|
The Kalaheo Mustangs have at least three big challenges to overcome
this 2007 football
season.
First,
despite a relatively small squad, they play in the extremely tough OIA
Red East with powerhouses Kahuku and Castle and cross-town rival Kailua.
Second, they have the reputation of being a basketball school. Championships
abound on the hardwood, but they are far and few between on the
gridiron.
And third, they had a bit of turnover at their head coaching position in
recent years.
|
 |
| Click here to view Football Central and Streaming Videos! |
But
the good news is, at least on point number three; Chris Mellor is back
for his second season as the Mustangs mentor. Mellor wore a University
of California shirt at media day
recently and he says his California
ways, dating back to his time as an assistant at prestigious Concord De
LaSalle, have made for a learning experience at Kalaheo.
�??Yes, there are different cultural ways here,�?� he says. �??I realize that not everyone is going to
conform to my dog-eat-dog California
ways, but we�??re working on it.�?�
Coach
Mellor, who played quarterback in high school at Oakland Tech, sent a
number of his players to a summer football camp at St. Mary�??s in
northern California
after the end of this past school year.
He�??s hoping that the lessons learned there will make a difference this
upcoming season.
�??We got about 90 percent returnees,�?� he says. �??A year ago, I said I�??d rather be 13th
in the Red than first in the White, but I�??ve changed my feeling on that. I want to win.�?�
Last year, the Mustangs struggled to earn one win against seven
losses. They
came close a second time when they lost a heartbreaker to Moanalua,
37-36. �??How you can lose a game after scoring 36
points is beyond me,�?� Mellor says.
�??Every game this year, we�??re going to take seriously.�?�
Kalaheo opens the pre-season with Nanakuli, and then plays a cross over
game against ILH Division II power Iolani.
Moanalua is next. �??I
think the start of the season is favorable,�?� he says.
Leading
the way offensively for Mustangs is a familiar name in local football
circles. Senior all-OIA quarterback Cody Von Appen, the son of former University
of Hawaii
head coach Fred Von Appen, is back again as the team�??s number one
signal-caller. �??He�??s a third year starter and he knows the
system well,�?� Mellor says. �??Football
is second nature to him and he�??s a natural athlete. So, he�??ll do well.�?�
Kalaheo�??s
top defensive player is expected to be 5�??10�?� 230-pound senior
linebacker Dillan Hanawahine, who goes both ways and starts at tackle
on the offensive side of the ball.
�??He�??s the strongest kid on the team
and the most tenacious,�?� Mellor says.
�??He just loves the violent part of the game.�?�
Other
key players for the Mustangs are 5�??11�?� 180-pound senior wide
receiver/defensive back Bruce Andrews, 6�??1�?� 260-pound senior lineman
Riley Atanoa, 6�??0�?� 210-pound junior defensive lineman and tight end
Matt Gasparine, and 6�??4�?� 195-pound senior defensive lineman Giovanni
Wozniak.
Mellor
calls Kahuku and Castle the teams to beat in the OIA East this year,
but he believes his Mustangs�??despite their reputation as a basketball
school�??will be right in the thick of things.
�??We have a chance to compete,�?� he says.
That�??s what matters, no matter whether you�??re from California
or Hawaii. �??I love to compete,�?� Mellor says.
|
Processing your request, Please wait....
