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Sunday, December 21, 2008

Manti Te'o: Honors continue to pour in for all-everything LB

You had to see it to believe it.

In fact, you might not be able to manufacture a better football athlete in a video game. Yet, there he was, week after week, making play after play. The best part about Manti Te'o, at least for Punahou's coaching staff, is that the 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker/running back always found room for improvement.

Not that anyone besides Te'o, who obsessively studied video footage of opposing teams, was expecting more.

A senior season of 128 tackles, three interceptions (one of them returned for a touchdown), a punt block return for another score and a general fear by opposing teams of running at the speedy 'backer said plenty about Te'o's work ethic and preparation.

Coaches and media selected Te'o as the Star-Bulletin Defensive Player of the Year for a second year in a row. Fierce and friendly, proud and humble, Te'o was the cornerstone of a defense that allowed only 2.3 rushing yards per attempt.

Te'o made a quick believer of Wally Aina, who began coaching in 1970 and recently returned to the helm at Damien. In Aina's eyes, Te'o has no peer present or past.

"That's the thing. He doesn't remind me of anybody. He's maybe the quickest, fastest, strongest I've ever seen. The guy's terrific, he can do it all. Turn him around the other way and he can do it on offense, too," Aina said.

Had Te'o played more offense, it's not unfathomable that he could've won top honors on both sides of the ball. He rushed 30 times for 168 yards and scored four touchdowns. Of his three receptions, two went for touchdowns. With just 37 touches, including his two defensive returns, he accounted for eight touchdowns.

Punahou, of course, had more than enough firepower offensively, giving Te'o plenty of rest. Other teams found it better to just swallow their medicine than try to avoid a dose of Te'o.

"What I know is try not to run away from him. If anything, the only chance you got is run at him with all your guys in front," Aina said. "If you ran away from him, he'll get to the other side of the field in a blink."

Te'o is a big part of a bumper crop this season. The senior class is loaded with defensive talent in spite of Te'o's landslide numbers in the voting.

Farrington linebacker Isaiah Iuta was second in the balloting.

"If there were no Manti this year, he would be the No. 1 linebacker," Aiea coach Wendell Say said.

Iuta's quickness and speed made him a valuable part of one of the top defensive units in the state. Faster than most receivers, he was also tough against the run - important factors for a Governors team that faced run-first teams in the OIA Red East and pass-oriented teams in the postseason.

"Sideline to sideline, he's one of the quickest players I've ever coached," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "At times, when he'd read the play from the other side of the field, he'd bypass all of the linebackers and make the play."

Farrington defensive end V.J. Fehoko and safety James Smith joined Iuta on the first team.

"Their leadership, even with only a few seniors, it worked well in terms of chemistry. The seniors led the defense and the underclassmen followed," Okimoto said. "We had guys willing to play as a team."

Two 'Iolani Raiders landed on the first team: defensive tackle Sealii Epenesa and cornerback Kela Marciel. 'Iolani's defense was the backbone of the program's third Division II state title.

Two members of Kahuku's stellar defense also earned first-team honors: safety Aulola Tonga and cornerback Jray Galeai.

Kapolei middle linebacker Simione Vehikite, who amassed 119 tackles and 10 sacks, also landed on the first team. Vehikite's progress was phenomenal after making the transition from defensive line, which he played as a junior at Lahainaluna.

Of the nine seniors on the first-team defense, only four have made college commitments: Wade Keliikipi of Waianae (Hawaii), Mana Rosa of Baldwin (Oregon State), Vehikite (USC) and Galeai (BYU).

Te'o had a growing list of 29 universities that offered scholarships before he lost count. His final-five list: BYU, Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA and USC. Two of his teammates, Star-Bulletin first-team offensive players Dalton Hilliard and Robby Toma, have already committed to UCLA, as has Kapolei offensive lineman Stan Hasiak.

The list of awards for Te'o continues to grow. This past week, Sporting News named him high school athlete of the year. The week before, he was selected as the first-ever high school recipient of the Dick Butkus Award.

First-team Defense

Player of the Year
Manti Te'o, Punahou
Name School Pos. Cl. HT. WT.
Wade Keliikipi Waianae DT Sr. 6-3 290
Sealii Epenesa 'Iolani DT Jr. 6-2 300
V.J. Fehoko Farrington DE Jr. 6-0 218
Mana Rosa Baldwin DE Sr. 6-3 245
Manti Te'o Punahou LB Sr. 6-2 235
Isaiah Iuta Farrington LB Sr. 6-0 201
Simione Vehikite Kapolei LB Sr. 6-1 243
Kela Marciel 'Iolani LB Sr. 5-11 170
Jray Galeai Kahuku CB Sr. 6-0 177
Aulola Tonga Kahuku S Sr. 6-3 205
James Smith Farrington S Sr. 5-11 188
Rico Newman Leilehua P Sr. 5-10 175

Second-team Defense

Trevor Iosefa Punahou DT Sr. 6-1 290
Brad Iaulualo Leilehua DT Sr. 5-10 215
Chad Lopati Kapolei DE Sr. 6-2 245
Marcus Malepeai Radford DE Sr. 6-2 245
Sila Tonga Farrington LB Sr. 5-11 213
Kalua Ellis Leilehua LB Jr. 5-11 215
Jeremy Ioane Punahou LB Jr. 5-11 188
Alvin Fa'amasili Farrington CB Jr. 6-0 165
Kaipo Ke-a Leilehua CB Sr. 5-9 165
Sean McFadden Punahou S Jr. 6-1 190
Breland Almadova 'Iolani S Sr. 6-1 180
James Smith Farrington P Sr. 5-11 188

Third-team Defense

Manako Tuifua Kailua DT Sr. 5-9 267
Miah Fa'atoafe Aiea DT Sr. 6-0 290
Kona Schwenke Kahuku DE Jr. 6-4 203
Jonathan Fuimaono Punahou DE Jr. 6-2 255
Carl Gibson 'Iolani LB Sr. 5-11 200
Kawehi Sablan Castle LB Sr. 5-11 195
Nate Hall Leilehua LB Sr. 6-4 230
Mina Gould Punahou CB Sr. 5-11 178
Lyle Santiago Kapolei CB Sr. 5-10 175
Hoku Kama Leilehua S Sr. 5-11 170
Cyril Ontai Kapolei S Sr. 5-11 210
Kimo Makaula Punahou P Sr. 6-3 225

Coach of the Year
Kale Ane, Punahou

Manti Te'o
Led state champ Buffanblu with 128 tackles, punt block and interception returns for TDs

Wade Keilikipi
DT, Waianae
Leader of a stingy Seariders defensive unit.

Sealii Epenesa
DT 'Iolani
Cornerstone of a defensive wall that permitted just 3.7 rushing yards per carry.

V.J. Fehoko
DE, Farrington
Speed rusher from the edge in the Governors' dominant defense.

Mana Rosa
DE, Baldwin
Most dominant defensive force in the MIL since Kaluka Maiava.

Isaiah Iuta
LB, Farrington
Versatile and quick, strong against the run, faster than most receivers.

Simione Vehikite
LB, Kapolei
119 tackles, 10 sacks for an often depleted Hurricane defense.

Kela Marciel
CB, 'Iolani
Shutdown corner in the state's most prolific pass-happy league.

Jray Galeai
CB, Kahuku
Combination of speed and savvy for Red Raiders' outstanding defense.

Aulola Tonga
S, Kahuku
Superb against the run, blazing fast in deep coverage.

James Smith
S, Farrington
Great nose for the ball, physical and quick.

Rico Newman
P/R, Leilehua
Averaged more than 40 yards per punt. Sure hands, speed and determination made him the best returner.

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