Football: OIA Red West preview

The West is going to be wild. Again

Star-Bulletin: OIA football kicks off with a lot at stake | Waianae the favorite in stacked conference

It's only fitting that the Red West regular season kicks off at Waianae. As one coach said, that's where the West title goes through.

I just hope there's time to stop at Tasty Freeze for some of those onolicious homemade fries. That's hope. Instead, the traffic along the road, especially Nanakuli, will probably have me fighting to get there for the kickoff. Normally, I'd be out there early, but there are responsibilities to tend to in town first, and that's how it goes.

It won't matter how traffic is by kickoff. Torii Field is one of the best places on Earth to watch a football game. Sun going down over the ocean, which is just a stone's throw from the field.

The West won't be won in one day. In fact, the West winner and runner-up get nothing more than higher seedings in the playoffs, and home-field advantage is no guarantee, as Farrington learned last year. But it's all about positioning and momentum, which are almost as important as staying healthy.

Let the games begin!

Waianae draws No. 5 ranking

On paper, the Waianae Seariders lost a ton of talent. So why do coaches and media have them ranked so high?

Star-Bulletin: Seariders still have their strut

There's something to be said for tradition and reputation. Last year's Waianae squad came within a touchdown of an OIA title, and then fell by only a field goal in the state semifinals.

But when you lose a ton of talent at linebacker and offensive line, does it a No. 5 ranking make sense? Possibly. It's the same Searider system — and Pop Warner program — that produced the likes of George "Oki" Kauwalu, David Paaluhi, Chad Duran and Preston Ayala to anchor an outstanding defense.

It was the defensive unit that carried the squad, keeping a lid on opponents until the Searider offense would get on the scoreboard. Now, a bunch of new faces are on the field, and lofty expectations are already in place.

I'm not saying Waianae doesn't deserve recognition. Far from it. I just hope fans don't assume the team will pick up where it left off last season. It'll take time for the new offensive line to gel, and there's no way to completely succeed as well as last year's linebacking corps. If the Seariders can find itself defensively and play 90 percent as well as last year's 'D', getting to the OIA championship game could happen again.

That's asking a lot, but they're used to it.

Mules lose Moniz, but kicking at No. 8

The Leilehua Mules are going to do just fine, thank you, even without Bryant Moniz under center.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Leilehua loses quarterback, makes preseason top 10

For several years now, Leilehua has fielded a physical, relentless defensive unit. In fact, the Mules have ranked first the OIA Red West defensive stats for two years in a row. Nolan Tokuda knew his staff had the defense in the right direction, which is why he was happy to balance out his offense with more of a running game for the past two years.

The losses to graduation are substantial. Bryant Moniz and his golden arm are gone to Fresno City Community College. Prolific running back Micah Abreu-Laybon has also graduated. Still, the Mules are at No. 7 because expectations are high, built on a foundation of success under Tokuda.

They improvise and create, borrow and steal schemes and concepts with the best in Hawaii. Hybrid offenses and aggressive defenses, a hallmark under this staff in Wahiawa. I'll miss watching Moniz pick defenses apart. I'll miss seeing his evolution as the offense balanced out. I think he'll make a fine Division I quarterback soon enough, when someone recognizes his talent and leadership skills.

It's true that teams sometimes improve after a superstar leaves. Leilehua's depth and commitment could easily have Moniz calling home and feeling envious if the Mules make it to the state tourney.

What's going to be spooky in the OIA Red West is that some very good teams might not even make the playoffs. That's how much parity the division has.