Football
16in16: Mililani Trojans


For as much star power his offense has, Rod York has always said his Mililani teams hang their hats on the defense and despite some major losses to graduation, he expects that to be the case once again in 2015.

York, who is entering his sixth season as Trojans' head man, has just four returning starters on defense from a season ago, when they won the first state football championship in school history.

Among the departed are a pair of All-Hawaii First Team selections in cornerback Ty Purcell-Apana and defensive tackle Rex Manu, the Defensive Player of the Year in all of Division I.

If there's any one player the Trojans are looking to fill the void they left behind, it's defensive end Kaimana "Mana" Padello.

"Much like Rex, who was our defensive leader, it's kind of been put on me to lead the defense and just hold it down and just tell everybody to pick it up and get on them," said Padello, a 6-foot, 195-pound senior. "Rex Manu is a good player, but this year we still have people that can fill the spot and play the position just like he did."

Defensive coordinator Roland Mason said Padello's production will be key toward the Trojans' success this season.

"The defensive line is probably the strength of the team; they're returning a lot of seniors so Mana is going to have to lead the way," Mason said. "It's a young, talented defensive unit, so he's going to have to set the standard and the tone for them for the upcoming season."

Padello certainly has the pedigree to be an impact player this fall. His older brother, Kelii, also played defensive end and was named the All-Hawaii D1 Defensive Player of the Year. Kelii, who goes by "KK," helped Southern Oregon University win its first NAIA national title last fall.

The fact the past two players of the year on defense hail from Mililani isn't the least bit lost on Mana Padello.

"It means a lot, because I actually made a bet with my brother that I could win the defensive player of the year," Padello said.

Mason is optimistic that his defense will rise to the challenge.

"You can't replace a Rex (Manu) and a KK (Padello) — and also a Dayton (Furuta) — but every year someone has stepped up, a senior has stepped up and taken the lead on defense and has been able to push to be that captain and that leader," Mason said. "We have a few names — Mana Padello, Tiela Mamea — they're both explosive guys that have been working all offseason since February. Hopefully they'll step up, but who knows, maybe it might be a young guy. We have a young, talented defense, so somebody will step up."

Mamea, a Second Team All-Hawaii safety in 2014, along with senior safety Ramsey Tacadena are experienced, but junior cornerbacks Dustin Gapusan and Kainalu Wong are both moving up from the JV.

York said the defense has embraced a workman-like approach to honing its craft.

"It's always that blue-collar mentality," York said. "We've got guys, it's just a matter of making them play together and the next guy has to step in and step up."

Savion Fonoti, Kahewai Kaaiawaawa, Elias Pritchard and Kingston Maae will rotate at defensive tackle, and Tyrell Niuatoa will play the end position opposite of Padello. Maa Tanuvasa, Jr. will anchor the linebacking corps.

2015 Mililani Trojans schedule

Aug. 15 — vs. McKinley (at Roosevelt)
Aug. 22 — vs. Campbell
Aug. 29 — vs. Kapolei
Sept. 4 — at Liberty (Nev.)*
Sept. 12 — vs. Aiea
Sept. 17 — vs. Farrington (at Aloha Stadium)
Sept. 26 — at Kailua
Oct. 2 — at Moanalua
*denotes non-league game

"We don't have names like (Milton, Timoteo and Malepeai) on defense," Padello said. "Our defense is kind of new, but we have a lot of players that's going to make a lot of noise this season."

Mason said the defense has been progressing through the summer.

"It's coming along. The more these guys practice and the more games that they play, the better they'll become," Mason said. "Right now they're inexperienced so they need the experience and when the scrimmages and games come around we'll see what we develop in the season."

Mason said lining up against the likes of Milton, Malepeai and Timoteo — all First Team All-Hawaii picks last year — only figures to better his guys.

"The offense has a lot of weapons and there's nothing better than to get in work against one of the best offenses in the state," Mason said. "I mean, if we can compete with these guys, I feel we can compete with anybody in the state."

- Kalani Takase





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