KAPAA — After having to wait an extra week, Kapaa High School’s varsity football team is primed to kick off the season. Warriors head coach Philip Rapozo said his players are much improved since spring and are ready for this
KAPAA — After having to wait an extra week, Kapaa High School’s varsity football team is primed to kick off the season.
Warriors head coach Philip Rapozo said his players are much improved since spring and are ready for this weekend’s preseason game.
“We’re working really hard and that’s one thing I’m happy with. These kids are working really hard,” Rapozo said during Tuesday’s practice.
He added he is pleased he has most of his roster available for Saturday.
“Physically, we’re not too banged up. Grades, we’re really good with grades,” he said. “I think we (only) lost five guys to grades this year … I’m very excited about that. Hopefully, that trend stays through the school year. Keep everybody off of grade check.”
Senior offensive guard and team leader Maka Ahloo said his goals are set high for his last season at Kapaa High.
“It hit me big time already. Just last week, thinking that would have been my last, first preseason (game), that was big … I just got to give it my all for the whole season. No injuries, that’s the main thing,” Ahloo said. “I’m just trying to keep my team up. Play uptempo and (make sure) everybody got the little details right.”
Rapozo said whereas Kapaa’s offensive line struggled last season, he believes it will one of his team’s strengths this time around.
“Last year, we had three sophomores that weren’t really ready to go. We didn’t have bodies, so we took them up from JV. They struggled, but that made them stronger for this year,” he said. “They got some experience, plus we got some depth over there. We got eight guys that can start, maybe even nine. So we’re pretty good at that position. I feel really good about that.”
The Warriors coach also said his expects his linebackers to be a significant factor.
“Our linebacking corps is pretty good … We got a lot of them. We’re lucky we got some players this year,” Rapozo said.
Junior middle linebacker Mosese Fifita also said he expects himself, his fellow linebackers and the whole team to perform well this season.
“This season, they can expect a lot from us. Come out better than last year, way better than last year,” Fifita said. “We want to honor ourselves and honor our school. We represent our team, our families.”
Kapaa will play scoringlive.com’s No. 1 ranked preseason Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II school, Lahainaluna from Maui, at 7 p.m. Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. Kapaa is No. 3 in the preseason rankings.
Preseason games won’t affect a team’s overall record, but will factor in postseason seedings.
“(Lahainaluna) is a big, big obstacle,” Rapozo said. “Defensively, (we’re) focusing on assignment. Tackling, which is so important. On offense, protecting the ball. Not turning over the ball. If we do that, we’ll be all right. I think we’ll be there.”
This will be Rapozo’s first game as Kapaa’s varsity head coach. He was promoted from coaching the school’s junior varsity team after last year’s varsity head coach, Kelii Morgado, decided to step away from the program to spend time with his family.
“I’m not trying to fill his shoes (Morgado). I’ve got my own. But also, I got a good staff. The support around me, the coaches I have, I feel good,” Rapozo said. “I have confidence in my players and my coaching staff. So I feel good. I feel really good about what I’ve got.”
