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As we continue trodding along through what has the makings of a steamy summer, our eager anticipation for prep football keeps growing.

Our first installation of WatchList 2020-'21 (football) seemed to be well-received, for the most part, anyway. There were some rumblings about the relatively brief nature of the list.

Fair enough. Message received.

In part 2 of our football WatchList, we'll take a look at five sets of teammates — one on offense, the other on defense — who figure to play pivotal roles for their respective teams on the gridiron this season.

Wailoa Manuel, Iolani, WR, class of 2021

Manuel, a 5-foot-10, 150-pound wideout, led the Raiders in both receptions (56) and receiving yards (835) as a junior last year, when he earned All-Hawaii second team honors.

Manuel proved to be a reliable target throughout the season — especially when opposite wideout Carter Kamana missed five games due to injury — as he logged at least two catches in all 13 of his team's games. He posted a season-high 10 receptions for 118 yards against Leilehua and hauled in half of his receiving touchdowns in one game, when he caught two passes for 121 yards — a 65-yard TD catch and a 56-yard TD grab — against Waipahu.

Iolani's Wendell Look, who will be in his 29th season as coach of his alma mater in the fall, said that he expects Manuel to put up similar numbers this year, but he also expects him to draw a lot of attention from opposing defenses with the graduation of Kamana.

"In our offense we don't scheme things for certain people. We kind of let the offense dictate who's going to be open and you get a guy like Wailoa, obviously teams are going to recognize who he is and what he can do and if teams double him or pay too much attention to him, that's where the other guys gotta be able to step up and produce, too, so we're not going to force things into Wailoa because he should lead the team in receptions and the defensive guys out there, they're not foolish, they're gonna cover him," Look said.

Manuel's contributions on offense are only part of the story. He was an All-Hawaii first team selection as an all-purpose special teamer.

"He's our punter, he's our kicker, along with probably being our top receiver, so he's probably one of the most naturally talented kids around," Look said of Manuel, who is also a member of the soccer and track and field teams at Iolani.

"For him to go out and start on the soccer team without being a club soccer player, that says a lot about his talent," Look noted.

Shayden Molina, Iolani, DL, class of 2021

Molina, a 6-foot-2, 255-pound defensive end, was one of three Raiders to be named to the All-Hawaii first team defense. The two others — defensive back Trevor Kan and linebacker Meki Pei, the All-Hawaii Defensive Player of the Year — have graduated, leaving Molina with some added responsibilities.

"He's going to have to pick up a little more of a leadership role and kind of be able to pull the defensive unit together," Look said of Molina, who registered 12 1/2 TFLs, 6 1/2 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble last year.

Molina will share the load with another returning starter in Josh Miyazawa, an honorable mention All-Hawaii linebacker.

"Those two will have to fill the void of (Pei)," Look said.

He said that just as Manuel will play a key role for the offense, Molina will be in a similar position for the opposite unit and defensive coordinator Delbert Tengan.

"We're going to move (Molina) around (because) we gotta utilize his talents and his disruptiveness, so Del's kind of going to scheme things around what he can do, but again, he's probably going to get a lot of attention in terms of double-teams and stuff, so that's why guys like Miyazawa are going to have to fill the void there," Look said.

Molina, who also plays basketball, is never hard to pick out on the field or the sidelines with his broad stature. He was, by far, Iolani's heaviest player and one of just four players that eclipsed 200 pounds on the team roster in 2019. But it's not just that he's able to overpower opposing blockers that makes Molina a special player.

"He's one of the most intelligent guys out there," Look said. "During games he's able to figure out what the other teams are doing — whether they changed their schemes from what we scouted and practiced against — he's able to figure that out in games. I guess his offensive scheme awareness; He's very savvy and intelligent in that sense. He's not just a brute-strength type of guy, he figures out schemes and what teams are trying to do and uses that, along with his talent, to kind of be a dominant player."

Look added that the situation created by COVID-19 has compounded the responsibilities and duties for team leaders like Manuel, Molina and Miyazawa.

"It's going to test them even more to become leaders quicker than they have to be and it's a challenge to do it with all the government and CDC policies and stuff, but we'll see how they can pull the team together being socially distant," Look said.

River Iaea, Damien, LB/FB, class of 2021

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Iaea will be a third-year starting linebacker this fall and is expected to serve as the leader of the Monarchs' defense. An All-Hawaii honorable mention selection in 2019, Iaea proved to be a steady contributor against both the run and the pass.

In a 22-17 win over eventual-OIA champion Moanalua, Iaea recorded 5 1/2 tackles, including a pair of sacks, and a pass break-up. He displayed his versatility by carrying the ball nine times for 28 yards and a touchdown from his fullback position on offense. Iaea even completed a pass in the game — his only attempt all season — for 25 yards.

Iaea had three of his 6 1/2 total tackles against Iolani go for a loss two weeks later.

Damien coach Eddie Klaneski said Iaea's value to the team — along with that of another three-year starter in running back Aperamo "Amo" Sulu — will have to go beyond their contributions on defense and offense.  

"I think the biggest thing that we look for from these guys is the leadership, on and off the field, be good role models for the younger guys," Klaneski said. "They're both really respected by the younger guys on the team, so we're hoping they can show them the right path, how to work hard on their academics, be able to step it up and lead the way for us when we do get back into training."

The abrupt suspension, then drawn-out cancelation of the spring sports season cut short Iaea's junior season on the baseball diamond. Iaea, a right-handed pitcher, catcher and infielder, made honorable mention All-Hawaii as a sophomore in 2018.

"He's really talented in both sports, so I'm not sure which one he pursues in college," Klaneski said. "He's one of the best football players I've coached and as a baseball kid, he can play any position. He's very versatile, he can catch, pitch, play outfield, third base — wherever they need him."

While Sulu will have a few more players with experience around him on offense, Iaea will have to serve as the linchpin for the defense.

"I don' want to say that either one has a bigger impact, but River being on the defensive side of the ball, will need to lead a group that lost a lot of key players. He's going to have to step it up and lead the younger guys for us to be successful, but he has that capability," Klaneski said

Aperamo "Amo" Sulu, Damien, RB, class of 2021

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Sulu led all ILH players with 1,292 rushing yards last season and ranked second in Division I behind only Waipahu's Alfred Failauga. He averaged an impressive 7.4 yards per carry and scored 17 total touchdowns (14 rushing TDs) on his way to an All-Hawaii first team selection.

Sulu registered a season-high 28 carries in back-to-back weeks against Iolani (234 yards, TD) and Kailua (179 yards, TD). A week later he ripped off 176 yards and two touchdowns against Aiea on just 15 attempts.

Klaneski expects more of the same out of Sulu, who will be in his third season as the full-time starter at running back this fall.

"Offensively, Amo is the centerpiece as our running back, but he's running behind a pretty experienced o-line," Klaneski said.

Among the expected returning starters on the offensive line is 6-foot-3, 330-pound Bronson Sua, an honorable mention All-Hawaii pick last year who could see some time on defense this season. However, the Monarchs will be working in a new quarterback with the graduation of two-year starter Jake Holtz.

Klaneski said that the backfield of Sulu, a member of the school's canoe paddling team, and Iaea will have to do their part to ease the new signal-caller into the job, although the latter's primary duties will center on defense.

"Both guys are huge to getting the guys around them to play better, they're gonna be the key guys just because of their experience and the respect they demand from their teammates. They're going to be the key on-field guys and they're going to have to be vocal and be the leaders," Klaneski said. "They won't be the only ones because we have a lot of seniors, but they'll be the main guys."

Klaneski said that others who are expected to share in that role include linebacker/quarterback Duke Hoohuli, slotback/linebacker Alohi Arecchi and defensive end/wide receiver Jayce Jay-Pedro.

Marcus Marion, Moanalua, DL, class of 2021

It didn't take long for Marion to turn some heads when he arrived at Moanalua in the summer of 2019. Then-coach Savaii Eselu raved about the athleticism and raw ability of the military-dependent, who was still learning the nuances of the game heading into his junior season.

Marion, a 6-foot, 210-pound defensive end, improved over the course of the year, on his way to All-Hawaii second team honors. In back-to-back games against Damien and Kailua, Marion posted three TFLs, two of those went for sacks against the Surfriders and he even had a pass break-up against Leilehua in the OIA Division I title game.

Now, with Eselu gone to San Diego State to coach the Aztecs' tight ends, former Mililani and Campbell defensive coordinator Vince Nihipali has taken over the Moanalua program in his first head coaching gig. Although Nihipali has had limited interactions with his new players due to social distancing guidelines, he doesn't mince his words when it comes to Marion.

"Marcus will have an expanded role," Nihipali proclaimed. "He will do more than what he did last year. It's going to be an expansion of roles because he's so dynamic."

Marion was tabbed All-OIA D1 first team, alongside three other Moanalua teammates in cornerbacks Aukai Grace and Rashod Tanner and linebacker Jett Tanigawa. Grace and Tanner were also All-Hawaii first team picks, while Tanigawa was a second team selection. However, all three completed their eligibility in 2019 and graduated last month, leaving Marion as the most decorated player remaining on the defense.

"Although those guys are gone, we do have a lot of returnees on defense, so it's going to be senior-heavy, especially on that front seven, but with Marcus — along with the rest of the seniors — it's going to be about showing the younger guys the level that I demand of them defensively," Nihipali said. "He's been very focused and we've had great conversations over the last month and a half and it sounds like he's ready to go. He's a great kid, very respectful and has high expectations of himself. It seems like he's driven and wants to play at the next level and I believe he has the talent to do so."

Marion has drawn interest from the University of Hawaii, according to Nihipali, who foresees a future for Marion as an hybrid linebacker/edge rusher at the next level.

"He seems like he's on the right track. The scary thing is he hasn't had more than two years of organized football, but he's so fast-twitch. Last year he was primarily a pass rusher, (but) I'm gonna make sure I feature him in that (hybrid) role and make sure he's ready for the next level," Nihipali said. "He's not the biggest kid, he's not the fastest kid, but he's a physical specimen and I think you can do a lot with him, so I'm excited about teaching that kid how to become a more well-rounded hybrid player."

Nihipali said he has hired the duo of Roland Mason and Guyes Galdeira to serve as co-defensive coordinators. Nihipali succeeded Mason as defensive coordinator at Mililani and worked with Galdeira, who coached linebackers for the Trojans last season.

Dacyres Domingo, Moanalua, WR, class of 2021

As far as the offensive skill-position players go, Domingo is one of the last remnants of Na Menehune's prolific air raid attack of 2019. As a junior last season, the wideout ranked third on the team in receptions (46), receiving yards (559) and touchdowns (5).

Nihipali said there was much that stood out about Domingo when watching him on film.

"He's explosive, his route running is great and he's got great hands. He's a little on the thin side, he's not tall, but he snags balls definitely," Nihipali said. "He's got that something to him."

Domingo had his best performance in the final game of the season. He hauled in 10 receptions for 124 yards in a state semifinal against Iolani.

"I think towards the end of the season he really came on and he had that monster game against Iolani," Nihipali said.

This season will see Domingo surrounded by a slew of new faces. All-Hawaii slotbacks Jansen York and Rudy Kealohi, who combined to catch 174 passes for 2,209 yards and 19 TDs last year, along with wideout Lawsen Lee, running back Darius Johnson and All-OIA D1 Offensive Player of the Year quarterback RJ Javar have all completed their eligibility.

The new starting quarterback will be the beneficiary of working behind an offensive line that returns all five starters from 2019. Domingo, however, won't enjoy such luxuries with his cohorts in the skill positions.

"Those young receivers are going to have to really take after how he does things," Nihipali said. "It's important because the offense is going to be so young in the skill positions that he's going to have to streamline into becoming a leader and help those kids grow. Dacyres will be the leading returning receiver in experience and that role will just expand and he will probably be more of what a Jansen York was last year."

Domingo, who Nihipali estimates has put on about 10 to 15 pounds on his 5-foot-8 frame and now weighs around 150, has said and done all the right things so far.

"I've already talked to him about being a leader, because right now everybody is so young and he seems really up to it. He's got a great attitude, he's coachable and all of the teachers that I've talked to about him all say that he's a great kid," said Nihipali, who has hired former UH quarterback Bryant Moniz as offensive coordinator.

Nihipali said that much is expected out of both Marion and Domingo for the coming season.

"I've talked to them about that already — that because they're ‘name' returnees, the high-production guys — I've talked to them about how as soon as we get back and even now, to ‘make sure you're leading your teammates, doing the right things, get a workout in, be in communication with people,' " Nihipali said. "Those are two of the kids that I've talked to about being there for the younger ones and leading by example."

Kiaka Pio, Leilehua, DL, class of 2021

If you don't already know this name, then you haven't been paying attention. All Pio did as a junior in 2019 was post 16 1/2 TFLs and 11 1/2 sacks on his way to league Defensive Player of the Year honors.

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound defensive end earned All-Hawaii first team honors despite playing through some nagging injuries.

The Mules won nine of their first 10 games and reached the OIA Division I championship game, but were edged by Moanalua, 21-20. They reached the semifinals of the state tournament, where they were defeated by eventual-champ Hilo, 19-9.

While his team finished with a 10-win season and the individual accolades piled up for Pio, he has not lost his drive for continued improvement.

"Kiaka plays with a sense of purpose," Leilehua coach Mark Kurisu said. "He comes from a great family line of football players that came through Leilehua and he wants to be one of the first in his family to get a scholarship to a four-year school and just raise the bar for his family, for his siblings and cousins to see that, if you put in this type of work, you can get here, too; that's what I admire about Kiaka."

Kurisu, who is the team's defensive coordinator, says that teammates are naturally drawn to Pio and his style of leadership.

"He doesn't sit around and wait for things to come his way. Kiaka puts in the work and I think that's why he gets the respect of his teammates (because) he walks it. He is actually just a born leader. I guess because he's been so successful from a young age, a lot of people listen to what he says," Kurisu noted.

Pio has put on about 15 pounds and now weighs in around 250, which will come in handy this fall as the Mules make the jump from D1 to the Open Division.

Surely, there will be other obstacles tied to that promotion that will lie ahead for Leilehua — such as the brutal week-to-week schedule in the Open and the physical toll inevitably tied to that — but Kurisu reassures that the team's approach will not change.

"Even if we stayed in D1, it presents the same type of challenges: can we stay consistent from play to play? Can we play within ourselves and not get caught up in the moments too much?," Kurisu said. "And then, in terms of personnel, I think that D1 has a ton of talent and I just think that only difference is the Open has a few more extra guys. I just think the depth is gonna be key and it usually is for most teams, staying healthy, so I'm interested to see what this looks like when we get back going."

Jamil Vereen, Leilehua, RB, class of 2022

As a sophomore in 2019, Vereen made a splash by finishing second in the OIA Division I ranks behind Waipahu's Alfred Failauga in rushing despite joining the team a few games into the year.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Vereen was called up from the JV squad and went on to finish the season with 921 yards on 152 carries, an average of 6.1 yards per attempt.

In their first two league contests, the Mules averaged a mere 28.5 rushing yards per game. Vereen helped turn those numbers around over the course of the season. In just his fourth varsity game, he ran for 143 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries against Castle. He followed that up two weeks later with 26 rushes for 139 yards against Iolani.

Vereen proved that he can be a workhorse back in the OIA championship game against Moanalua, when he carried 30 times for 153 yards and two TDs. He turned in a similar performance in a state tournament win over Baldwin. Vereen gashed the Bears for 174 yards and a TD on 28 carries. He closed out his debut season with 18 rushes for 124 yards in a loss Hilo a week later in the semifinal round.

By the end of the season, Leilehua averaged 133.5 rushing yards per game and 337.9 yards of total offense.

Vereen picked up All-OIA D1 first team honors and Second Team All-Hawaii recognition. Having added 10 pounds in the offseason, Kurisu expects that given his work ethic, Vereen will be primed for a big junior season in 2020.

"I think Jamil is just a great heart. He's a little bit of the quiet type of guy, but I love it. I mean, he's a guy that gets in, puts in the work, loves doing it and is always smiling and brings a lightheartedness," Kurisu said. "He's the type of guy who just loves playing and being around his brothers."

Kurisu said if Vereen continues to progress — both on the field and more importantly, in the classroom — he could see the scholarship offers start to pick up very soon.

He added, "The sky is the limit for him, it's just a matter of building up his GPA. He finished strong this sophomore year, so he's got one more year to bring it up and be highly recruitable."

Kurisu said that he expects growth out of Pio and Vereen — as well another senior-to-be in wide receiver/quarterback Kalei Akagi — for the coming season.

"Those three guys together really came out of the shadows of the seniors who were ahead of them. For them to do it at a younger age last year, for all three to be doing it since the start of their sophomore year, it's pretty exciting to see how much they've prepared themselves for this year," Kurisu said.

Akagi, an All-OIA first team utility selection last year, has already received scholarship offers from Army West Point and Navy.

Zealand Matagi, Kahuku, RB, class of 2021

As a junior in 2019, Matagi took a step toward etching his name amongst the all-time greats that have played the tailback position for Big Red.

He'll have a chance — fingers crossed — to cement that legacy this fall.

Matagi carried the ball a workmanlike 243 times for 1,499 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and led the Open Division in all three statistical categories, addition to his 6.2 yards-per-rush average.

Two of his most productive games came in wins over Campbell, when he racked up a season-high 262 yards and three TDs on only 17 carries, and Kapolei. Matagi ripped off 201 yards and two trips to the end zone on 16 attempts. He made both All-OIA and All-Hawaii first teams.

Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho made it clear that Matagi will once again be the focal point of the run-heavy offense.

"We should see a continuation of last year with Zealand leading the league in rushing," Carvalho said. "With Zealand, it gives us the luxury of controlling the game, determining the tempo, controlling the clock with his type of running and being able to get first downs, move the ball, so that's what we hope for with Zealand as our running back: to control the tempo of the game."

Carvalho said that Matagi has added about five pounds to his 5-foot-10 frame and now weighs in close to 200 pounds, which should help with his durability. Not that it was an issue previously. After all, Matagi played in all 13 of his team's games last season and averaged more than 18 carries per game.

But it's a different type of production that Carvalho is seeking from Matagi in 2020. The same goes for another three-year starter in defensive tackle/fullback Zion Ah You.

"I expect more leadership from them. Last year we had a lot of three-year varsity starters that were our leaders, but now with Zion and Zealand I expect them to be more vocal leaders on and off the field for our team," Carvalho said.

With new quarterbacks at Saint Louis and Mililani — and little reason to expect a drop in production from Matagi — the Red Raiders' feature back should be considered a frontrunner for All-Hawaii Offensive Player of the Year honors this fall. Although, Campbell wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, last year's All-OIA OPOY, has built a solid case for consideration over the course of his three outstanding seasons for the Sabers.

Zion Ah You, Kahuku, DT/FB, class of 2021

The 5-foot-10, 250-pound Ah You was an All-Hawaii first team defensive lineman as a junior last year. He served as point defender for a Kahuku defense that held opponents to just 188.9 yards per game, including a meager 38.1 rushing yards.

Ah You had a season-high 6 1/2 tackles in a road win at Utah's Timpview and matched effort in a tightly-contested loss to Punahou, when he recorded three sacks and aided the Red Raiders in limiting the Buffanblu to 34 rushing yards.

In Kahuku's two meetings against Mililani, Ah You totaled 12 tackles, including six TFLs. When the teams faced off for the OIA championship, he notched eight tackles, four TFLs, one sack, a forced fumble, one pass break-up and a fumble recovery as the Red Raiders avenged a regular-season thumping at the hands of the Trojans with a down-to-the-wire 7-3 victory.

Ah You even recorded an interception in a playoff win over Campbell.

Carvalho is eager to see more of the same from Ah You this season.

"We expect Zion to be active and create disruption on the defensive line. We just want every opposing quarterback to feel uncomfortable in the pocket," Carvalho said.  

Ah You was one of five Red Raiders selected to the All-OIA Open Division first team, but the other four — linebackers Aaron "Kana" Fonoimoana-Vaomu and Ace Kaufusi, as well as defensive backs Alex "Mana" Fonoimoana-Vaomu and Kaonohi Kaniho — have completed their eligibility.

Ah You will continue to see his share of time in the offensive backfield at fullback. Although he only saw six carries last season — remember, Matagi got it 243 times — half of them resulted in touchdowns.

Carvalho said that while Ah You may not rack up many handoffs this season, that won't mean that he will be on the sidelines very often when the offense is on the field.

"He's too good of an athlete to not get on the field. Zion is so athletic that if he wanted to, he could play center, he could play guard, he could play tight end for us, but we keep him at fullback and d-line, so he's that athletic."

Ah You and Matagi are both standout rugby players, Carvalho noted.

"I see a future for both of them in rugby," he said.