With Tyler Taumua and Amo Silva running the ball for Farrington the last two years, the Governors had their highest average points per game since 1973 and averaged more than 30 points in each season. They had never done that before.
But with the two stellar running backs gone to graduation, this year’s fortunes will probably rest with Manly Williams and the defense. That unit gave up more than 17 ppg for the first time since 2005 and probably can’t afford to do it again. Click this chart of Farrington’s offense, defense and win total since 1973. The offense can’t be expected to stay on its historical path, so for the Govs to win this year the defense is going to have to rise up to where it was from 2008-2011 under coach Randall Okimoto.
In Saturday’s Star-Advertiser, Okimoto said he wanted to run 60 percent of the time after doing so 70 percent of the time last year. That might be fine, but Farrington HAS to run. It’s what it has always done.
In games in which a leading passer and leading rusher was reported since 1973, the Governors are 144-49-5 when their leading ground gainer has more yards than their leading passer. When their quarterback carries the load in that span, Farrington is a pedestrian 79-81-3.
Top 10 games in which the QB has carried the load for Farrington. QB listed first, followed by leading rusher:
| 8/26/2000 | at Aiea | W | 13-12 | Gilbert Sa | 301 | Michael Rabago | 16 |
| 10/28/2005 | at Mililani | W | 20-19 | Elijah Filifili | 340 | Hercules Sula | 56 |
| 8/26/2006 | Moanalua | W | 61-14 | Elijah Filifili | 323 | Joshua Fernandez | 46 |
| 10/19/2001 | Leilehua | W | 33-20 | Royce Machado | 306 | Paul Laga | 35 |
| 9/24/2004 | Castle | L | 19-34 | Eti Atonio | 286 | Raymen Faaiu | 33 |
| 9/29/1995 | Kahuku | L | 19-50 | Corey Shippy | 262 | Nathan Fareti | 11 |
| 8/21/2004 | Iolani | L | 7-24 | Eli Atonio | 270 | Ioane Siuta | 26 |
| 10/6/2000 | at Roosevelt | W | 34-21 | Gilbert Sa | 258 | Paul Laga | 50 |
| 8/27/2004 | Punahou | L | 20-41 | Eli Atonio | 232 | Alex Mendoza | 31 |
| 9/25/1999 | McKinley | W | 37-25 | Waylon Philpot | 243 | Tuaila Onosai | 45 |
And top 10 games in which the leading rusher has dwarfed the leading passer:
| 11/5/1992 | Roosevelt | L, 43-54 | Shawn Kelii | 0 | Talbert Kahakai | 261 |
| 10/30/1987 | Kalani | W, 52-20 | Paul Solomon | 26 | Resti Paguriagan | 270 |
| 11/23/1990 | Waianae | W, 15-7 | Carl Liana | 0 | Randall Okimoto | 216 |
| 11/2/1990 | Kailua | W, 13-7 | Carl Liana | 40 | Randall Okimoto | 245 |
| 10/6/1990 | Kaiser | W, 26-3 | Carl Liana | 0 | Randall Okimoto | 200 |
| 9/8/2012 | Moanalua | W | Montana Liana | 8 | Abraham Silva | 206 |
| 11/8/1984 | at Mililani | W | Ese Emose | 0 | Misipati Tupuloa | 198 |
| 10/15/1988 | Kalaheo | W, 42-7 | Paul Solomon | 0 | Ului Halaeua | 188 |
| 10/18/1986 | Kaiser | W, 30-7 | Esi Emosi | 0 | Prince Anguay | 185 |
| 9/14/1990 | Kalaheo | W, 33-8 | Carl Liana | 50 | Randall Okimoto | 234 |
So it is no secret where Okimoto got his philosophy. The question is, does he have an Okimoto, Taumua or Silva on the roster this year?
COMMENTS