SPRING-ing into FB season: Kalaheo Mustangs

10th IN A SERIES

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KALAHEO MUSTANGS

>> 2015 record and finish: 2-7 (2-6 OIA D-II); did not qualify for the playoffs
>> Number of returning starters: 13 (6 offense, 7 defense)
>> Number of returning seniors: 14
>> Number of starters lost to graduation: 14
>> Number of seniors lost to graduation: 12
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections lost to graduation: None
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections returning: None
>> OIA D-II All-Stars lost to graduation or otherwise: John Tuitupou (second-team DL), Caden Smith (second-team DB), Jaden Richardson (second-team WR)
>> OIA D-II All-Stars returning: None
>> Among 2016 key offensive returnees: Mark Lehrner (QB, Sr.), Nathan Goob (OL, Sr.), Tristan Thulin-Marsh (WR, Sr.), Logan Emosi-George (OL, Sr.), Kamani Ah Yat (WR, Sr.)
>> Among 2016 key defensive returnees: Kamani Ah Yat (FS, Sr.), Tali Fifita-Tuiaki (DL, Sr.), Matt Darrah (LB, Sr.), Marcus Nishimura (DL, Sr.), Tristan Thulin-Marsh (DB, Sr.)
>> Mustangs with Division I FBS college offers: None
>> All-time state championships: None
>> All-time Prep Bowl (1973-1999) championships: None
>> All-time OIA championships: None
>> 2016 conference: OIA D-II

Head coach DARRELL POOLE on the Mustangs’ outlook for 2016:

“I think for us, we’ve got a lot of returnees coming back, but the majority of the kids are all young, except for a few guys in certain places. For me as I look at my team, if we can make one of the top four, we’ve done our job and brought this young group a long way. If we can compete, and we should be able to, we’ll be facing the meat of the division back-to back — Waipahu and McKinley (both down from Division I) — to open the league season. I know there’s going to be changes at Kalani and some of the other schools. Kaimuki, from what I’ve heard, is going to have a bunch of great returning kids, and you’ve got to throw Pearl City in the mix, too. We should be in there somewhere, trying to make the playoffs.

“Last season, what really hurt us is our whole chemistry was thrown off when our quarterback, Tommy Capllonch, had a severe hamstring pull. We won the Roosevelt game and we were all so stoked to go into the Redford game and he pulled it on the first series of plays. It was still rough for him to push off the mound as a pitcher in the spring in baseball.

“One of the receivers we were counting on for this year, Jaden Richardson, will not be with us this year. His dad is in the military and he got his orders and they’ve already moved.

“Nathan Goob, who is a four-year starter for us on the offensive line, is one of our key returnees. He’s kind of like a sleeper. He’s 6 foot 3 and a half and 300 pounds. That’s 300 pounds solid. Not 300 pounds fat.

“The spring has been going all right, for what we’ve got going, not using any contact with helmets or pads. But we’re getting the work in and learning how to play together as a team — with no pads. I’m happy about that, and also we’ve had a great turnout and a great turnout for the JV program. That’s a positive. Twenty-eight on the varsity and another 28 on JV.

2016 Kalaheo football schedule
Check here for the latest schedule updates: http://bit.ly/2958rWe
>> Aug 5: at Castle
>> Aug. 12: vs. Waipahu, at Aiea High field
>> Aug. 19: vs. McKinley, at Kailua High field
>> Aug. 26: vs. Pearl City, at Aiea High field
>> Sept. 2/3: Bye
>> Sept. 10: at Waialua
>> Sept. 17: vs. Kaimuki, at Kailua High Field
>> Sept. 23: at Roosevelt
>> Sept. 30: vs. Kalani, at Kailua High field
>> Oct. 7/8: Bye

2016 Kalaheo varsity football staff
>> Head coach: Darrell Poole (11-25, fifth season)
>> Offensive coordinator: Esei Mataele
>> Defensive coordinator: Chad Gushikuma
>> Offensive line and defensive line: Ikaika Wise
>> Running backs: Kiona Siliga
>> Defensive backs: Chad Amasiu
>> Linebackers: Aka Poole