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2018 football midseason awards




2018 Midseason Awards
Open Division
Offensive Player of the First Half: Roman Wilson, Saint Louis WR

The 5-foot-10, 155-pound junior wide receiver may not have a abundance of receptions, but Wilson has made opposing defenses pay with big plays. 

Wilson has recorded 12 catches for 364 yards with four touchdowns on the season. He is averaging a 30.3 yards per catch, 121.3 yards per game and has accounted for 41 percent of quarterback Jayden de Laura's passing yards. 

In three of the Crusaders' four games this year, Wilson has led them in receiving yards. He hauled in an 80-yard TD pass against both Kahuku, when he notched season-highs of six catches for 137 yards, and against Punahou last week, when he went for 4 receptions for 142 yards. 

Crusaders' DL Faatui Tuitele pressures Punahou backup QB Kobe Muasau in a regular season game on Sept. 15.

Coach of the First Half: Cal Lee, Saint Louis
New trigger man? No problem. 

Despite having graduated last year’s All-Hawaii Offensive Player of the Year in now-University of Hawaii backup quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, Saint Louis hasn’t skipped a beat. With deLaura now at the helm, the Crusaders (4-0 overall, 3-0 ILH) have eclipsed the 30-point mark in all four of their games this season, including a season-high 69 in their opener against Waianae back in week 2. 

A much anticipated non-league showdown against southern California’s Narbonne — a team Saint Louis held on to beat 56-50 in 2017 — ended up being a one-sided affair as the Crusaders cruised to a 47-7 week 3 victory earlier this season. 

Saint Louis coach Cal Lee holds up the championship trophy after winning the 2016 Open Division state title.

Division I
Offensive Player of the First Half: Carter Kamana, Iolani WR

The numbers don’t lie in the case of the 6-foot-1, 172-pound junior wide receiver.

Kamana’s 49 receptions for 571 yards are both tops in the state, regardless of division. He has recorded at least four catches in each of Iolani’s first six games this year, including efforts of 14 receptions for 143 yards in a week 6 loss to Leilehua and 12 grabs for 141 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday’s win over Damien. 

Back in a week 3 victory over Kailua, Kamana posted eight catches for 147 yards and two TDs. For the season, he is averaging 11.7 yards per reception, 95.2 yards per game and has totaled five TDs. 

Iolani WR Carter Kamana looks to advance the ball after catching a screen pass against Leilehua.

Defensive Player of the First Half: Trequan Henderson, Moanalua DB
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound senior cornerback/strong safety has been a strong deterrent from opposing quarterbacks throwing his direction, but has been a playmaker regardless this season. 

In a week 3 win over Aiea, Henderson had 2 1/2 tackles, one for a loss, forced a fumble, scored one an 88-yard interception return and also found the end zone on an 85-yard kickoff return. 

Henderson notched a couple more interceptions and a pass break-up in a week 6 victory over Kailua. In last Friday’s win over Leilehua, he had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter. 

Moanalua DB Trequan Henderson drops back into coverage against Aiea.

Coach of the First Half: Savaii Eselu, Moanalua
Na Menehune are the only team in the Oahu Interscholastic Association, regardless of division, to remain undefeated in 2018. 

Offensively, quarterback Nick Au leads the entire state in completion percentage at 70.8 percent (109-of-154 passing). Three receivers — Ezra Grace (22 receptions for 320 yards, 3 TDs), CJ Paleafei (22 for 257, 3) and Rudy Kealoha (22 for 239) — have at least 20 receptions on the year. 

Moanalua’s 4-0 start has garnered its highest-ever mark in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings at No. 11 this week.

Moanalua coach Savaii Eselu leads his team out for the postgame handshake with Aiea.

Division II
Offensive Player of the First Half: Shepherd Kekahuna, Saint Francis WR
Good things happen when Kekahuna gets his hands on the football.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound junior’s talents in the passing game brings an added element to the Saints offense, which averages nearly 400 yards per game. Kekahuna, who has 15 receptions for 368 yards and three scores, gives Saint Francis a viable threat downfield to keep opposing defenses from stacking the box.

He isn’t limited to running routes either. In the Saints’ latest win against PAC-5, Kekahuna stepped in place of injured running back Jonan Aina-Chaves and ran for 110 yards and a score on just five carries.

Saint Francis WR Shepherd Kekahuna trots into the end zone after hauling in a 16-yard TD pass against McKinley.

Defensive Player of the First Half: Sione Lolohea, Saint Francis DL
Opposing offenses should start charging Lolohea rent with the amount of times he spends in the backfield.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior defensive end has amassed 10 tackles for loss in four regular season games for the Saints and is a big reason why Saint Francis is one of three Oahu teams that have yet to suffer a loss. With Lolohea anchoring the defense, the Saints are holding opposing offenses to just 53.2 yards on the ground per game.

Lolohea is coming off his best performance of the season with nine total tackles, three for loss, against the Wolfpack.

Saint Francis' Sione Lolohea attempts to tackle Radford's Danneh Alpha in a preseason contest.

Coach of the First Half: Jason Apilado, Kauai
Transitioning from the pop warner ranks to the high school level has not been a problem for the first-year coach.

With a 4-0 record, the Red Raiders are off to their best start since 2013, the year when Kauai finished as the Division II state runner-up.

Kauai has won all of its games this year by at least two scores, which include a 28-14 victory over 2017 Division I state participant Maui. In addition, the Red Raiders have yet to allow a touchdown since the regular season started.





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