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KAMEHAMEHA WARRIORS
>> 2015 record and finish: 5-4 (2-4 ILH D-I)
>> Number of seniors: 43
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections lost to graduation: Kumoku Noa (first-team REC and first-team RET), Alema Kapoi (first-team DL), Tainoa Foster (first-team LB), Chris-Jordan Ulufale (third-team OL)
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections returning: Adam Stack (third-team PK/P)
>> ILH D-I All-Stars lost to graduation: Chris-Jordan Ulufale (first-team OL), Kumoku Noa (first-team REC and first-team RET), Alema Kapoi (first-team DL), Tainoa Foster (first-team LB), Noah Sua-Godinet (first team AP)
>> ILH D-I All-Stars returning: Adam Stack (first-team P), Nakoa Pauole (second-team DL)
>> Among 2016 key offensive returnees: Justice Young (QB, Sr.), Boogie Yam (QB, Jr.), Kalai Ortiz (OL, Sr.), Kale Akiu (OL, Sr)
>> Among 2016 key defensive returnees: Nakoa Pauole, (DL, Sr.) Andrew Aleki (DL, Sr.), Kama Kamaka (LB/DB, Sr.)
>> Warriors with Division I FBS college offers: Andrew Aleki (DE/LB, Sr.), Adam Stack (PK, Sr.), Nakoa Pauole (DL, Sr.)
>> All-time state championships: 2 (both D-I — 2004, 2009)
>> All-time Prep Bowl (1973-1998) championships: 3 (1974, 1975, 1976)
>> All-time ILH championships: 23 (1918, 1922, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1946, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2004, 2009)
>> 2016 conference: ILH D-I
Head coach ABU MAAFALA on the Warriors’ outlook for 2016:
“Spring practice has been really great, man. Up until this point, I’ve been really impressed with the attitude and the willingness to buy into what we’re trying to do. Everybody has bought in and everybody wants to be a team player, more than they want to win. They want to be the best that they can be for the team. I’ve been putting them through some pretty grueling strength and conditioning. They’re doing 300-yard shuttles and they’re making the time.
“We’ve had a good turnout. One hundred were at tryouts and some went down to JV. We’ve got 85 to 90 on the varsity right now. Everybody is showing up and believing the message of chasing perfection and catching excellence. That’s our focus every day. We’ve had eight practices so far and the learning curve they’re on and their effort to get better has impressed me.
“I’m blessed to have two really good quarterbacks in Justice Young and Boogie Yam. They’ve picked up the system really well. They’ve done a really good job of getting the ball out and throwing it on time. Both of those guys have different flavors that they’ll bring. I would be comfortable with either one in the driver’s seat. We haven’t reached a place where we’re at 1-A or 1-B. Both have earned the right to play next year.
In watching practice and in the weight room, what really impresses me about those two, strong powerful guys on the offensive line (Kalai Ortiz and Kale Akiu) is their with work ethic, and they’re really working on getting more mobile. Everything will hinge on running the football and the offensive line, and those two guys are stepping up and being leaders. I feel really good about them up front right now.
“On both sides of the ball, what i’m putting everybody through physically is because they need to be mentally tough. They need to know that we’re going to finish. We’ve been doing a large amount of running and hitting the weight room. It’s a D-I college type of workout system that we did when I was an assistant at the University of Louisville. They’re getting a taste of what it’s like at the next level. We want to finish hard and we want them showing up every day. It’s about us and making us better.
“One thing I’ve preached to them is that we are going to hang our hat on being the hardest working team in the state. Every day, they’re going to show up and get out there in the hot sun running, making ourselves the best that we can be. It doesn’t guarantee wins, but it will put us in position and give us a chance to win football games. It’s a championship process that I want them to learn.”
2016 Kamehameha football preseason schedule
Check here for the latest schedule updates: http://bit.ly/2958rWe
>> July 28: Farrington (scrimmage only)
>> July 30: at Mililani (scrimmage only)
>> Aug. 5: Waianae
>> Aug. 13: vs. Baldwin, at War Memorial Stadium
>> Aug. 20: Bye
>> Sept. 1: vs. Punahou, at Aloha Stadium
>> Sept. 10: ‘Iolani
>> Sept. 17: vs. Saint Louis, at Aloha Stadium
>> Sept. 23: vs. Punahou, at Aloha Stadium
>> Sept. 30: vs. ‘Iolani, at Aloha Stadium
>> Oct. 7: vs. Saint Louis, at Aloha Stadium
2016 Kamehameha varsity football staff
>> Head coach and defensive coordinator: Abu Maafala (first season)
>> Defensive line: Houston Ala
>> Defensive line: Lance Samuseva
>> Linebackers: James McClure
>> Assistanat linebackers: Jason Campbell
>> Secondary: Stew Kawakami
>> Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks: Parker Bode
>> Wideouts: Kenric Pai
>> Running backs: Mika Kane
>> Offensive line: Tony Hall
>> Assistant offensive line: Kapono Kalua
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