Kalani Falcons

Head coach/Offensive coordinator: Scott Melemai (5th season)
Defensive coordinator: Adam Treinen-Aea

Players to watch: QB Logan Lim (5-11, 180, Sr.), WR Noah Ah Sam (5-11, 170, Sr.), DL Matthew Finefeuiaki (5-8, 170, Sr.), DB/WR Kai Webster (5-10, 165, Sr.), LB Viggo Tafao (6-1, 190, Sr.)

Coach's words: "After this past year, all of our kids realized that you do not take things for granted. The expectation every day is that you play like it's your last opportunity to step on the field. I think from this year's team that every game will be played with this mindset. I expect this season to be exciting to watch, as kids will be excited to be back on the field and competing again." - Scott Melemai

SL's take: Like so many other teams this fall, the Falcons are experiencing a shortage of, well, interest. Melemai, a social studies teacher at Kalani, said several players have transferred to schools on the mainland - where plans for prep football have been concrete for some time - another handful are back at the private schools that they initially transferred from and then there are even more 'opt-outs.' While that leaves Melemai with about 35 varsity players, most of them have been part of a core group who have been working consistently since the beginning of May. What he has found in that time is that the players missed simply being around one another and that there is a sense of gratitude among them. Melemai counts seven seniors who were on the varsity squad as sophomores in 2019. Most of the experience on this team lies within the skill positions, as it saw most of its linemen graduate in the past two years. Lim threw for 1,004 yards but was picked off 14 times in 2019. He's put on about 15 pounds since his sophomore year, but most of Lim's growth has come between the ears and Melemai feels that his gunslinger now has complete control of the offense. The go-to receiver is Ah Sam, who has been on the varsity team since he was a freshman. Ah Sam's route running and soft hands have impressed Melemai, who is hopeful the Lim-to-Ah Sam connection will be a fruitful one for the Falcons. Webster is also a veteran and will be looked to lead the secondary, while Tafao will be key as a run-stopper at OLB, in addition to spot duty as a "straight-downhill" type of RB.

SCHEDULE

Sat Oct 16	@ Kaiser		L, 28-6
Fri Oct 22	Kaimuki	at Kaiser	W, 25-3
Sat Oct 30	@ Waialua		W, 30-7
Sat Nov 06	McKinley	at Kaiser	W, 45-6
Sat Nov 13	Radford	at Kaiser	L, 28-13
Fri Nov 26	Nanakuli	at Kaiser	W, 34-21
Sat Dec 04	Kalaheo	at Kailua	W, 41-0
Fri Dec 10	@ Pearl City		W, 30-16