Ground & Pound

By Paul Honda
Honolulu Star-Advertiser

This pirate prefers to keep his business on the playing field.

For
Victor Moananu, carrying the football — and the Waipahu Marauders’
symbolic black flag — is a personal quest to serve his gridiron
brothers.

Moananu rushed for 126 yards per game
last season (755 yards in six contests) against some of the state’s most
rugged defensive units in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red
West. Against Waianae, the Marauders’ bull in the one-back, spread
option scheme took over when his quarterback was sidelined by injury.

Moananu
took the Pirate package — essentially a Wildcat formation — and led
Waipahu on a 75-yard scoring drive. Waianae rallied for a win, but
Moananu’s verve and leadership still aren’t forgotten.

Moananu,
who finished with 207 rushing yards on 29 carries that night, saw his
season disrupted by a staph infection. Sixteen players in all lost
playing time due to the health issue, which has since been remedied.

The
stocky 5-foot-8, 190-pound senior won’t have to carry the same load
this fall. Waipahu is looking up much more, having thrown the ball 40
times in a recent scrimmage.

“This year, we’re passing more. The great thing with Victor is his versatility,” coach Sean Saturnio said.

The
luxury of a back who can run with the ball, block in pass protection
and catch passes as a slotback — Moananu’s original position as a
sophomore — isn’t lost on Saturnio. But is it too much to ask from one
athlete?

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PREP PREVIEW

The Star-Advertiser kicked off the high school
football season with unprecedented coverage, featuring top players at
each position and counting down to the top teams in the state. See below
for past and upcoming stories.

AUG. 8 / SUNDAY
Defensive Linemen

AUG. 9 / MONDAY
Linebackers

AUG. 10 / TUESDAY
Defensive Backs

AUG. 11 / WEDNESDAY
Offensive Linemen

AUG. 12 / THURSDAY
Receivers

AUG. 13 / FRIDAY
Running Backs

AUG. 14 / SATURDAY
Quarterbacks

AUG. 15 / SUNDAY
Team Nos. 5-10

AUG. 16 / MONDAY
Team No. 4 Punahou

AUG. 17 / TUESDAY
Team No. 3 Saint Louis

AUG. 18 / WEDNESDAY
Team No. 2 Kamehameha

AUG. 19 / FRIDAY
Team No. 1 Kahuku