Kahuku's B.J. Beatty, a defensive end who pursued from sideline to sideline to stop opponents, and Damien's Kealoha Pilares, a running back who at times couldn't be stopped, are the Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year, respectively, for the 2005 Advertiser All-State Football Team.

Beatty, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder, is one of seven first-team selections from the state Division I champion Red Raiders. Punahou senior defensive end Jonathan Overton, one of six from the state D-1 runner-up Buffanblu on the first team, also received strong consideration for the honor.

RELENTLESS

"Watching him play, his motor never stopped," Kaiser coach Patrick Samsonas said of Beatty. "From the edges, he was deadly. Lawrence Taylor-like. That's what impressed me most."

Iolani coach Wendell Look watched Beatty on TV and in the playoffs. He was impressed with Beatty's effort.

"A good word to describe him is relentless," Look said. "His style of play is 100 percent. He just keeps coming at you and never stops."

Beatty has strong bloodlines. His father, Byron Beatty, was an Advertiser All-State first-team linebacker for Kahuku in 1986. The senior Beatty went on to play at Brigham Young. His uncle is Jacksonville Jaguars guard Chris Naeole, also an Advertiser All-State first-team selection for Kahuku in 1991 who played collegiately at Colorado.

B.J. has a scholarship offer to play for the University of Hawai'i, but is also considering offers from New Mexico State, Utah, Boise State, Washington and Utah State.

'GOD-GIFTED'

Pilares (5-9, 175), who started at defensive back his sophomore and junior years, moved to full-time running back this season and led the state with 1,741 yards rushing. He occasionally lined up as a receiver and returned kicks. He led the state in scoring with 146 points from 24 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion. He also punted for the Monarchs. He is one of four all-purpose players on the first team. His versatility gave him the edge for the honor against Kahuku senior running back Malosi Te'o, who turned up his game in the postseason.

"He's a god-gifted athlete," Damien co-coach Dean Nakagawa said of Pilares. "He does things we cannot teach. You combine that with a great work ethic, a 3.9 (GPA) student, class president, yearbook editor, (and) well-rounded scholar-athlete. He makes you look like a good coach."

Pilares had an epic game in a 57-49 loss to Iolani to end the ILH regular season. He rushed 50 times for 300 yards, including four touchdowns, one of them for 69 yards. He also had a 76-yard kickoff return for his fifth TD of the game.

"He's very durable," Iolani's Look said. "An example is against us. They ran him 50 times and he was going strong at the end. You talk about an impact player, he's one of the best impact players I've seen."

Pilares, who wants to be a pilot, is contemplating offers from Boise State, San Diego State and has a recruiting trip to the Air Force Academy next month.

ARMED AND DANGEROUS

There were many quarterback candidates, but when coaches were asked to rank them, Iolani senior and third-year starter Kiran Kepo'o easily won out. He completed 165 of 289 passes for 2,586 yards. He passed for a state-leading 31 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. His passing efficiency was 160.0.

But Kepo'o's selection doesn't diminish the accomplishments of 'Aiea senior Kali Kuia, Kapolei senior Brad Padayao, Punahou junior Brett Kan, Kamehameha-Hawai'i senior Mana Silva, Baldwin senior Kalehua Moniz and Castle senior Bryce Kalauoka'aea. Padayao, Moniz, Silva and Kalauoka'aea were their respective leagues' Offensive Players of the Year.

DYNAMIC DUO

The two running backs were clear-cut choices. Kahuku's Te'o and Iolani's Mike Hirokawa, both seniors, were as effective as Pilares in the backfield. Te'o was fourth in the state in rushing with 1,209 yards. But 1,007 of those yards came in his last five games, when Kahuku started the OIA playoffs. He scored 11 of his 13 touchdowns in the postseason. His memorable 79-yard TD run against Punahou turned the momentum for Kahuku in the state title game.

"Without him, Kahuku would not have won the championship against Punahou," wrote 'Aiea coach Wendell Say via e-mail. "He brought them through the playoffs."

Hirokawa rushed for 1,320 yards and 12 touchdowns in a pass-heavy offense. He also was fourth on his team in receptions with 26 for 489 yards with seven TDs.

In the Damien game that Pilares ran wild, Hirokawa had 282 all-purpose yards, rushing for three TDs, including runs of 63 and 45 yards, had a TD catch and even passed for one.

CATCHING ON

Punahou junior Miah Ostrowski and Iolani senior Travis Nishioka made big-time catches for their teams and are the first-team receivers.

Ostrowski led the state in receptions (99) and receiving yards (1,214), while Nishioka led in TD catches (15) and yards per catch (20.9) among the state's top 10 receivers.

Kahuku senior Devin Unga was an easy choice at tight end. The 6-1, 201-pound twin of Kevin, who is a first-team pick at linebacker, was used as a deep threat once the opponents began to focus on stopping the run.Trenchmen

Punahou's Cody Kepipi, Kahuku's Latu Tupou and Ken Livai, Radford's Ramsey Feagai and Damien's Eddie Williams are the first-team picks on the offensive line. All are seniors.

Injuries hampered two preseason first-team picks. Mililani senior Micah Kia — the most heavily recruited player in the state, having made trips to Oregon State, Tennessee, Oklahoma and UCLA — played in four of nine games because of a preseason knee injury. Kamehameha senior Ryan Pohl, who has verbally committed to Oregon State, also missed several games with an injury. Still, they performed well enough to garner third-team honors.

FEARLESS FRONT FOUR

Another competitive position on the all-state team was defensive line. Kahuku's Beatty, Punahou's Overton and Damien senior Mike Sipili were all considered for Defensive Player of the Year. Rounding out the front four is Kahuku junior Kaniela Tuipulotu, perhaps a candidate for top honors next season.

Punahou's three-player front made Overton an easy target for double teams, noted Buffanblu coach Kale Ane. Yet, Overton was the team's leader in sacks. But what impressed coaches was his hustle, such as when he chased down Kahuku's Te'o on several occasions down field to make TD-saving tackles in the state title game.

'BACKERS

Among the coaches rankings, this position turned out to be the most interchangeable between first and second team and to some degree with the third team. Like quarterback, good athletes play this position. And Kamehameha's Gerrit Vincent, Iolani's Jon Takamura and Kahuku's Kevin Unga were just that. Vincent was considered for Defensive Player of the Year.

But not far behind were second-team picks Quinton Tang of Moanalua, Mana Lolotai of Kamehameha and Jared Silva of Saint Louis.

All six linebackers are seniors.

FIRST IN SECONDARY

Mililani's Chris Dickerson broke an ILH-flavored secondary that includes Punahou's Jay Angotti, Kamehameha's Drew Ueno and Saint Louis' Stephen Lei.

The four seniors were good in man coverage and reliable open-field tacklers.

MULTITASKERS

If there were more players like Damien's Pilares, 'Aiea's Lofa Li'ili'i, Moanalua's Stanford Leti and Punahou's River Kim around, then all-purpose wouldn't be necessary.

Li'ili'i essentially did it all for Na Ali'i. He was primarily a receiver, finishing second in receiving yards with 1,149. But he also lined up as a running back and quarterback. He maximized his abilities by returning kicks, too.

It was hard to tell what Leti's primary position was. In a single offensive series, he played quarterback, running back and receiver. He racked up 2,091 yards in total offense (rushing, passing and receiving). He rushed for 20 TDs, caught one and passed for five.

He also played safety and returned kicks.

Kim was a weapon with his foot, going a perfect 43 of 43 in PATs and booting eight field goals. He also turned out to be a clutch secondary receiver that helped Ostrowski haul in even more passes. Kim was second on his team with 42 catches for 567 yards and four TDs. In all, he scored 91 points.

GIVING THE BOOT

Radford's Jamie Whitworth, a transfer from England, kicked 10 field goals. But most notable were his booming kickoffs that went for touchbacks.

During the regular season, he missed what would've been a record 53-yard field goal (51 is the record set by Kalaheo's Josh Fouts in 1994 and Waipahu's Kimo Naehu in 1996). His kick hit the cross bar.

In the OIA White championship, he missed a PAT by hitting the upright, then promptly drilled the ensuing kickoff through the uprights.

Punahou's Keoki Hong was an easy choice as punter.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.