KAHUKU — After weeks of discord, players on the Kahuku High School football team promised yesterday to put their differences about the coach aside and work together.

"We're back to normal now," said linebacker Paipai Falemalu, a senior and one of several captains on the team, which last year won the state championship. "We cannot go our separate ways, we gotta stay together and be one team."

A dispute within Kahuku's passionate football community intensified last week when some community members circulated a petition calling for the removal of head coach Reggie Torres.

The second-year coach has been under intense scrutiny by some players, parents and fans for what they see as overly strict rules, especially those that restrict what Torres sees as excessive celebrations of good plays and excessive displays of emotion.

Torres' detractors call the rules overly strict and unnecessary. But Torres said the rules are part of his attempt to instill discipline and dignity in his players.

"To me, you gotta have structure," he said. "This stuff is not just for now, but for their future."

Differences seemed to be at least partially worked out after a Sept. 27 meeting of Torres, athletic director Joe Whitford, principal Lisa DeLong and members of the community.

But problems erupted again Wednesday when about half of the 96 players boycotted most of the afternoon practice to protest against Torres. Emotions spilled over and a community member confronted Torres on the field. Police were called as a precaution.

'IT WAS A GOOD MEETING'

Torres said yesterday's 3 p.m. practice was canceled for "safety reasons," but the players attended a meeting with Department of Education district superintendent Lea Albert to discuss any issues they had.

"It was a good meeting," said senior offensive lineman Benji Kemoeatu, another co-captain. "Everybody got to talk about their concerns with Reggie. But all the boys, now we know that we cannot do anything without a team, so we might as well come together and solve our problems. We learned our lesson from yesterday. From now on, everything we do, we'll do it as a team."

The Red Raiders, who are 4-2 overall this season and 4-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, will play at Castle High School tomorrow for a chance to clinch at least a share of the OIA Eastern Division title.

"I can't wait," Kemoeatu said.

Albert, a former Kahuku principal, said the players' concerns have been passed along to athletic director Whitford and principal DeLong, who will discuss them with Torres either before or after this morning's practice.

When asked about yesterday's meeting, Albert said simply, "They're great kids."

Wednesday's protest came after players met with some members of the community Tuesday night. According to the players, they were encouraged to stage the boycott.

The protesting players stood on the bleachers and watched the first 90 minutes of practice before joining their teammates for the final 20 to 30 minutes. Reportedly, many tears were shed as players were torn between making a stand and participating in practice with their friends.

"Everything spilled out, everybody let everything out," said senior offensive lineman Anthony Si'ilata, another co-captain. "But the boys, we're always close. We're strong as a unit. I still respect the guys who didn't practice. As a team, everything is all right now. It's like a rebirth."

Si'ilata said he and other teammates did not expect the community uproar and effort to oust Torres to climax the way it did.

"It was crazy. I was put into a spot," he said of the turmoil. "It was worse than we thought."

TEAM'S READY TO PLAY

Torres, whose hiring in April 2006 was criticized by some, said the campaign to get rid of him started then and hasn't stopped.

"When I got hired, some people were upset because they wanted their friend, their cousin to get the job," Torres said. "From the beginning, those people have been looking for ways to get me out."

Falemalu, Kemoeatu and Si'ilata said they do not foresee any differences in philosophy with Torres becoming a major issue for the remainder of the season. And they said the team is united again and ready to play football.

"We came together. There's no hard feelings about what anybody did," Falemalu said. "It's already all behind us now."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.