Kapolei senior Papu Uti continues to figure a way to get on the football field for the first time since his freshman year. The Kapolei defensive tackle is awaiting a prosthesis for his lower left leg that was amputated the spring before his sophomore year. Stacy Kaneshiro | SL

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KAPOLEI - Complaining is not an option in Kapolei football.

Not when senior Papu Uti continues to figure a way to get on the football field for the first time since his freshman year. The Kapolei defensive tackle is awaiting a prosthesis for his lower left leg that was amputated the spring before his sophomore year. And even then, he will need to await clearance from the Oahu Interscholastic Association to see if he can play with an artificial device. If not, he said he is willing to give it a try - again with clearance - on one leg.

"Whenever somebody complains that it's hot, they're too sore, I just say, 'Papu no mo' leg,'" Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "And they all shut up."

"He's out there lifting weights, doing whatever it takes, crawl on the ground to try to be out here. Not once has he ever had an ounce of self-pity."

Indeed.

Uti had a bright future ahead. He was so dominating at the JV level that Hernandez had to promote him to the varsity.

"He had 5 1/2 sacks as a freshman, backing up Chad Lopati," Hernandez said. "That's how good he was. He has football IQ. He knows the game, he can run, he had all the intangibles. But more than anything, the biggest heart you'd ever seen."

Uti just took things in stride.

"At first, it was really exciting, but at the same time I was really nervous," Uti recalled of his freshman season. "The thing I was really worried about was getting smashed."

During the offseason of his freshman year, Uti and his friends engaged in a pick-up football game on the grassy area outside the gym. He caught a pass and had thoughts of running over another boy. But at the last second, he felt a bit of guilt and tried to juke past him. He planted his left leg, but the boy managed to get a hold of Uti's shirt collar and yanked him down.

"When I went down, my knee dislocated," Uti said. "My ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) and my meniscus (were torn)."

He remembers the date vividly, "March 19 I had the surgery."

But soon, blood flow to his lower leg was being cut off. He developed gangrene. He had to make a life-altering decision.

"They said you can have your leg and I die," Uti recalled. "Because of gangrene, the infection was just going up. I made the decision to amputate and ended up as a disabled person. But I don't regret it. I love it. I love everything about it (the decision)."

Life went on for Uti, who continued to lift weights and do other activities. He has been getting around on crutches. Hernandez still listed Uti on the roster the past two seasons, even though he couldn't play. But this year, he is hoping to get on the field.

"He wants to play," Hernandez said. "He doesn't view this as some novelty show where he's going to get in on the last play. We don't know what the end result will be, but he's taking this seriously and so are we."

Added Uti: "To me, if you love something, you put your heart and mind to it, anything is possible. I really got that from my parents, (while) growing up."

And who knows what could've been had he not lost his leg. After all, he made the varsity as a freshman.

"He would've been one of the most highly regarded defensive linemen in the state this year," Hernandez said.

Uti said he is thankful for the support from his teammates, classmates, coaches, faculty and staff, and community. He said if he can get on the field, it would be the best way to show his gratitude for their believing in him.

"If this year works out, I hope to get scholarship for JC," Uti said. "If it doesn't, there's always education. I want to further my education in nursing school. I want to give back. If people ask me what happened, I'll tell them my story, tell them that anything is possible."