Friday’s Moanalua Game Is ‘Must-win’ For
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usThe Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs may still be a long way away, but in a sense, first-year Kalaheo football coach Chris Mellor is already in the post-season mode.
Mellor characterized Friday’s upcoming game (6:30 p.m.) at Moanalua as “a must-win, if we want to even think about making the playoffs.”
If Mustang followers needed any evidence about Kalaheo’s renewed commitment to winning on the football field, it came in its recent non-league encounter with Pac-Five, when Mellor went for a two-point conversion that would have given his team the lead late in the game, rather than playing for a tie and a chance to take the game into overtime.
“I’ve told the kids, we’ll never play for a tie as long as I’m coaching here,” said Mellor of his team’s narrow loss on Sept. 2. “That’s not what we’re about. That (decision) was a no-brainer. We play to win, even if it costs us when it doesn’t happen the way we’d like.”
If anything, Mellor’s confidence neatly summarizes the Mustangs’ fresh mind-set. As Kalaheo prepared for its game last weekend with defending state champion Kahuku, its coach was most pleased with his team’s perseverance. Six Mustangs went down to injury in Kalaheo’s regular-season opener with defending league champion Castle, leaving them 28 in uniform.
“I never want to use that as an excuse,” he said. “We’re still a good team, and the boys see that. I’ve been most pleased with our resiliency and our ability to play with low numbers.
“Right now, we have more people playing more minutes - whether they like it or not,” he added. “Our offensive boys are our defensive boys. We have eight or nine guys playing both ways. But to compete, we have to play our best in order to play our best football. I’m proud of the boys. I tell them to enjoy these moments. Football is the best sport in the world.”
Among those on double duty is quarterback Cody von Appen, who has moved into the free safety spot on the defensive side of the ball.
“He really stepped up last week (against Pac-Five) and was our hardest hitter in the game,” Mellor said. “He loves it; he wants to be in there every single play.”
Offensively, the Mustangs’ injuries have forced a change in play-calling, in part because running back Koa Siliga’s touches have been limited in recent weeks due to a nagging injury.
“We’ve had to go away from the option a little bit,” Mellor said. “We’ve opened it up and pass more and give Cody more of a chance to use his athletic ability.”
In having to open OIA Red East play with Castle and Kahuku, perhaps no team in the state had a tougher schedule to begin its regular season than Kalaheo. Mellor views the Moanalua match-up as more favorable.
“We think we’re faster and stronger than they are - I feel confident in going up against them. I think we can pull out a victory there.”
The Mustangs are finding some added inspiration in that it’s Moanalua’s homecoming game.
“They’ve chosen us to be their homecoming opponent because they expect to beat us,” Mellor said. “We take that as a direct challenge.”
Although the teams don’t run the same offense, Moanalua’s attack is heavy with option plays, not unlike his own team’s approach, a fact that could aid defensive preparation.
“It helps in that we’re both teams that you have to find the ball against. We’re both not big strong teams, so people have to respond to a little bit of deception against both of us.”
To date, ball control has been one of Kalaheo’s strengths.
“In most of our games, we’ve been able to gain more yards than the other team, and time of possession has been 3-1 (in Kalaheo’s favor).
“We’ve been right there as far as offensive output. We just haven’t been able to put the points on the board.”
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