Vavae Malepeai, Mililani 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.

“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.”

Malepeai’s improved performance hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“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.

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 start-ing 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.”

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.

“He makes many plays, not just the safety position, but as punt returner,” Mililani coach Rod York said.

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.

DIVISION I 2015

Walter Young, Waianae 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 regular-season 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

Tua TagovailoaSaint Louis • JrQB • 6’2 210

Kumoku NoaKamehameha • SrWR • 6’0 180

Kalakaua TimoteoSaint Louis • SrWR • 6’2 200

Toleafoa AuwaeKapolei • SrOL • 6’5 300

Nate HerbigSaint Louis • SrOL • 6’4 330

J.P. MuasauPunahou • SrOL • 5’11 270

Tamatoa NeherKahuku • SrOL • 6’3 290

Andru ToviMililani • SrOL • 6’2 325

Kesi Ah-HoyKahuku • JrRB • 6’0 215

Vavae MalepeaiMililani • SrRB • 6’0 200

Wayne Taulapapa Punahou • SrRB • 5’11 205

DEFENSE

Bradlee AnaeKahuku • SrDL • 6’4 220

Tanielu EvaimaloSaint Louis • SrDL • 6’2 240

Lono KanongataaKahuku • SrDL • 5’11 210

Christian MejiaKailua • JrDL • 6’4 210

Tainoa FosterKamehameha • SrLB • 6’2 205

Hirkley LatuKahuku • SrLB • 6’4 205

Isaac Slade-MatautiaSaint Louis • JrLB • 6’0 220

Stokes BotelhoKahuku • JrDB • 5’8 140

Kekaula KanihoKahuku • JrDB • 6’0 170

Keala SantiagoKahuku • SrDB • 6’0 185

Ronson TimbrezaSaint Louis • SrDB • 5’10 160

Adam StackKamehameha • JrK • 6’2 170

Kekoa SasaokaKahuku • SrP • 5’11 200

Keala SantiagoKahuku • SrRET • 6’0 185

Nicolas TomKaiser • SrUTIL • 5’10 175

SPECIALISTS

SCORINGLIVE ALL-HAWAII FOOTBALL 2015 - DIVISION I

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

QB: McKenzie Milton, Mililani - Sr • 6’0 180RB: Challen Faamatau, Farrington - Jr • 5’10 193RB: Michael Feliciano, Moanalua - Sr • 5’10 185WR: Noah Esprecion, Campbell - Sr • 5’8 155WR: Keoni-Kordell Makekau, Iolani - Sr • 5’10 168WR: Ty-Noah Williams, Kapolei - Sr • 5’10 175OL: Michael Eletise, Kaiser - Sr • 6’4 315OL: Vili Fisiiahi, Kahuku - Jr • 5’10 260OL: John Kapua VI, Waianae - Sr • 6-0 250OL: Netane Muti, Leilehua - Sr • 6’4 280OL: Tytus Timoteo, Saint Louis - Sr • 6’0 335

SPECIALISTS

K: John Toner, Punahou - Sr • 6’4 190P: Noah Auld, Kailua - Sr • 6’2 205RET: Kumoku Noa - Sr • 6’0 180UTIL: Jeremy McGoldrick, Castle - Jr • 5’7 140

DEFENSE

DL: Alema Kapoi, Kamehameha - • 6-0 275DL: Kaimana Padello, Mililani - Sr • 6’0 200DL: Alekisanita Vimahi, Kahuku - Jr • 6’4 250LB: Kawena Alo-Kaonohi - Sr • 5’10 190LB: Pesa Lefau, Kahuku - Sr • 6’0 215LB: Laakea Look, Punahou - Sr • 6’1 220LB: Aaron Tapusoa, Kahuku - Sr • 5’8 208DB: Jay Amina, Kapolei - Sr • 5’10 190DB: Mosiah Brame, Waianae - Sr • 6-0 165DB: Laakea Kahoohanohano-Davis, Baldwin - Sr • 6’1 180DB: Kalei Kealoha-Machado, Kailua - Sr • 5’11 140

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-Keb-Lo (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 (Mo-analua)

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)