Enoch Nawahine is making the most of his time at Kahuku in what will be his only season suiting up for the Red Raiders.
That’s because the senior spent the first three years of his prep career at Punahou, where he was in a crowded backfield on a team that was pass heavy in 2016 and relied on star Wayne Taulapapa to run the ball in 2015.
“I just wanted to come home and play with family and friends, and get the ball a lot more,” he said.
At Kahuku, he’s the lead back on a team that is known for wearing opponents out with its run game. He was electric in a 64-0 win on Saturday night against Radford, rushing nine times for 121 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a 38-yard pass for a touchdown. With the Red Raiders leading 51-0 at halftime, Nawahine didn’t see the field in the second half.
In five games this season, he’s rushed for 589 yards on 68 carries for eight touchdowns, almost surpassing what he did last season in half the amount of time.
In 10 games last season, he rushed for 415 yards and nine touchdowns on 69 carries for the Buffanblu. The increased workload this year has put Nawahine among the state’s top rushers.
“He’s a great kid. He tries hard, he’s a great guy,” Kahuku coach Makoa Freitas said. “Whatever college that can land him will be lucky to get a great kid.”
Up next for the No. 2 Red Raiders is a showdown at Campbell next Friday night, with the winner claiming the OIA Blue title. Kahuku has already clinched a first-round bye in the OIA playoffs.
Why fiatoa name show up for touchdown, tought he left the team
I think that was the Mahe kid.
Hey guys, sorry about that. It was indeed Sione Mahe and not Tausili Fiatoa. I was going off of an old roster, my apologies. The live blog has been updated with a correction and an acknowledgment, and tomorrow’s newspaper will show a correct version of his name. Thanks!
Good job kid. Now, just keep keep squeezing that coconut and take us to da ship. RR4L._.
when does Pac-5 play Radford. does Kahuku Play Pac-5 this year ?
Good Red Raiders……. RR4L
Sione Mahe is treated like Elvis Vakapuna over there in Kahuku, which everyone sees he’s definitely the better RB when Nawahine was hurt. Them RR doing their favorites again, it’s going to bite their backs again against the State Champs AGAIN, watch and learn, or don’t learn because that’s Kahuku’s Coaching style. I hate dumb dumb coaches!
Nawahine is a natural RB! He is explosive, quick, and makes good decisions while running. He is clearly the best RB at Kahuku and I do t think it’s favoritism at all. Give credit where credit is due.
Nawahine is an animo! he is clearly one of the best RBs in the state, all round package and the best at Kahuku since Faga wily back in 2012. However I believe that the offensive scheme does not take full advantage of his skillset, i would like to see him more in the slot because he has the best hands on the team and is fast.
I appreciate what Kahuku OC is trying to do to be balanced but it is clear that we still dont have the right personell to be a passing team, our recievers run terrible routes and when they do its 50/50 if they catch the ball or not, both our QBs are average throwers and are not accurate, our oline is suspect in their pass protections. I guarantee Kahuku will lose against STL or even Mill if they try to be balanced because 3-n-outs will wear down the Kahuku D like what happened against bingham.
to sum everything up….we sacraficed the title lastyear against stl by abandoning the jumbo pkg so that our freshman QB can showcase himself which he showed that he was too young and not ready. if tata stuck with the jumbo kahuku would be going for 3peat this year.
..and speaking of jumbo pkg, the only disservice to Vakapuna last year was that the Kahuku OC did not know when to rotate the ball carriers, on that fumble in the title game Kesi ran the ball the entire series and 3 times in a row, he was clearly gassed and tired but they let him punch it in from the 1yd line and thats when he fumbled.
Thats what looks like is happening right now with Nawahine, he is not being rotated out enough to give him rest and let another RB get experience in crucial situations. Nawahine got concussed against Waianae because he was the only RB allowed to touch the ball. Some of the favoritism is plainly obvious. Another obvious one is our LB Ahyou, he is a beast too but we need him on defense, they making him return punts which will only make him tired and increase chance for injury.
Hate to break it to you but you going experience favoritism everywhere you go. Kahukus LB is returning kicks because he is probably one of the fastest and more athletic kids on the team. You want to beat him and the starting RB out? Its simple. Kick there @$$ in practice! Practice harder than those two. Run faster than those two. Hit harder, catch better etc…. Until then this FAVORITISM CRAP is an excuse.
Respect to the Punahou Rb coach for the past 3 years.
Awrite I don’t think Kahuku lost the title by trying to be balanced. They started passing because they were down in the 4th quarter and the run wasn’t scoring often enough. At that point Tata had no choice but to try passing and that didn’t work out, to put it kindly.
What game did u guys watch last year? The state title game, Lol… Kahuku rushed the ball 36 times and attempted 3 pass attempts!!! Kahuku got out coached plain and simple! Watch the film again… Kahuku tried the run 1st mentality and it didn’t work! Lol… They need a passing game to beat Millilani n St. Louis! Run will work against the Radfords out there but not the top level teams here or in the states… Crusaders with the easy repeat!
LOL I don’t think you watched the game my bradah. Kahuku was up in the 4th(all rushing TDs) and about to score another RUSHING TD when the fumble occurred at the 1yard line. It took 17 years to finally beat Kahuku for the State Title and judging from Saturdays game it’s going to take another 17 years to do it again.
@ LOL if you think we can’t beat the top teams from just running well im pretty sure in 2015 we ran over every single team and had a record of 13-0 so if I was you I wouldn’t be talking. Ha…. “LOL”
I like that kahuku was using kenai liua as the fullback. He can block and has good hands. He should be e starting fullback and move lefau back to defense. Awrite has a point about are passing game. Receivers can’t catch and yes they do run terrible routes. For them to even challenge st.louis and mililani they must control the clock and that is by running the ball. They still can pass but run more with different sets and be creative doing it.
You can beat a team with an excellent rushing attack, but, its hard to come back when you need points in a hurry. Plus, long sustained drives, particularly with all runs, increase chances for turnovers and injuries( I know, for both sides) especially if you zone reading with a QB who has a tendency to keep often.
I say, just get Big on Big, and RPO all day with easy high average passes, SolJays wheelhouse) and dictate what the defense does. They wont be able to stack the box forcing equitable #s in the box which will take advantage of RR overall size, speed and physicality advantage.
But, what do I know. If it aint broke…………
#itwasbrokelastyear, #JohnHaohadtherightidea, #vaesfaultnotyours,