You can understand if there was a bit of a disconnect at times between Orem wide receiver — and BYU-bound — Kaue Akana and his quarterback, Alabama commit Tayden Kaawa, when the two finally got their first chance to play together this season in last week’s 17-14 win over Springville.
Akana missed the Tigers’ first three games due to a hamstring issue, but in the Orem victory — one that snapped a two-game losing streak — the 6-foot-3 wide receiver came up big for the Tigers when they needed him.
His 15-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter gave Orem a 17-7 lead, putting points on the board for the first time in nearly two quarters.
Then later, after the Tigers seemingly had the win wrapped up — they were driving deep into Springville territory and had forced the Red Devils to use all their timeouts — Akana also made the game-ending tackle following a fumble that gave Springville the ball back with under a minute to play.
It wasn’t always pretty, but it was a win.
“I mean, we’re far from where we should be. I think the game shouldn’t have been that close. We’ve just got to get to work, learn from our team. We’re still able to battle — offense, we’re driving the whole time, we just couldn’t finish,” Akana said.
“... It’s heading in the right track, we just gotta finish those. And this is only the beginning of what you’re gonna see from Orem at the end of the season.”
In many ways, that mirrors the BYU offense’s current trajectory right now, with true freshman Bear Bachmeier at quarterback and the Cougars trying to break in several new players on that side of the ball.
Why Kaue Akana committed to BYU
Akana, who is rated a three-star recruit in 247 Sports’ composite rankings with an 0.8856 score, made his commitment to BYU on July 1, not long after quarterback Ryder Lyons, rated a five-star prospect in 247 Sports’ composite rankings, announced he, too, was headed to Provo.
“BYU wasn’t always like, it was never like a dream school to me. I never grew up playing football. I was actually a soccer guy,” said Akana, who didn’t get into football until his freshman year of high school. “But I can just tell, I go to BYU games, even last year, I would go in all the time, and I could really feel the connection, the family. I think the fans are awesome. LaVell (Edwards Stadium) is a great place.”
Akana had a breakout campaign last year with Kaawa under center, catching 76 passes for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns. BYU was one of nearly 20 power conference teams that offered Akana a scholarship, according to 247 Sports — a list that includes Utah, Alabama, UCLA, Oregon, Oklahoma and Auburn — but the Cougars’ efforts, particularly from associate head coach/defensive coordinator Jay Hill, stood out.
“Coach Hill always made me feel like a priority. He would also always call me. He called me, like, every other day telling me, ‘Oh, you’re the one I want. If there’s anything you need, let me know.’ So that was it,” Akana said. “And on my official visit, I got to hang out with all the other recruits and stuff like that. It was amazing. That’s when I knew that BYU was the place for me.”
Akana took his official visit to BYU in June at the same time several other high-profile recruits made theirs, including Lyons and four-star tight end Brock Harris of Pine View High.
“I met Ryder at OT7 (a national seven-on-seven league), we played together at OT7, stuff like that. So I was always talking to him. I was always like, ‘What do you think about BYU and stuff like that?’ Because his top was BYU and Oregon at the time, and he was telling me that there’s a chance he could go to BYU,” Akana said.
“And I knew that that was gonna be a legendary recruiting class. Brock was obviously already committed at the OV (official visit), kept on talking to me and the other boys, there was probably six other commits over there. So just being around them, I can really feel like, ‘Oh, these are the guys on play with,’ and I think we (can) make BYU a special place. So I wanted to hop on.”
How Kaue Akana looked in his first game this season
Though it took some time for Akana to make an impact as a senior, thanks to his hamstring injury, Akana ended up with five catches for 57 yards and that touchdown from Kaawa in his first game this season.
While Akana caught on, he noted that he and Kaawa were “a little rusty” in their connection Friday night, but that getting the touchdown was sweet.
“Me and Tay, we’re super close. He’s like a brother to me, all my teammates are. I really wanted to score, too; it’s my first game back. So I was really happy I was able to get that, wish it could have been a couple more, but it’s fine,” Akana said.
How Kaue Akana showed leadership in key moments
His score came at an opportune time, when points were at a premium. After Springville took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and Orem responded with a 51-yard touchdown pass from Kaawa to Baylor tight end commit Kai Wesley, the only other points came on a Tigers field goal late in the first quarter.
Akana’s touchdown helped keep Orem ahead when Springville scored on an 87-yard pass with just over five minutes to play.
Of his touchdown, Akana said, “I remember they gave us man coverage. I was actually supposed to be on the other side. We were spread to the right, and I was on the left because I got the formation late. So me and the other receiver, we just switched. I saw (the defender) press, and he was pretty close. I knew I was a lot stronger and bigger than him, so I just shock released him, went in, and then, touchdown.”
Akana, who also plays defensive back, had two solo tackles as well, none bigger than the final play of the game.
Springville moved the ball just past midfield on a scramble from quarterback Beau Halvorsen and snapped the ball with just under 12 seconds remaining. Halverson threw outside to the receiver Akana was defending, Akana made a strong break on the pass and brought down the receiver in the field of play.
That stop, coming inbounds, allowed the clock to run out.
“Obviously, it’s pretty scary. You know, that’s a huge momentum shift. We’re icing the game, and now we’re on a 45-second drive on defense,” Akana said of the momentum-changing turnover that led to Springville having one last-gasp effort.
“The biggest thing was, I was trying not to get beat deep — I did not want a touchdown on my head. Obviously it’s a little pressure. … We have a pretty young team, and I feel like as one of the captains, my job is to stay composed and make the plays when they come at me.”
What’s the goal for Kaue Akana and Orem this season?
Orem’s win over Springville started off Region 7 play for the Tigers. Next up is a road game at Spanish Fork on Friday.
His goal for his senior season: a state title.
Orem has been knocked out of the 5A playoffs each of the past three seasons by Timpview, including in the quarterfinals last season and the semifinals back in 2022.
“I would say my high school career is, I’ve had everything, I’ve gotten all the offers, all the stats last year. So one thing I don’t have is that ring, that state championship. So that’s for sure No. 1,” Akana said.
“I could care less about everything else, how many stats, touchdowns and stuff like that. Obviously, those are cool, but No. 1 is that state championship. So that’s it. And then with our team, I know we’re gonna bounce back. We’re gonna get to work on Monday, and we’re gonna get better week in and week out. So (we’re) heading on the right track.”