TRENCH WARFARE: Padello vs.Vihimahi

We can’t only feature the Kahuku D-line against the Mililani O-line, could we? Here we go with a bonus edition of Trench Warfare as Mililani sack master Kaimana Padello, listed at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, goes up against Kahuku left tackle Aleeki Vihimahi.

As always, each series is scored like a boxing round with a 10-point must system. This is purely for fun meant to shine the spotlight on the horses doing the dirty work up front for both teams.

While we wait for kickoff, here’s a look at other Trench Warfare matchups we have done this season.

Oct. 4: Farrington’s Breiden Fehoko vs. Campbell’s Boss Tafai
Oct. 23: Mililani’s Rex Manu vs. Campbell’s Amosa brothers
Oct. 23: Campbell’s Josiah Mageo vs. Mililani’s Jordan Agasiva
Oct. 24: Punahou’s Canton Kaumatule vs. Saint Louis’ Fred Ulu-Perry
Oct. 24: Saint Louis’ Tanielu Evaimalo vs. Punahou’s Semisi Uluave

Kickoff will follow the Nanakuli/Pearl City OIA D-II game at approximately 9:25 p.m.

SERIES 1

Padello is unblocked on the first play as Kahuku runs away. Padello rushes outside and Vihimahi blocks allowing the running back to come inside. Third down and Padello tries a speed rush but it’s a quick pass again. Not much on the first drive. 10-10.

SERIES 2

Padello is picked up by a receiver as Vihimahi comes down to block at the next level on a linebacker. Interesting formation. Kahuku again goes away from Padello, who is unblocked on a run to the left. Vihimahi goes 20 yards downfield and hits a DB. Third down and Kahuku lines up Pena Fitisemanu in the backfield to help block on Padello. Quick throw downfield is incomplete and another three-and-out. Not a whole lot worth judging so far. 10-10.

SERIES 3

Kesi Ah-Hoy moves out to try and block Padello as Vihimahi comes inside on a pass. Padello burns Ah-Hoy but the pass is off too quickly. Kahuku runs right at Padello who runs out of the play as Vihimahi goes inside with a block to open up a big run by Wily, who just trucked a Mililani DB. Padello beats Vihimahi outside and just comes up short on a sack as Wily-Matagi barely gets it away in time. Again Padello is unblocked and he crashes inside to tackle Wily. Third down and they again let Padello goes unblocked as the play is designed for Wily-Matagi to roll to the other side. Padello almost chases him down but not in time as Kahuku converts a third-and-9. Padello again unblocked as Kahuku runs left for a big gain down to the 20. Same play. Kahuku runs its big set. Padello tries to crash inside and Vihimahi happily obliges as it opens up a huge hole for Wily to score a TD. Kind of hard to score that round. Padello was unblocked most of it but left his space to open up a huge hole on TD. 10-10.

SERIES 4

Rex Manu destroys the interior of Kahuku’s o-line on the first play for a tackle for loss. Padello goes unblocked on the next play but whiffs on the sack, allowing Wily-Matagi to roll back his way for a big gain. New QB as Wily-Matagi is hurt. Soli Afalava lines up to block Padello and does a nice job to spring a run. Padello switches stances thinking a run is coming his way. He’s right and almost beats it outside for a tackle for loss but draws a hold on Jrue Williams trying to block out of the backfield. It’s declined and Kahuku punts. Padello is good enough to make one of those two tackles he missed. 10-9 Kahuku.

SERIES 5

Padello unblocked as Kahuku runs option to the left. Padello makes a great dive inside to try and blow up the run. Looked like he was tripped from behind but no flag. Third down and Padello and Vihimahi go at it. Vihimahi can’t move Padello as the running back runs right up his back and is eventually tackled by the rest of the Mililani defense. 10-9 Padello.

SERIES 6

Backup QB Samuta Avea runs right at Padello who eats up a double team but misses the tackle. Vihimahi held him up just enough. Padello goes with the speed rush outside and blows past Vihimahi to get a big sack of Avea. Shades of big bro Kelii Padello. Padello again with a speed rush but it’s a screen. Manu almost with the pick-six. Kahuku punts. 10-9 Padello.

SERIES 7

Padello rushes outside and gets past Vihimahi but is picked up by the guard. That’s the only play Kahuku runs as its halftime. Won’t score that as a round.

SERIES 8

Vihimahi with a nice run block on Padello to open up a hole for Wily. Vihimahi blocks the guy inside of Padello, who is unblocked on a run right and dives but misses tackle. Vihimahi again with a nice run block to open a hole. Same running play as Vihimahi crashes in. Padello goes unblocked and again comes up short on a diving tackle attempt. They do it again but this time the run play is slow enough that Padello speeds in to make the tackle for a big loss. Padello steals the round on final play as Kahuku misses the field goal. 10-9 Padello.

SERIES 9

Padello goes outside and blows past Vihimahi, forcing a quick throw by Avea. Senior Siotame Uluave takes Vihimahi’s place and pass blocks Padello perfectly. Third down and they bring in a receiver. Uluave blocks Vihimahi trying to go outside and Kahuku tries to run where Padello lined up but the Trojans defense makes the stop. Can understand the play call there. Fourth down and Alohi Gilman helps push Padello way too far up the field. Incomplete. 10-10 round as Uluave came in and looked solid on his 1-on-1 block of Padello.

SERIES 10

Padello doubled by Uluave and the back as Kahuku drops a sure TD pass. Padello sneaks through a double team but it’s a quick pass. Kahuku is going to double him on every throw now that it has to pass trailing 20-7 is my guess. Lisiate Tovo helping on the block. They unblock Padello to try and set up a screen but it goes for nothing. 10-9 Padello.

SERIES 11

Kahuku goes with the running back, Williams, to block Padello on a run and Williams locks him up. Nice block. Next play they bring Tovo in motion to Padello’s side as he picks him up on the run block. Third-and-4 and Padello finds himself one-on-one on Jed Heffernan. No contest as Padello forces an incompletion with a big hit on the QB. 10-9 Padello.

SERIES 12

Padello unblocked on the run. Uluave blocks Padello upfield as Kahuku tries to run to the space Padello occupies before the snap. Trojans’ linebackers are ready to fill though and have done a great job all night. Third down and Padello again gets past the back helping out and then beats Uluave trying to get the second move as he assist on a sack to force the punt. An absolute beat on third down. He can’t be blocked one-on-one. 10-9 Padello.

SERIES 13

Not much early on as Kahuku stays away from Padello’s side. No deep drops. Third-and-long is Padello time. Uluave gets help from Williams and they run right at Padello’s spot for a big gain and a first down. Smart. Williams helping out on Padello again. Next is a run away from Padello. Kahuku tries it again on third down and Williams and Uluave double Padello but too many defenders blow up the play. Fourth-and-6. Uluave does a nice job but a dropped pass ends the drive. Uluave will get that one 10-9.

SERIES 14

Pitch outside and it’s a fumble. Mililani recovers. Not much to go on there.

Final tally: 6-2-4 in favor of Padello, who was big in the second half. You could tell Kahuku had a game plan for him. They threw a lot of different looks at Padello, including letting him go unblocked on quite a few plays. They would bring a running back over and try to run at the spot Padello occupied knowing he would try and explode around the outside. Once Mililani got ahead 20-7 and Kahuku had to pass, it became tough. As soon as Padello got one-on-one on an obvious passing down, he made them pay. Vihimahi struggled in that situation and was eventually replaced by Uluave, who did a better job. Still, Padello is a tough cover and was a difference maker for the OIA champion Trojans.