PAC-5 Wolfpack

Interim head coach/Off./Def. coordinator: Kena Heffernan (1st season)

Players to watch: RB/LB Josh Arcayena (5-8, 190, Sr.), LB/SB Kolo Kaululaau (6-0, 190, Jr.), QB/DB Ezekiel Rodrigues (6-2, 190, Jr.), RB/LB Chad Schmidt (5-8, 150, Sr.), WR/DB Aho Kahoopii (5-11, 185, Sr.)

Coach's words: "We have compassionate kids that see each other's differences as strengths. I have confidence that our kids have the grit needed and will be able to adapt and maintain and mindset of growth when facing challenges. We look forward to participating this year amongst some iconic teams in Division II." - Kena Heffernan

SL's take: After 17 seasons under the direction of former coach Kip Botelho, the Wolfpack are under new leadership this fall. Heffernan, the athletic director at Pacific Buddhist Academy - one of the feeder schools to PAC-5 football - has filled in as interim coach for one year. When Mid-Pacific Institute announced back in the spring that it would withdraw from PAC-5, it sent shock waves throughout the ILH. Not only are the Wolfpack losing out on MPI student-athletes, but they also lost their practice field, which has left Heffernan scrambling weekly to even secure sites for workouts. There have always been unique challenges for the program that draws players from more than a dozen schools all over the island of Oahu, but Heffernan, his assistants and the 30-or-so players are embracing the adversity. Coaches are devoting more practice time teaching fundamentals and basics, essentially laying a foundation for the future. Heffernan appreciates the positive response he has received from the players - almost all of whom will have to play both ways. Rodrigues is naturally a DB (he registered two INTs as a freshman two years ago) but will handle the QB role out of necessity. Heffernan would like to keep Rodrigues exclusively on offense, but if he would likely patrol the secondary at FS, if need be. Schmidt, who ran for 102 yards and a TD on just eight carries in a win over PAC-5 as a sophomore in 2019, will rotate in at RB and SB on offense, as well as LB on defense. Arcayena, who will also be a key contributor at both RB and LB, provides much of the leadership for the team and is one of a handful of players who were on the 2019 squad that went 6-3 and won its final four games. Kaululaau can play either OLB or DE, as well as SB and WR. Both Kahoopii, a Castle transfer, and Kai Iwaki (6-1, 195, Jr.) will see lots of time at both WR and DB. The OL, although low on numbers, has a few big bodies. The Wolfpack will have to work to establish some facet of a run game to allow its defense - those of them not on offense, anyway - to rest and alleviate some of the pressure that falls onto the shoulders of Rodrigues.

SCHEDULE

Fri Sep 03	@ Iolani		L, 46-7
Fri Sep 10	Damien	at Aloha Stadium	L, 27-21
Fri Sep 17	Iolani	at Aloha Stadium	L, 47-0
Fri Sep 24	Kamehameha II	at Aloha Stadium	L, 25-8
Fri Oct 01	Damien	at Aloha Stadium	W, 19-7
Fri Oct 15	Saint Louis II	at Aloha Stadium	L, 48-22
Fri Oct 29	@ Pearl City *		W, 28-19