Jayce Bareng's fingerprints were all over Moanalua's season-opening win over the weekend.

Bareng, a senior wide receiver for Na Menehune, recorded 11 receptions for 96 yards and made two trips to the end zone in his team's 31-22 win over Radford at the Rams' John E. Velasco Stadium Saturday night.

Moanalua second-year coach Andrew Manley praised Bareng, a four-year varsity starter, not only for his production, but his effort as well.

"He did an amazing job. He was blocking downfield, he was running his routes hard to get other guys open, it's just amazing how much of a team player he is," Manley said.

Bareng's leadership is reflected in the fact that he was selected as one of the team's captains this fall.

"He was picking up the defense, he was talking with the younger guys, meeting with the rest of the receivers when they were on the sidelines – he's just a great captain, a great teammate and a hell of a player as well. He's just a gamer. When the lights turn on, he steps up his game to another level," Manley expressed.

Saturday's season debut certainly proved Manley's point about Bareng's explosiveness. In addition to the 15-yard touchdown pass he hauled in a few minutes into the second quarter, Bareng also scored on an 85-yard kickoff return early in the fourth. Manley noted that Bareng had another kickoff return for touchdown called back due to a penalty.

"He also had a bubble (route) that he took to the house but the ref said that he stepped out of bounds, so he's just electric. When the ball hits his hands, you're not sure if he's gonna take it 80 (yards) or not. He's the type of guy that on every single play he has a chance to score," Manley said.

The 5-foot-7, 145-pound Bareng is also listed on the team roster as a cornerback and can fill in on defense when needed. Manley said the shifty Bareng can line up and fill needs "all over the field," including running back or slot back. He drew a comparison to former Roosevelt and University of Hawaii standout Chad Owens, who went on to a length and productive professional career in the Canadian Football League.

"In the OIA world, you can kind of compare him to Chad Owens, where he's just a playmaker with the ball in his hands," Manley said.

In addition to his athletic prowess, Manley applauded the leadership that Bareng provides for the rest of his teammates.

"He's a guy that people follow, that the younger guys look up to. He's an amazing leader, a great role model and has a huge impact. Part of our offensive game plan is get (Bareng) the ball. He meets with the coaches, goes over game film, gives us an idea on what he thinks would work and his IQ is real high, so he's a real big part of this team," Manley said.

Bareng's experience and veteran presence has been key to getting first-year starting quarterback Isaac Harney up to speed. Harney, who previously lived in Hawaii before he and his family matriculated to Denton, Texas with a pit stop in Las Vegas. Manley shared that because Harney and Bareng grew up playing football with one another, their re-acclimation with one another has been expedited.

"They played together a lot when they were younger, so they've known each other for a very long time, played a bunch of flag and pylon together, so they have a great relationship and as soon as Isaac got here, you could see that he has that chemistry with Jayce already and they're on the same page. These guys have been playing a lot of football between them, they have a lot of experience, both have high IQs and if they see something and want to run something, we give them the freedom to do it," Manley said.

The duo hooked up at the 7:17 mark of the second quarter for a 15-yard TD pass after failing to capitalize on a similar situation earlier in the game.

"The second drive of the game, Isaac missed that corner route – he didn't throw it – so we got back on the sidelines, watched it and when we got back there we called the same play in the red zone, had the same read, same look and (Harney) takes it, hits it and that shows the experience of these guys that they were able to get together on the sideline and then get back out there and hit that corner route in the end zone," Manley said.

That score gave the Menes a 10-0 lead. They held a 10-7 cushion at halftime and saw Radford stay within striking distance after a defensive score in the form of a 77-yard interception return for touchdown pulled the Rams to within 17-14 early in the fourth quarter. However, Bareng seized the momentum back in Moanalua's favor when he took the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown after an 85-yard return.

"It was huge and that's the thing about him is big situations don't bother him. He never hangs his head, he's always up for the challenge and that was a huge momentum shift because when he took that kickoff return to the house we kind of knew that we had that game," Manley said.

The kickoff return itself was a bit of a broken play, Manley noted.

"That was just a freak athlete doing amazing things with the ball in his hands. Once he got in the open field, he showed his speed and agility and he was gone. He has that freedom and that athleticism to do that, so it's just fun to watch and he's such a special athlete; it's just fun to be a part of," Manley added.

While the rest of the weekend's slate of games were of the non-conference variety, Moanalua's win over Radford was a league (OIA Division I) contest.

"Now we got one under our belt for conference. To start one-and-oh in conference is big for us, to start the season one-and-oh is big for us. Like we tell the kids, we just try to finish the week one-and-oh, but this is a big confidence boost for us and something that Moanalua needs. The area wants it, the school wants it, the administration wants it, so there's a nice buzz going around campus right now so it's fun," Manley said.

Na Menehune (1-0) will return to the gridiron this weekend when they take on Division-II Kamehameha-Hawaii (1-0) in a non-league game Saturday at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

FOOTBALL

Rusten Abang-Perez, Campbell — Caught seven passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Damien 

Jahren Altura, Saint Louis — Made 6 1/2 tackles, intercepted a pass and broke-up two others in a loss to Kahuku 

Liatama Amisone, Kapolei — Threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns on 11-of-21 passing without an interception and ran six times for 98 yards and another touchdown in a win over Waianae 

Falealii Atuaia, Kahuku — Made 4 1/2 tackles, including three for losses and one sack and broke-up a pass in a win over Saint Louis 

Jhermie Cacpal, Aiea — Caught 12 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Roosevelt 

Colt Hauptman, PAC-5 — Scored on a 67-yard kickoff return for touchdown and caught a touchdown pass in a win over Waialua 

Wyatt Ho-Williams, Damien — Caught three touchdown passes in a loss to Campbell 

Xander Hoopai, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Ran for 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in a win over Nanakuli 

Josiah Kia, Punahou — Made 12 tackles, including four for losses, and broke up three passes in a win over Konawaena 

Hiki Kim Choy Keb Ah lo, Aiea — Caught seven passes for 155 yards and a touchdown in a win over Roosevelt 

Gabriel Liua, Leilehua — Made four tackles, including three for losses and two sacks in a loss to Kamehameha 

Ezekiel Lomu, Roosevelt — Scored on a 41-yard interception return for touchdown in a loss to Aiea 

Caysean Melvin, Campbell — Intercepted two passes in a win over Damien 

Javian Mizuno, Pearl City — Caught four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Castle 

Paliku Nachor, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored on a 60-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Nanakuli 

Quincy Oka, Iolani — Ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in a win over Kalani 

Noah Papu-Muaava, Kapolei — Made 7 1/2 tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Waianae 

Jenisen Pave, Kapolei — Made 8 1/2 tackles, including 2 1/2 for losses with two sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a win over Waianae 

Ben Roberts, Kahuku — Made four tackles for loss, including three sacks, in a win over Saint Louis 

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Campbell — Threw for 387 yards and six touchdowns on 18-of-22 passing without an interception in a win over Damien 

Kingsten Samuelu, Farrington — Ran for 129 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries in a win over Kapaa 

Dayton Savea, Damien — Caught eight passes for 128 yards in a loss to Campbell 

Zeke Schulz, Radford — Made 11 tackles in a loss to Moanalua 

Kealii Sione, Waipahu — Ran for three touchdowns in a loss to Tafuna

Nainoa Simmons-Kaohelaulii, Kapaa — Ran for 196 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries in a loss to Farrington 

Nikko Smith, Kapolei — Caught four passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waianae

Madden Soliai, Kahuku — Made seven tackles and intercepted a pass in a win over Saint Louis 

Jacob Sullivan, Radford — Caught a touchdown pass and also scored on a 77-yard interception return for touchdown in a loss to Moanalua 

Keaton Thomas, Pearl City — Caught four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Castle 

Logan Thompson, Castle — Ran for 180 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries and caught a touchdown pass in a win over Pearl City