Prep Preview Defensive Backs: One-man Cy-clone

By Paul Honda

Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Aug 10, 2010

In an era of specialization, Cyrus Coen defies generalities.

There are hundreds of football players in public schools in Hawaii, but how many of them have done as much as Coen?

The Pearl City senior has a 3.8 grade-point
average and a 1,630 SAT score and actually enjoys physics and English
classes. So much for the disruption of basic spelling due to modern
texting. In fact, Coen goes one step further, disassembling any notion
that local kids don’t like speaking in public. It’s the “speak out”
portion of Mr. (Ed) Duggan’s English class he enjoys most.

All of that would be nice enough for any student,
but Coen also has a penchant for defending turf. The 6-foot, 205-pound
safety is one of the best in the state, even as the Chargers wallow in
Division II of the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

Thursday’s scrimmage against perennial power Waianae was the clearest
evidence that Coen and his teammates have overcome a lack of numbers (36
suited up) and size. They kept pace with the visiting Seariders by
sheer technique — staying low and wrapping up Waianae’s ball carriers
most of the night — and willpower.

Stepping in at middle linebacker due to academic
casualties, Coen roamed sideline to sideline making tackles along with
state champion wrestler and linebacker Ray Cooper, his best friend.

Coen also stepped up offensively, taking a pitch
on a speed option 90 yards for the Chargers’ lone touchdown. He cut back
from the right sideline to the left, leaving Waianae’s rugged defense
in his tracks on a third-and-20 play.

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PREP PREVIEW

High school football is upon us, and the
Star-Advertiser kicked off its coverage Sunday. We will feature top
players at each position, counting down to the top teams in the state.
To read all about it, just follow the schedule below.

SUNDAY
Defensive Linemen

MONDAY
Linebackers

YESTERDAY
Defensive Backs

TODAY
Offensive Linemen

TOMORROW
Receivers

FRIDAY
Running Backs

SATURDAY
Quarterbacks

NEXT SUNDAY
Teams No. 5-10

AUG. 16
No. 4 Team

AUG. 17
No. 3 Team

AUG. 18
No. 2 Team

AUG. 19
No. 1 Team