If you let go of preconceptions, expectations and assumptions, this is what you have.
Nobody has been a prolific, deadly long threat like Kanawai Noa.
Nobody has surprised with a consistency of big plays like Dylan Pakau.
After that, we don’t have a lot of surprises. But there’s plenty of time left for that. A lot of that.
Here’s a look at receivers after six weeks in no particular order.
RECEIVERS
Kanawai Noa, Punahou
40 receptions, 887 yards
12 touchdowns
22.18 yards per catch
147.8 yards per game
The skinny. The 6-foot, 170-pound wideout opened the season as the streak route runner, a bombs-away target for Larry Tuileta. But over the course of the season, he’s shown all kinds of routes, and the common thread is his: he holds on to everything. Not bad for a sophomore. Not bad at all.
Daicorri Briscoe, Pearl City
27 receptions, 560 yards
5 TD
20.74 YPC
112 YPG
The skinny: After sitting out two games for violating team rules, the 5-11, 175-pound senior returned with a stellar game against Kalaheo (three grabs, 106 yards, two touchdowns).
Dylan Pakau, Waipahu
21 receptions, 558 yards
7 TD
26.57 YPC
111.6 YPG
The skinny: The one defense to stifle the 5-10, 175-pound senior has been Waianae (five catches, 36 yards, one touchdown). Against everyone else, Pakau has managed at least 90 yards in receiving. He has returned one punt for a touchdown (against Kapolei). With a playoff berth hanging in the balance, he could see more action as a returner.
Christian Clapp, Kaiser
27 receptions, 528 yards
5 TD
19.56 YPC
75.4 YPG
The skinny: The 6-1, 170-pound senior has big games and sometimes, more modest numbers, but he’s been consistent. With a touchdown catch against Waialua, he now has five consecutive games with at least one touchdown grab.
Kenan Gaspar, Konawaena
16 receptions, 424 yards
6 TD
26.5 YPC
70.7 YPG
The skinny: Didn’t see any stats for Gaspar, a 5-10, 175-pound junior, from the win at Hawaii Prep. After starting the season with 13 catches in four games, his production has tailed off as the Wildcats have gone through a stretch of blowout wins. This is a classic scenario of getting better due to great competition, or rather, the opposite. It’ll be tough for Konawaena to be state-tourney ready, perhaps, without better competition. Maybe the Wildcats get some of that this weekend against Kamehameha-Hawaii, a team that blanked Konawaena in their one matchup last year.
Domonic Morris, Konawaena
23 receptions, 524 yards
10 TD
22.78 YPC
74.9 YPG
The skinny: Like Gaspar, Morris’s numbers have ranged from miniscule to stellar, mostly because of a mostly weak schedule. He had his best game, six catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns, against five-time defending D-II state champion ‘Iolani.
Fano Tuisila, Kaimuki
31 receptions, 379 yards
3 TD
12.22 YPC
54.1 YPG
The skinny: Tuisila, a 5-11, 157-pound junior, has been a bright spot for the Bulldogs. Only Farrington and Kahuku, the state’s top two teams, have limited him to less than 55 yards in a game.
Kamakana Apelu, Aiea
22 receptions, 387 yards
2 TD
17.59 YPC
64.5 YPG
The skinny: The 5-9, 155-pound junior had a season-high seven grabs in last week’s loss to Waianae. His 112 yards was his second-highest this fall. It was also the end of a cold spell; his previous three games were surprisingly limited — 20 yards against Campbell, 37 against Leilehua and 15 against Waipahu.
Jeremy Tabuyo, Saint Louis
36 receptions, 499 yards
6 TD
13.86 YPC
83.2 YPG
The skinny: There are at least two ways to look at the production of the 6-foot, 180-pound, Texas A&M-bound senior. One, as the fastest and most reliable of the Crusaders’ receivers, he’s managed to get open and be found, whether it’s Kawai Mook-Garcia or Ryder Kuhns or Robert Faleafine at quarterback. Two, how is it possible for someone who had an ACL tear last season to come back this strong? In fact, in June, he ran a 4.34 in the 40 at a combine (electronically timed). There are other systems that would let their best receiver languish under double teams, but the Crusaders get a thumbs up for getting Tabuyo open. He’s had at least five hauls in every game but a 46-0 rout of Baldwin, when the bench emptied early.
Chase Kanekuni, ‘Iolani
20 receptions, 261 yards
1 TD
13.1 YPC
43.5 YPG
The skinny: The 5-9, 173-pound junior started the season with a bang (six grabs, 130 yards, touchdown) against Konawaena. Once Tanner Nishioka returned (baseball trip), Kanekuni’s opportunities dwindled. As with everyone running routes in this system, the offense takes what the defense gives, so everyone best be ready at all times.
Nainoa Frank, Kalaheo
16 receptions, 352 yards
3 TD
22 YPC
70.4 YPG
The skinny: Is there a better red-zone target in the state? At 6-6, the volleyball standout is difficult to miss. Until I find those missing Damien-Kalaheo stats (Aug. 11), this is how consistent Frank has been: 3-97-1 (Kaiser), 2-69-0 (Nanakuli), 3-30-1 (Waialua), 4-71-0 (Radford) and 4-85-1 (Pearl City).
Keoni Piceno, Leilehua
46 receptions, 478 yards
4 TD
10.39 YPC
79.7 YPG
The skinny: If Frank is a great red-zone target and Noa is an elite deep threat, Piceno may be the best possession receiver around. The 5-9, 170-pound senior is a first-down money man much more than a breakaway target. He had a season-low 43 yards (six catches, one touchdown) in last week’s overtime loss at Campbell.
Tanner Nishioka, ‘Iolani
37 receptions, 435 yards
9 TD
11.75 YPC
87 YPG
The skinny: The 6-foot, 175-pound senior had a career game with 15 grabs for 175 yards and three touchdowns against Kamehameha. It was, by far, his best game since a 9-108-3 against Waipahu. His ability to make big plays is uncanny, but when defenses cover him with just one defensive back, that’s the risk taken. He’s also one of the top punters in the state, arguably the best.
Tyrell Tuiasosopo, McKinley
17 receptions, 302 yards
2 TD
17.76 YPC
60.4 YPG
The skinny: The upside for this talented, if raw, 6-1, 170-pound junior, is interesting. Natural ball instincts, even on defense. If he gets to college, he might see the field more quickly as a safety than as a receiver. Time will tell.
Devan Stubblefield, Saint Louis
12 receptions, 157 yards
1 TD
13.08 YPC
26.2 YPG
The skinny: OK, so I figured, well, a player this talented and hard-working, with this much passion for the game (traveling near and far to summer camps and clinics) can be really useful. But at Saint Louis, he has to earn playing time, and there’s a glut of sorts at receiver. Fair enough. So Kainoa Abreu had a huge game against Bishop Gorman. But Abreu hasn’t had a catch in the past two games. (Is it an injury?) And Stubblefield’s numbers are still the same, unless you consider a 43-yard catch (his only grab) against Damien a new peak.
Donald Lambert, Moanalua
28 receptions, 452 yards
9 TD
16.14 YPC
64.6 YPG
The skinny: The beauty of Moanalua’s offense is that there is weaponry. Stuff Ishmil Scott on the run, at least one receiver leaks free. Take away Donald Lambert, Sheldon Pagba or another pass catcher is on the loose. Right, it’s all coming together for Moanalua and Lambert is getting his share. He had seven grabs, tying a season high, and a career-high 145 yards against McKinley. His three touchdown plays tied a season-high, as well.
Ekolu Ramos, Mililani
24 receptions, 347 yards
6 TD
14.46 YPC
69.4 YPG
The skinny: The senior has been one of many targets of Jarin Morikawa, but he may be the closest thing to a hybrid possession receiver/deep threat in the state. Athletic, sure hands, reliable. He looks like a classic slotback in a June Jones offense. Remember that?
Enrique Gruver, Kalani
The skinny: Stats from games with Kapaa and Roosevelt are still missing, but after watching him grab five passes for 95 yards against Radford, I liked what I saw. The good news is he’s only a junior, just like quarterback Noah Brum, so they’ve got time to build on the chemistry they’ve built so far.
Isaac Amorin, Pearl City
24 receptions, 513 yards
9 TD
21.41 YPC
78.5 YPG
The skinny: After blowing up against Roosevelt (7-194-5) and Anuenue (4-131-2), he was fairly quiet in the Chargers’ lopsided win over Kalaheo (2-42-1). The return of Daicorri Briscoe was a major factor, but for Pearl City fans, it has to be reassuring to know that there are at least three outstanding receivers (including Tanner Tokunaga) available.
Tanner Tokunaga, Pearl City
36 receptions, 527 yards
4 TD
14.07 YPC
68 YPG
The skinny: Known more for his baseball exploits, Tokunaga has proven his mettle as a receiver. He has four consecutive games with at least one touchdown catch, and his 7-119-1 against Kalaheo came even with Briscoe back in the lineup. Brock Teixeira knows where to find the sure-handed Tokunaga; he hasn’t had less than four catches in a game all season.
Noah Willey, Punahou
15 receptions, 221 yards
1 TD
14.73 YPC
44.2 YPG
The skinny: The 6-4, 190-pound senior doesn’t have killer stats, but he’s a big target, had good hands (even with a torn tendon on a finger) and sooner or later, when some defense slows Noa down, Larry Tuileta will look more to Willey.
Keanu Chee, Punahou
18 receptions, 242 yards
0 TD
13.44 YPC
40.3 YPG
The skinny: The 6-foot, 175-pound senior had his best game against Kahuku (6-84-0) and may seem like a forgotten man lately (2-8-0 against Pac-Five). However, I have no question Tuileta knows precisely when the time will be right to go to Chee.
Jameson Pasigan, Radford
27 receptions, 491 yards
8 TD
18.19 YPC
81.8 YPG
The skinny: He may not be the most explosive athlete on the field when the Rams have the ball. (I think that would be running back Chris Johnson.) But the 5-9, 150-pound sophomore has a way of getting open. A knack, if you will. And Cody Lui-Yuen knows precisely where to find him. Though Pasigan didn’t score against Kalani — ending a streak of five games with at least one touchdown — he remains one of the top sophomore receivers in the state. Maybe the best soph target not named Noa.
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