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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

2007 OIA East Player of the Year

Two football players who seemed to be all over the field this season — Kalaheo's Bruce Andrews and Kahuku's Shiloah Te'o — apparently stayed on the minds of O'ahu Interscholastic Association coaches even after it was over.

Coaches voted Andrews, a 6-foot, 185-pound receiver, as OIA Red Conference Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Year and Te'o, a 5-11, 195-pound safety, as Defensive Player of the Year.

Andrews caught 26 passes for 362 yards (13.9 ypc) and one touchdown, but his value could not be measured in numbers alone.

"He was our go-to guy," Mustangs coach Chris Mellor said. "He never left the field. He was a great asset, a playmaker. Looking back, we probably should have gone to him more."

Andrews also returned punts and kicks.

"He had a lot of key returns, for big yardage," Mellor said. "He was on every special team, quite the football player."

Te'o was similarly valuable for Kahuku, which went 6-0 in regular season play.

He was a steady force in the defensive backfield, making a key second-half interception in the end zone during the Red Raiders' title-clinching 13-6 victory at Castle. And like Andrews, Te'o also contributed on special teams.

He was named to the Red East All-Star first team as a defensive back and utility player.

Kahuku led the way with eight first-team selections: Te'o, running back Junior Mata'afa, offensive linemen Benji Kemoeatu, Daniel Kinikini and Anthony Si'ilata, defensive linemen Jerome Acoba and Clayson Sauni, and linebacker Paipai Falemalu.

Farrington was next with six: receiver Matt Stowers, offensive lineman Joseph Siliga, defensive lineman VJ Fehoko, linebacker Isaiah Iuta, and defensive backs Jimmy Robinson and Kalei Stevens.

Castle placed four: Offensive/defensive lineman Solomon Koehler, utility player Bronson Kekahuna, linebacker Kawehi Sablan and defensive back Thomas Ilae. McKinley running back Will Starks and receiver Tavita Woodward, and Kalaheo quarterback Cody vonAppen round out the first team.

Kahuku's Reggie Torres was named Coach of the Year.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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