Homecoming means different things to different people, but for at least three Elizabeth City State football players, this weekend’s homecoming festivities will be spent about as far away from home as you can get.

Baron Coffin, Sanerivi Reupena and Kahawaiolaa Soon share a background that is a far cry from northeast North Carolina. All three are junior offensive linemen from California junior colleges, which is how they arrived in Elizabeth City. But their Polynesian heritage sets them apart. Coffin hails from American Samoa, Soon is from Hawaii and Reupena was born in California, but his parents are native Samoans.

When the Vikings host Chowan Saturday for homecoming, it will be an entirely new experience.

“This is actually my first homecoming,” Coffin said. “I don’t know what to expect. All I know is they said it’s going to be packed. More than the (Down East) classic.”

Coffin, 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, has started every

game this season at left guard, while Reupena, 6-foot-2, 350 pounds, has four starts at right guard. Soon, a 6-foot-1, 305-pound tackle, has appeared in three games. All three are close off the field (Coffin and Reupena are roommates), drawn together by heritage and position.

“As Polynesians, we’re basically more family oriented,” Reupena said. “We are all Polynesian, so we keep ourselves company with each other. That way, we get through everything.”

“A lot of the guys on the O-line also came from California too, so we all have ties back in Cali,” Soon said. “We all hang out and have a stronger bond.”

But that does not mean that stay away from their other teammates.

“Everybody here makes me feel at home,” Coffin said. “Everybody just clicks.”

A few years ago, the Vikings’ football recruiting budget was given a boost, allowing coaches to make some longer trips. ECSU coach Waverly Tillar immediately sent his coaches out on a mission — find players and develop long-term contacts. One of those missions took offensive coordinator Alvin Parker to California and those contacts have paid off with several players making the trip east over the years. There are currently seven offensive linemen on the roster with California ties, including the Polynesian trio.

“I heard of (ECSU) through one of the players I played with back in California (Cameron Flippin),” said Reupena. “We got together to with coach Parker. From there, I stayed in contact with him and came out here.”

The transition to Elizabeth City had only minor effects on the trio.

“When I first got here, the biggest adjustment was the time difference,” Soon said.

Hawaii is six hours behind and Samoa seven, however, something else emerged that the group was not as prepared for.

“I don’t do too well with cold,” said Coffin, who admits he does not own a coat. “When I first got here, it felt great because it felt just like Samoa. The humidity and everything, I felt like I was at home. Then it started to get cold.”

Being so far away from home, the trio has not seen much of their family in a long time. Both Soon and Reupena have plans to make trips home during the winter break, but Coffin, who has not seen his parents in nearly two years, will not be able to go home until this summer. He does talk to his parents almost every day.

“They always ask me about the game and if I’m hurt,” said Coffin, who fractured his finger in last week’s game. “They are always asking if I’m hurt or not. I have to tell them every week that I am hurt.”

Coffin actually has some family nearby. An aunt moved to the Hampton Roads area from California recently, and she will be here this weekend.

In the meantime, they try to concentrate on the season’s final two games and their class work.

“It (bothers me) on some occasions (being away from home), but I try not to think about it too much,” said Reupena. “I just try to focus on the reason why I came out here — to play ball and get my education.”