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DIVISION I
Vavae Malepeai, Mililani
2015
Offensive Player of the Year
After leading Division I schools is rushing the previous two seasons,
Mililani senior running back Vavae Malepeai still managed to out-do
himself. It is a main reason he is ScoringLive’s All-Hawaii Division I
football team’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Malepeai rushed for 1,350 and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore when
the Trojans finished second in the state. He rushed for 1,337 yards and
24 TDs in helping the Trojans win their first state title in 2014. This past
season, he rushed for state-leading 1,944 yards and 29 TDs.
When last year’s Offensive POY, quarterback McKenzie Milton went
down with a mid-season shoulder injury, Malepeai kept on going, even
when teams knew he was getting the ball.
Keala Santiago, Kahuku
Defensive Player of the Year
On its star-studded defense, Kahuku safety Louis Keala Santiago
shined the brightest and he is ScoringLive’s All-Hawaii team Defensive
Player of the Year.
Granted, Santiago was surrounded by an all-star cast on defense starting with a front seven that applied pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
While fellow defensive backs had their share of interceptions, it seemed
Santiago came up with those that broke opponents’ backs.
But Santiago wasn’t just a ball hawk. He was a reliable tackler.
“He has a nose for the ball,” Waianae coach Walter Young said. “He was
always in the right place. Defensively, he made tackles in open spaces.”
“He was able to step up when McKenzie was out,” Farrington coach
Randall Okimoto said of Malepeai. “That really showed he was able to
take the team on his shoulders. To me, he actually stepped up his
running.”
What also made Santiago stand out was his versatility. He
occasionally played wide receiver in the rare times Kahuku passed. But
he was dangerous as a return specialist. He returned three punts for
TDs this past season.
Malepeai’s improved performance hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“He makes many plays, not just the safety position, but as punt
returner,” Mililani coach Rod York said.
“Every year he got better,” Campbell coach Amosa Amosa said. “He did
a good job or preparing himself every year.”
The 6-foot, 200-pound Malepeai beat opponents with his speed. When
defenders caught him, he would drag them a couple more yards or
simply break out of their grasps. He had “the best combination of power
and speed,” Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez.
“Not since Kahuku’s Malosi Te’o’s insane run in 2005 have I seen a back
put up such big yards in big games,” Hernandez added.
Also receiving consideration for Offensive POY was Saint Louis junior
quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He was instrumental in helping the
Crusaders claim their first Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I
crown since 2010.
Walter Young, Waianae
Added Campbell coach Amosa Amosa: “He impacts all three phases of
the game.”
The only other players considered for the top defensive player were
from Kahuku. Among them was linebacker Hirkley Latu and lineman
Bradlee Anae.
“That Anae, trying to block him is ridiculous,” York said.
Kahuku’s defense allowed fewer than a touchdown per game (4.1
points). The team posted six shutouts and allowed more than one TD
in its last game of the season – the Division I state title game - against
Saint Louis. And even then, one of the TDs came off a blocked punt.
Coach of the Year
First-year coaches excelled this past football season.
One, Kahuku’s Vavae Tata went undefeated and won the Division I state title. Another, Waianae’s Walter Young, brought the school’s first top four finish
since 2010.
Kahuku might have had the best collection of talent, but Waianae made one of the biggest turnarounds. After going 5-4 and getting eliminated from
postseason in the Oahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinals, the Seariders finished third in their league and was eliminated in the Division I state
semifinals to end with a 9-4 record. Waianae’s only losses were to top five teams in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division I Power Rankings, three
to the top three teams, two against state champion Kahuku.
Young, a 1998 Waianae graduate, is ScoringLive’s All-Hawaii Division I team’s Coach of the Year.
Young “changed the culture by having his kids give back to the community,” Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said.
In keeping with Waianae’s tradition of focusing on team instead of the individual, Young restored the pride of the west side. You could not tell who were
first-team players, especially at running back. It was not unusual to see 10 different rushers in a typical Waianae game. Everyone literally carried the
load.
Off the field, the Seariders were just as impressive. Players did community service projects and were expected to dress with pride off the field.
Waianae also held Kahuku to its fewest points this season in a 13-0 loss in the Division I state semifinals. It was a huge turnaround from its 30-0 regularseason loss to the Red Raiders.
Also receiving consideration for the coach’s honor was Tata, a Saint Louis graduate who beat Kahuku in the Prep Bowl.
SCORINGLIVE ALL-HAWAII FOOTBALL 2015 - DIVISION I
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Tua Tagovailoa
Saint Louis • Jr
QB • 6’2 210
Kumoku Noa
Kamehameha • Sr
WR • 6’0 180
Kalakaua Timoteo
Saint Louis • Sr
WR • 6’2 200
Bradlee Anae
Kahuku • Sr
DL • 6’4 220
Tanielu Evaimalo
Saint Louis • Sr
DL • 6’2 240
Lono Kanongataa
Kahuku • Sr
DL • 5’11 210
Christian Mejia
Kailua • Jr
DL • 6’4 210
Kesi Ah-Hoy
Kahuku • Jr
RB • 6’0 215
Vavae Malepeai
Mililani • Sr
RB • 6’0 200
Wayne Taulapapa
Punahou • Sr
RB • 5’11 205
Tainoa Foster
Hirkley Latu
Kamehameha • Sr Kahuku • Sr
LB • 6’2 205
LB • 6’4 205
Isaac Slade-Matautia
Saint Louis • Jr
LB • 6’0 220
Toleafoa Auwae
Kapolei • Sr
OL • 6’5 300
Nate Herbig
Saint Louis • Sr
OL • 6’4 330
J.P. Muasau
Punahou • Sr
OL • 5’11 270
Stokes Botelho
Kahuku • Jr
DB • 5’8 140
Kekaula Kaniho
Kahuku • Jr
DB • 6’0 170
Keala Santiago
Kahuku • Sr
DB • 6’0 185
Ronson Timbreza
Saint Louis • Sr
DB • 5’10 160
Kekoa Sasaoka
Kahuku • Sr
P • 5’11 200
Keala Santiago
Kahuku • Sr
RET • 6’0 185
Nicolas Tom
Kaiser • Sr
UTIL • 5’10 175
SPECIALISTS
Tamatoa Neher
Kahuku • Sr
OL • 6’3 290
Andru Tovi
Mililani • Sr
OL • 6’2 325
Adam Stack
Kamehameha • Jr
K • 6’2 170
SCORINGLIVE ALL-HAWAII FOOTBALL 2015 - DIVISION I
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
QB: McKenzie Milton, Mililani - Sr • 6’0 180
RB: Challen Faamatau, Farrington - Jr • 5’10 193
RB: Michael Feliciano, Moanalua - Sr • 5’10 185
WR: Noah Esprecion, Campbell - Sr • 5’8 155
WR: Keoni-Kordell Makekau, Iolani - Sr • 5’10 168
WR: Ty-Noah Williams, Kapolei - Sr • 5’10 175
OL: Michael Eletise, Kaiser - Sr • 6’4 315
OL: Vili Fisiiahi, Kahuku - Jr • 5’10 260
OL: John Kapua VI, Waianae - Sr • 6-0 250
OL: Netane Muti, Leilehua - Sr • 6’4 280
OL: Tytus Timoteo, Saint Louis - Sr • 6’0 335
DL: Alema Kapoi, Kamehameha - • 6-0 275
DL: Kaimana Padello, Mililani - Sr • 6’0 200
DL: Alekisanita Vimahi, Kahuku - Jr • 6’4 250
LB: Kawena Alo-Kaonohi - Sr • 5’10 190
LB: Pesa Lefau, Kahuku - Sr • 6’0 215
LB: Laakea Look, Punahou - Sr • 6’1 220
LB: Aaron Tapusoa, Kahuku - Sr • 5’8 208
DB: Jay Amina, Kapolei - Sr • 5’10 190
DB: Mosiah Brame, Waianae - Sr • 6-0 165
DB: Laakea Kahoohanohano-Davis, Baldwin - Sr • 6’1 180
DB: Kalei Kealoha-Machado, Kailua - Sr • 5’11 140
SPECIALISTS
K: John Toner, Punahou - Sr • 6’4 190
P: Noah Auld, Kailua - Sr • 6’2 205
RET: Kumoku Noa - Sr • 6’0 180
UTIL: Jeremy McGoldrick, Castle - Jr • 5’7 140
HONORABLE MENTION
Quarterbacks: Noah Auld (Kailua), Nick Kapule (Punahou), Taulia Tagovailoa (Kapolei), Kaale Tiogangco (Hilo)
Running backs: Freedom Alualu (Farrington), Harmon Brown (Kahuku), Jensen McDaniel (Kaiser), Javen Towne
(Waianae), Jurick Valdez (Waianae)
Wide receivers: Eamon Brady (Punahou), Isaiah Freeney (Waianae), Tyreek Keough (Leilehua), Kame Kim Choy-KebLo (Aiea), Drew Kobayashi (Saint Louis), Jaymin Sarono (Kapolei), Andrew Simanu (Waipahu), Bryson Ventura (Mililani)
Offensive lineman: Kanai Eldredge (Punahou), Nilsson Gaisoa (Kailua), Mataio Fatuesi (Moanalua), Jedediah Heffernan
(Kahuku)
Defensive lineman: Kahewai Kaaiawaawa (Mililani), Chance Kalaugher (Kaiser), Kawehe Kohatsu (Kailua), Isaac Liva
(Mililani), Johnny Morrison (Kapolei), Christian Naeole (Iolani), Joey Nuuanu-Kuhiiki (Waianae), Logan Serikawa (Moanalua)
Linebackers: Manaia Atuaia (Kahuku), Jaylen Gonzales (Waianae), Brandon Hattori (Waianae), Melvin Hoomanawanui
(Iolani), Jordan Iosefa (Saint Louis), Matthew Leilua (Waipahu), Toto Mailo (Waianae), Rocky Savea (Kapolei), Tyson Tafai
(Campbell), Maa Tanuvasa Jr. (Mililani), Dylan Toililo (Saint Louis), Logan Williams (Punahou)
Defensive back: Kyle Bender (Moanalua), Awa Byers (Kailua), Tana Liana (Kapolei), William Prescott (Farrington), Kea
Rodrigues (Moanalua), Jalen Saole (Saint Louis), Ramsey Tacadena (Mililani)
Utility: Aaron Bunting (Campbell), Parker Higgins (Kaiser), LeRod Tongi (Kahuku)