
Graduation day: Dec. 17 (sociology).
Fun fact: "When I was a little kid, I had so much fat on my arms, it looked like I had muscles. That's how I got the nickname Bully."
Best UH football memory: "Probably the first game I played in the stadium. It started to rain. It was like home."
Position: Defensive lineman.
Hometown: Kapolei.
Schools:
Graduation day: May 2007 (sociology).
Fun fact: Earned the nickname "GEICO" after defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said his long hair made him look like a caveman.
Best UH football memory: "The road trips and the games."
Position: Center.
Hometown: Waimanalo.
High school:
Graduation day: May 2007 (communications).
Fun fact: He is a big-wave surfer.
Best UH football memory: "Being in camp with the boys."
Position: Running back.
Hometown:
High school:
Graduation day: May 2007 (history).
Fun fact: As a military dependent, he once attended five elementary schools in one year.
Best UH football memory: "Just everything about football. Everything's been good."
Position: Nose tackle.
Hometown:
High school:
Graduation day: May 2007.
Fun fact: He trains pitbulls.
Best UH football memory: "There are a lot of good memories. But (the best are) hanging out with all of my friends, and laughing at all of the stupid things everybody does."
Position: Strong safety.
Hometown:
Previous school: UH-Hilo.
Graduation day: May 2007 (psychology).
Fun fact: "I was raised in
Best UH football memory: "Cruising with the guys."
Position: Running back.
Hometown:
Junior college:
Graduation day: December 2007 (family resources).
Fun fact: He trains for ultimate fighting.
Best UH football memory: "When I got my scholarship (in January). I was happy. My son was out here at the time. I was real happy I could get a scholarship for him."
KURT MILNE
Position: Punter.
Hometown:
High school: Centennial.
Graduation day: May 2007 (economy).
Fun fact: His great-grandfather, A.A. Milne, wrote "Winnie-the-Pooh" and "The House at Pooh Corner."
Best UH football memory: "The
Position: Wideout.
Hometown:
Schools: McKinley High,
Graduation day: May 2007 (sociology).
Fun fact: He collects football cards.
Best UH football memory: "This season. This whole season."
KENNY PATTON
Position: Cornerback.
Hometown:
High schools: Punahou/St. Francis (Altadena,
Graduation day: Dec. 17 (English).
Fun fact: Patton and former UH volleyball player Victoria Prince are proud parents of Champ, a chihuahua.
Best UH football memory: "Playing wise, it was the
Position: Free safety.
Hometown: La'ie.
High school: Kahuku.
Graduation day: Dec. 17 (sociology).
Fun fact: "I don't like A.C. It bothers my nose."
Best UH football memory: "Playing with all of my friends."
Position: Defensive left end.
Hometown:
High school: Leone.
Graduation day: May 2007 (sociology).
Fun fact: He can dunk a basketball off a 360-degree move.
Best UH football memory: "Hanging out with the guys."
IAN SAMPLE
Position: Right wideout.
Hometown:
Previous college:
Graduation day: Dec. 17 (English).
Fun fact: He has nearly finished writing a book.
Best UH football memory: "This whole season. The camaraderie, and the heart we have. I've never felt more like a team. In high school, I felt like a team. In college, it felt more like a business. But this year, just being healthy and playing with these guys, it's a great thing."
Position: Center.
Hometown: Kane'ohe.
High school:
Graduation day: Dec. 17 (sociology).
Fun fact: He has not cut his hair since his freshman year.
Best UH football memory: "Meeting all of the guys."
Position: Right tackle.
Hometown: Hau'ula.
High school: Punahou.
Graduation day: Dec. 17 (communications).
Fun fact: He loves to sing.
Best UH football memory: "It would have to be this season, probably the last game against Purdue. Just the way we were down. Past teams might be out of it. But this team came together on offense. We weren't even worried. We said, 'We're going to score, convert the two-point conversion, and the defense will get us back the ball, and we'll score again.' The fact we can do that, like the great teams in the country. It's just a great feeling for me, especially in my senior year, to be part of a special group like this."
CHRIS WILLIAMS
Position: Linebacker.
Hometown:
Schools: McKinley High,
Graduation day: May (psychology).
Fun fact: "I can sing."
Best UH football memory: "It has yet to come. After we win our next two games, then the whole season will be a great memory."
Position: Nose tackle.
Hometown:
Schools: Farrington High,
Graduation day: May 2007 (sociology).
Fun fact: He eats Zippy's teri-chicken mixed plate after every home game.
Best UH football memory: "Being on this team. Everybody is like family."
"This senior class has been kind of special," Hawai'i football head coach June Jones said. Standing, from left: Marissa Bonilla, Victor Fergerstrom, Nate Ilaoa, Michael Malala, Chris Williams, Melila Purcell III, Lawrence Wilson, Ikaika Alama-Francis, Samson Satele, Renolds Fruean. Kneeling, from left: Marques Kaonohi, Reagan Mauia, Ian Sample, Chad Mock, Kurt Milne. Sitting, from left: Dane Uperesa, Tala Esera, Ross Dickerson, Leonard Peters.
GREGORY YAMAMOTO | The Honolulu Advertiser
Palo Alto RB: Sione Mataele
Victor Maccharoli / Daily News
Palo Alto fullback Sione Mataele scored five touchdowns to help the Vikings knock off Palma in four overtimes in the CCS Open Division semifinals last week.
Athlete of the Week: Palo Alto's TD machine
Bruising fullback has Vikings in CCS title game
The entire Palo Alto squad elevated its play to best Palma-Salinas 41-38 in quadruple overtime last Friday, advancing to the Central Coast Section Open Division finals in the process. That feat makes it difficult to celebrate one player, especially since a handful of Vikings stepped up under the lights of San Jose City College.Still, five moments, and one player, stole the show last Friday - fullback Sione Mataele, who ran in four touchdowns, caught another and picked up 114 yards on the ground.
Even Palo Alto head coach Earl Hansen, a straight shooter with little emphasis on individualism, admitted that Mataele was the player who took center stage.
"There was more than one, but you would have to say Sione," said Hansen, when asked who stood out against Palma. "You'd be laughed at if you picked someone else."
On third-and-goal, guard Fred Koloto and left tackle Uly Morales led Mataele to the promise land, ending Palma's season along the way. It was only a 1-yarder, but a climactic 1-yarder. One that will never be forgotten by Mataele, and a moment he envisioned just before Palma's Kyle Harrigan booted a 23-yard field goal in the final overtime.
"That was big when he kicked that, but I was hoping he would make it," the 6-foot, 260-pounder said. "When he did, I knew I was going to punch it in for us."
Mataele, a junior, has been good for 585 yards on 115 carries according to maxpreps.com, and has penetrated the goal line 13 times this season. He has also filled an important role on offense by crossing tough hash marks, snagging first downs and pounding out much-needed scores.
"It's about trusting your blockers," Mataele said. "Why not? They trust me."
His contribution also takes pressure off the wheels of running backs Will Frazier and Evan Warner, who frequently benefit from his blocks.
"No one can handle him," said Frazier, who dashed for a 10-yard touchdown against Palma. "He makes me and Evan look good."
Frazier is equally impressed with his fullback's ball-handling skills, too.
"He's our bowling ball," said Frazier, who dashed for a 10-yard touchdown against Palma. "He makes it so that teams have to stop three backs, which is good."
Mataele, who occasionally dabbles in rugby with cousins, developed power and speed while lifting weights and running with his father, Tava. This commitment transformed him, not only into a powerful runner, but a threat on the defensive line as well - a vital part of the Vikings' emergence in 2006.
Still, there is no question that Mataele sees himself as a fullback first and foremost and one that carries the rock.
"I like running the ball," Mataele said. "Yeah, that's what I love to do."
After he graduates, Mataele pictures himself playing football at Foothill College. He would also like for his mother Suliana to eventually watch him at a four-year school.
For now, though, such dreams are locked away, as No. 99 prepares to line up in the Paly backfield for a rematch with Oak Grove, the only team to defeat Paly in '06.
Mataele hasn't visualized a repeat performance, though.
"I know they aren't expecting much from me, but I am going to show them that wasn't me" said Mataele, who fumbled the ball in the 35-14 loss. "So it's a challenge. Learn to face it."
Unlike other programs victimized by the Eagles, the Vikings are the only one with a shot at redemption, and Mataele is grateful for the second chance.
"I am pumped up to play," the 17-year-old said. "Last time I wasn't at top form, but this time it will be different."
It's also different because if Paly wins, the team possibly earns the right to play for a state championship, a new addition to prep football this year that would add to their underdog story.
First things first, though. Oak Grove must be stopped so premonitions can become reality.
"I am ready," Mataele said. "We are all going to be ready for that one."
And whenever the season concludes, don't expect to see Mataele sitting around, playing video games with friends - which he admittedly enjoys. Nope, that's not going to happen.
He plans to apply his size and strength to another sport in the spring.
"I want to do some field events," Mataele said. "I am going to try shot put and discus."
And after that, he's putting those pads back on for his senior year.
"I am going to really work hard this summer," Mataele said. "Hopefully it carries over."
Daily Breeze Article on Carson RB Jack Sula
Catch him if you can
Junior running back Sula gives Carson an explosive rushing attack that could prove the difference in L.A. City Section semifinal with San Pedro.
By Bob HoltzmanDaily Breeze
Jack Sula wasn't feeling so well last week, forced to fight through the common cold like so many people this time of year.
Sula wasn't about to let a little bug affect his work as the starting running back for Carson High.
"I'll take him sick again for 220 more yards," Carson coach Mike Christensen said with a quick laugh.
Of course, when it comes to Sula, Christensen could mimic Dr. Seuss because he likes Sula here or there. He likes Sula anywhere.
"It wasn't very long after I got to Carson that I knew about Jack," Christensen said. "I just love that kid. He's got the right attitude and the way he approaches practice. He understands how to prepare for an opponent. When you talk about guys who have that 'It' factor, he has that."
It's not just Christensen who's on the Sula bandwagon. Quarterback Dominique Blackman was raving in practice this week about Sula to his coaches and teammates after he watched Sula made an adjustment to his footwork to make a play run smoother. Linebacker Joel Deayon said Sula is doing little things like that all the time to improve the team.
Carson's offensive linemen love blocking for him and the 6-foot, 183-pound junior makes sure to always recognize the work they've done to help him accumulate 1,764 yards and 19 touchdowns on 218 carries this season.
"He's the driver and we're the engine," right guard Sala Tela said. "He always plays like that for us, he's just so explosive."
Sula said he hopes to erupt when Carson (9-3) plays at San Pedro (11-1) in an L.A. City Section championship semifinal Friday at 7 p.m.
"We want payback from when we lost to them and gave up a 14-0 lead," Sula said. "We feel like we should have won that game."
If Carson wins the rematch, expect Sula to have a lot to do with it. The Colts are undefeated when he's rushed for more than 100 yards and are 0-3 when he's been held under the century mark. His physical running style and excellent vision of the holes makes up for a lack of a true breakaway speed burst.
His running style keeps his fan club busy cheering every game. The bandwagon might start on his team but it extends to his family with his mother, Jessica, step dad Jerry Misaalefua, as well as six younger siblings.
Sula said he usually has about 20 family members at his games every week.
"My step dad took me to see my older cousins playing and I told him I want to do that," said Sula, who was playing flag football by age 6 and tackle by 8. "I started out as a wide receiver and linebacker in flag but when I moved into tackle, I liked contact. They moved me to running back and linebacker because of that and I've been there ever since."
He's received attention for his work at running back but has played well at linebacker with 27 tackles, 4½ for loss, one sack and two interceptions.
Deayon leads the defense and said he is impressed with how well Sula has done playing both ways.
"His stamina really stands out," Deayon said. "You can tell when he's tired sometimes but he plays well the whole game."
Sula's durability has even surprised himself. He said he thought 1,000 yards this season would be an incredible output but is in position to double that.
"Ever since I was a kid, I was dreaming about this," Sula said. "Waking up and seeing myself in the newspaper, and playing under the lights."
His breakthrough season isn't a last hurrah either. As a junior, he'll be back to try and duplicate his success with Carson. Christensen said he expects Sula's focus to carry over to the offseason, when Sula will focus on making himself a better football player. Christensen said he's already talking to college coaches about his younger players, and Sula is one of them.
"They won't find a kid who plays any harder than he does," Christensen said. "He will only get bigger, faster and stronger."
Which means he might play even better the next time he has a cold.
Monday, December 04, 2006
All Pac-10 Conference Selections
All Pac-10 Conference Selections
The 2006 All Pac-10 team was recently selected and included three Polynesians (Enoka Lucas, Jeremy Perry, and Rey Maualuga) on the first team as well as Nu’u Tafisi (Tongan) and Max Unger (from
First Team
Oregon’s Enoka Lucas (Pauoa Valley / Kamehameha Schools) and Oregon State’s Jeremy Perry (Hau’ula / Kahuku HS ) were first team selections at Center and Guard following their respective second team and honorable selections in 2005. Lucas, a senior from
Second Team
Cal Defensive End Nu’u Tafisi (
Honorable Mention
UCLA Guard Shannon Tevaga and Arizona Tackle Brandon Rodd (Aiea HS, HI) were selected honorable mention for the second year in a row. Also selected to the team were Arizona State’s Paul Fanaika (Mills, HS / Daly City, CA) and Michael Marquardt (Vista, CA / Rancho Buena Vista HS / BYU), Oregon’s Palauni Ma Sun (La’ie / Kahuku HS / Fresno CC) and Matt Toeaina (Pago Pago, Amerika Samoa / Samoana HS), and USC’s Fili Moala. Tevaga has started at guard since his freshman year and may be joined on the line next year by his brother Sonny a freshman at UCLA. Rodd is a two year starter at left tackle and Fanaika was able to move from a reserve in the beginning of the season and was able to finish with 9 consecutive starts at right guard. Marquardt a transfer from BYU finished the season with 24 tackles (17 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Rodd is a two year starter at left tackle and Fanaika was able to move from a reserve in the beginning of the season and was able to finish with 9 consecutive starts at right guard. Marquardt a transfer from BYU finished the season with 24 tackles (17 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Ma Sun was a two year starter at guard following his transfer from
Bellevue player, 20, literally a man among boys
Bellevue player, 20, literally a man among boys
It hasn't been an easy path to the state title game for Will Kanongata'a
Friday, December 1, 2006
By MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN
P-I REPORTER
BELLEVUE -- It was billed as a can't-miss matchup with scoring aplenty: Bellevue High School's four-time 3A state champions against 4A state champion Skyline, two perennial powerhouses led by offensive-minded coaches.
But when the teams lined up on the Sammamish Plateau in early September to open the season before a packed house at Spartans Stadium, only one team put up points.
Bellevue defeated Skyline 28-0, thanks largely to the efforts of 240-pound defensive lineman Will Kanongata'a, who sacked quarterback Tony Rehn three times by himself and once more with a teammate.
From the sidelines, Kanongata'a's blue-and-gold No. 75 jersey was a blur as he pushed past and darted around Skyline offensive lineman like they were children. Which, from his perspective, they were.
Less than three weeks after the game, Kanongata'a celebrated his 20th birthday, making him five years older than some of his teammates and opponents -- and closer to the age of most players in the college football games he watches on Saturday afternoons.
Not everyone was pleased with the idea of a man, literally, playing among boys.
Coaches from other schools groused about his age, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association ruled against him on eligibility issues, and his own coach wasn't sure he wanted Kanongata'a on the team.
"Look, he's 20 and he's playing for Bellevue. I get it," Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff said midway through the season of complaints from rival coaches. "I know why people are upset, but he's eligible according to our state guidelines and I've been warned to treat him like any other player."
That Kanongata'a is still playing as the 13-0 Wolverines head into the Class 3A state championship game tonight against Kennedy at the Tacoma Dome reflects the changes taking place as high school athletics stretch to accommodate such off-field concerns as family difficulties, learning disabilities and frequent changes of address.
For Kanongata'a, it hasn't been an easy path.
Rife with potential
Kanongata'a's high school football odyssey began six seasons ago, as a freshman at Kennedy in Burien. He was 15 years old, already listed at 6 feet 2 and 245 pounds, and rife with potential. Letters from college recruiters began arriving on his doorstep during that first season in 2001.
"He was a big kid with a big motor," recalled Lancers coach Bob Bourgette, who will be on the opposite sideline from Kanongata'a tonight. "I think he got into some trouble, but he wasn't a problem when it came to football."
Trouble for Kanongata'a escalated after an older brother, Tuituiohu, was killed in a car wreck on Aug. 3, 2002, just before Kanongata'a was to begin his sophomore season.
"It seemed like everything came crashing down," he said.
He played football that fall but was expelled from Kennedy in January 2003. Court documents listed fighting, truancy and drinking at a school dance as reasons.
His parents later kicked him out of the family home after Kanongata'a fought with his father. At age 16, he moved to Salt Lake City to live with an uncle.
His stay in Utah was brief. Ruled ineligible to play football in the fall of 2003 because Utah transfer rules required a minimum one-year residency, he dropped out of Olympus High School in January 2004 and returned to Washington.
Still unwelcome at home, he moved in with Bellevue resident Glen Walker, a close family friend and Kanongata'a's godfather.
Kanongata'a hoped to play football at Bellevue, the state's most powerful program. The Wolverines won state titles in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and would win a fourth consecutive title the year he enrolled.
But his standing at his new school quickly took a negative turn: Bellevue suspended him in the spring of 2004 for gambling.
Back at square one, Kanongata'a enrolled at Robinswood, an alternative school in Bellevue, where he stayed the rest of the school year.
Medical disorder discovered
After sitting out the 2003 season, there was football for Kanongata'a in the fall of 2004, but not the kind he wanted.
Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules stipulate that a student who moves between school districts without his parents must wait a year before participating in varsity sports.
At Walker's urging, Kanongata'a petitioned the WIAA for a hardship exception, but the state's high school sports governing body turned him down.
So instead of contributing to Bellevue's 2004 championship team, Kanongata'a played for the Wolverines' junior varsity team -- the only team for which he was eligible.
That winter, doctors diagnosed Kanongata'a as suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define ADHD as "a neurobehavioral disorder characterized by pervasive inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity and resulting in significant functional impairment."
In May 2005, Bellevue High determined he had a learning problem that qualified him for an Individualized Education Program -- essentially a hands-on learning program with specific goals and services constructed to meet the student's needs.
When Kanongata'a applied for a hardship waiver to play football in the fall of 2005, the WIAA again turned him down, ruling him ineligible for that season and any future season.
The WIAA argued he already had played four consecutive years of football -- two at Kennedy, one in Utah, and one with the Bellevue JV, though Kanongata'a said he never played in Utah.
And there were other eligibility issues, including a 1.63 cumulative grade-point average (Bellevue requires a 2.0 GPA for participation in sports) and three alleged classroom-cheating violations during the 2004-05 school year.
On Sept. 26, 2005 -- almost a month into the football season -- the WIAA determined that regardless of his actual participation in Utah, Kanongata'a had been given sufficient opportunity to play there. Further, it said there was no basis for a hardship exemption based on his family circumstances or learning disability.
Another football season came and went, Kanongata'a denied a chance to suit up with the varsity for the third consecutive year. Meanwhile, Walker and Kanongata'a's parents pressed ahead with legal action, suing the WIAA and the Bellevue School District in U.S. District Court.
"I wanted to help him do something with his life," Walker said, "and be a positive influence on his younger brothers."
In court, Kanongata'a's lawyers argued he had a valid hardship claim based on his family situation and relocations, and also his disability -- the direct cause, they said, of his poor grades.
On June 20, 2006, Judge John C. Coughenour sided with the player, ruling that the WIAA's denial of a hardship waiver was "arbitrary and capricious."
Six years after it started, Kanongata'a was free to resume his high school football career.
A learning situation
Kanongata'a's family moved to Bellevue in 2005, he moved back into the family home shortly after, and this fall, he finally returned to the football field -- though not without incident.
A dispute with the WIAA over summer-school credits forced a last-minute court hearing. Finally, on Sept. 1, a judge issued a temporary injunction allowing Kanongata'a to play that night in the season opener against Skyline.
"Will held up his end of the bargain the whole way," said his attorney, Thomas Degan. "The final month of this process was disappointing. ... I often saw no rhyme or reason with the WIAA decisions. They certainly don't seem to have a problem continuing to bully people until they get what they want."
"Our goal is to be consistent and fair to everyone who applies for a hardship," said WIAA lawyer John Olson. "The judge made his final decision and now we all go forward."
Kanongata'a played brilliantly against Skyline, but two weeks later, Goncharoff pulled him from a game against Issaquah after Kanongata'a taunted a fallen opponent.
"We made it clear there was no room for actions like that on our team," Goncharoff said. "We pulled him from the rest of the Issaquah game and sat him the following week against Liberty. Will was obviously caught up in the moment and learned his lesson."
Three days after the Issaquah incident, Kanongata'a turned 20, barely qualifying under a WIAA rule that says anyone older than 19 on Sept. 1 is ineligible to play fall sports.
Goncharoff said he heard second-hand complaints from rival coaches about the merits of letting a 20-year-old play, and even Goncharoff questioned the WIAA age rule.
"Do I think a 20-year-old kid should be playing high school football? No. But it's not against the rules as they're written," he said.
Goncharoff said he's happy to have Kanongata'a on his team.
"Will has been a pleasant surprise," the coach said. "He's had some discipline problems in the past, but give him credit -- he's been a positive. He feels like playing football is an opportunity to take advantage of.
"He's turned the Issaquah incident into a learning experience. Since then, he's kept his mouth shut on the field and works hard at practice. The guys on the team really like him and support him. They've embraced him wholeheartedly."
Three years away from varsity football put Kanongata'a behind the learning curve this season. He struggled to develop his blocking technique on offense. He often was too aggressive on defense, running himself out of plays. And inconsistent effort on the practice field cost him playing time early in the year, Goncharoff said.
But coaches and scouting services say Kanongata'a has the size, strength, quickness and tenacity to play college football, most likely as a pass-rushing linebacker. Recruiting Web site Scout.com lists Kanongata'a as one of the state's top 60 prospects.
Academic issues could affect Kanongata'a's ability to play in college, however. He is taking five classes at the Academic Institute in Bellevue. He said he expects to pass all five.
"I think my chances to play at the next level are very realistic," he said. "It would be great to play close to home and my family. I'm going to do my best to draw only positive attention the rest of the season and see where it all takes me."
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