Tua Tagovailoa and Vavae Malepeai top All-Decade Team

The argument — or debate, if emotions are left to the side — about the best offensive player of an entire decade could last a lifetime.

After all, how does a one-time state champion at quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, rate above a one-time state-champion at running back, Vavae Malepeai? If the selection for this All-Decade team is solely on leadership, the nod goes to Tagovailoa simply because QB is the man.

Over his three seasons as Saint Louis’ field general, Tagovailoa exploded with a seasoned group, then felt the weight on his shoulders as the leader as a junior, and then evolved into a new version of himself as a senior.

The statistical wow factor was still there, but the management of key situations became another part of Tagovailoa’s mastery. It was needed. In his senior year, still without a state title, Saint Louis had just begun to reassert its dominance on defense. Tagovailoa, battling injuries as the team’s leading rusher during his career, didn’t need to dominate, didn’t need to make all the big plays anymore. He still did much of the time, but scaling back and letting his maturing teammates carry more of the burden led to a Crusaders state title in the Open Division.

Malepeai was an alpha warrior as much as Tagovailoa on the gridiron. Mililani’s offense depended heavily on his durability, versatility and talent. The read-option offense gave Malepeai plenty of work. Through big games, injuries and high expectations, Malepeai continued to set the tone with his blend of power and breakaway speed.

Saint Louis had a talented group of pass catchers, a very good offensive line, but as the dynasty was reborn, offensive coordinator Ron Lee notes that it wasn’t a supremely dominant unit around Tagovailoa. At Mililani, the balance of the offense with QB McKenzie Milton — who also has a case as the All-Decade top offensive player — and WR Kalakaua Timoteo, plus a sterling O-line and plenty of depth, made the Trojans an offensive juggernaut.

Between editor/prep historian Jerry Campany, writer Billy Hull and yours truly, two of us leaned to Tagovailoa and one preferred Malepeai. Tua over Vae? That’s the call here, even if it is just by the slightest of nods.