Speedy Kapolei Enters Pre-season Friday Vs. Pearl City
Speed also means power on a football field. If all goes according to plan this fall, the Kapolei defense will display plenty of both, beginning Friday night when the Hurricanes travel to play Pearl City in their pre-season game.
“It will be a pretty fast defense,” Kapolei head coach Darren Hernandez said. “We’ll have a lot of athletes out there. Sometimes you have to give up speed for size nowadays. It’s not like the old days when you would be facing the wish- bone (often). Nowadays you’re always in a situation where you’re facing teams that can throw it and spread the field, and you have to have the athletes who can cover.”
The Chargers shape up asabitofamysteryto Kapolei for Friday’s game, at least schematically, as Pearl City head coach David Hallums is entering his first season at the school.
“With a new coach, there will be some unfa- miliarity with what they do,” Hernandez said. “We’ll have to hit the ground running.”
Regardless of what the Hurricanes see from the Pearl City offense this weekend, Hernandez is hoping a veteran defensive line can help set the tone.
Back in the fold are Andrew Julius, Elias McMoore, Owen Souza, Isaiah Alapai and Urima Foi.
“The line is the deepest part of our team — we have a bunch who can play there,” Hernandez said.
“Athletic” also defines the Hurricanes’ linebacker corps of Israel Latu-Reyes, Moses Wiseman, Micah Paris and Brailand Hearn.
“We’re excited about the group,” Hernandez said. “Micah is a classic middle linebacker. He has speed, and he’s rangy and
very physical. Moses is a really good pass-cover guy, and he can also rush the passer.
“Israel is real stout versus the run,” he con- tinued. “Brailand is also tall and rangy, and he can cover, too and he’s a real good edge player (coming from the end).”
The secondary is high- lighted by the return of both Kaeo Kanoa and Mason Alfaro.
Kanoa was the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West interceptions leader in 2011 with eight en route to earning First Team All-Conference hon- ors at season’s end.
“(Kanoa) is so rangy and so fast, and he’s a hitter,” Hernandez said of Kanoa. “He has speed, jumping ability, and a he’s a great tackler and a ball hawk. A lot of kids get to a ball and can knock it down. For him, if he gets there, he’ll usually make the interception.
“Mason is the quarterback of our secondary and the brains behind our whole back seven,” he added of Alfaro.
