It’s a defense without a superstar, though each of the Kahuku starters are capable of making any play asked.
On a night of dominance, a 42-0 road win over Moanalua, it was classic Kahuku. Smashmouth ground attack. Balanced defense, all the rewards that come with a tremendous pass rush — without having to gamble with blitzes too often, if at all. And then there was special teams, where Stokes Nihipali-Botelho, already busy with his defensive role, was a huge weapon.
The senior would never overstate it, but he consistently boomed kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, played outstanding football in the secondary and returned the second-half kickoff 98 yards to paydirt. It was as fun as the game can be — if you love defense and special teams.
“Sometimes I surprise myself with those kicks,” said Nihipali-Botelho, one of the eight Red Raiders who were voted to the Star-Advertiser all-state first-team defense last season. “We had to come out with a bang (in the second half). Everyone did their job and I did mine. It was good to come out with a statement.”
For the Red Raiders, now 18 quarters into a display of defensive dominance — 18 scoreless quarters against Hawaii teams, that is — it was business as usual. Kahuku brought pressure from various angles, sometimes from seemingly all angles against Moanalua’s dangerous quarterback, Alaka‘i Yuen. They got a pick-six from all-state defensive back Kekaula Kaniho, and he ended up being one of the few starters who sat the second half.
“That’s always our main goal, to get that goose egg,” Nihipali-Botelho said.
That’s four shutouts already this season for Coach Vavae Tata‘s team.
Kahuku closed out the game with most of its starters on the field playing defense — “We don’t have that many backups on defense,” Nihipali-Botelho noted — and extending that shutout streak. With all the hoopla of the trip to Nevada to face Bishop Gorman behind them, the Red Raiders clearly played like the No. 1 team in Hawaii. The trip is fading into memoryville, and the task ahead is all the Red Raiders are focused on. Defending the state championship, emphasis on defense.
“We will move on to the next opponent. Come back on Monday and get back to work,” Nihipali-Botelho said, noting next week’s foe, Kaiser. “Hopefully, get the ‘W’.”
The next-game mentality is true for most championship teams, if not all. And yet, news about the upcoming state-tourney format being expanded to include more OIA and ILH teams is something players and fans are looking forward to.
“I’m ready. We’re ready as a whole,” Nihipali-Botelho said. “We came out to work, show our skills and just ball out, all 11.”
\\\
@alpha “No maam/sir I’m not #butthurt #madbro. I acknowledge that you were correct. All I asked was for you to get off my nuts, and apparently your still on them.”
yeah, u mad. Otherwise you wouldn’t have put the silly hashtag about HPWPolice (that job falls squarely on that person Dee Miller or whatever) or talked about your nuts. But it’s cool, though. I have respect for anyone who admits when someone else is right.
@EF:
I adjust my writing to meet the edu levels of my intended audience (You? Pre-K).
I learned that from my mother, who’s a retired English professor (since you’ve decided to show your utter lack of decorum and engage my parentage in your weak attempts of dialogue). Hell, I corrected her college students’ papers when I was in tenth grade. Not to mention I went on to obtain my own BA in English from one of the top English departments in the country at a PAC-10 school (before they weakened themselves by expanding to PAC-12).
Did I mention I went on to obtain my Doctorate at yet another PAC-10 school? Because if you know anything about higher academia (and I’m not accusing you of that by any stretch of the imagination), then you would know that most universities generally refrain from admitting their own undergraduates into their graduate programs. They like diversity amongst their graduate students (again, I don’t expect you to comprehend that concept).
Speaking of parents…have you apologized to yours? You know…for being an utter waste of skin? Because the only thing you’re a 1000 times better at than me is trolling HPW.
DOH!! Doooooooooon’t do it…doooon’t do it… Think about it… You might hurt yourself with your response.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
RRFL!!
And that’s the last time I explain my lyfe…
Go get one.
HA!
TooMeke September 26, 2016 at 8:00 pm
@EF:
I adjust my writing to meet the edu levels of my intended audience (You? Pre-K).
I learned that from my mother, who’s a retired English professor (since you’ve decided to show your utter lack of decorum and engage my parentage in your weak attempts of dialogue). Hell, I corrected her college students’ papers when I was in tenth grade. Not to mention I went on to obtain my own BA in English from one of the top English departments in the country at a PAC-10 school (before they weakened themselves by expanding to PAC-12).
Did I mention I went on to obtain my Doctorate at yet another PAC-10 school? Because if you know anything about higher academia (and I’m not accusing you of that by any stretch of the imagination), then you would know that most universities generally refrain from admitting their own undergraduates into their graduate programs. They like diversity amongst their graduate students (again, I don’t expect you to comprehend that concept).
Speaking of parents…have you apologized to yours? You know…for being an utter waste of skin? Because the only thing you’re a 1000 times better at than me is trolling HPW.
DOH!! Doooooooooon’t do it…doooon’t do it… Think about it… You might hurt yourself with your response.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
RRFL!!
HAHAHA! I went to M.I.T. and graduated in 2 years. I was working for NASA. I developed a special drug that cured cancer but the government wouldn’t let me produce it since cancer is too profitable for the American Government. I recently built the new engine for the upcoming Space Shuttle.
When I was 8, I invented a Time Warp that allowed me to go back in time. When I was 10 I invented a invisible plane, but Wonder Women stole it from me.
I can see through walls and fly as fast as a speeding bullet.
WOW, I am just like TOO MEKE! It’s story time boys and girls….and we are starring TOO WEAK, sorry I mean’t TOO MEKE!
I don’t know if I love 88 or this Too Meke guy now. I like geev um to him, if you know what I mean.
You say, “Hell, I corrected her college students’ papers when I was in tenth grade.” So you are saying that your mom is not a professional? WOW nice son! Way to throw your mom under the bus. She violated all privacy laws regarding the sharing of personal identifiable information at the college level.
What kind of child are you? Who throws their mom under the bus by informing the entire blogging word that she lacks academic integrity by allowing someone who doesn’t teach the class nor is licensed or certified to grade papers.
WOW! I feel so sorry for your mother. What kind of son are you? Let me repeat this, who throws their own mother under the bus?
Now 88 would never do that. 88 loves his mom and that is why he would never tell the public that his mom got paid for a job and didn’t fulfill the job requirements by allowing an uncertified teenager to see and then grade papers.
May your soul rot in hell for doing this to your mom! (BUT THEN AGAIN WE ALL KNOW YOU ARE TELLING LARGE FIBS! ).
Your new screen name is “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” I will call you Wolf Boy.
Did I mention I went on to obtain my Doctorate at yet another PAC-10 school? Because if you know anything about higher academia (and I’m not accusing you of that by any stretch of the imagination), then you would know that most universities generally refrain from admitting their own undergraduates into their graduate programs. They like diversity amongst their graduate students (again, I don’t expect you to comprehend that concept).
Just to humor you, do you have any documentation for this? My brother went to Yale and graduated with a Yale JD. My sister went to Harvard and then got his JD at Harvard in 2002.
88 went to UH and got his Doctorate at UH in 1970. I know cuz I saw it on the wall.
STOP MAKING UP CRAP! 88 is getting angry. He is sitting right next to me. Anywaaays is coming over for a little action too. I would invite you. But 88 is pissed at you for telling the world that your MOM never did her job and lacks academic and professional integrity.
I think 88 like scrap. You better stay clear of Tita’s. That’s where 88 and I like to go in the afternoons. If he sees you he might pound you one good one!
Too Meke writes, “I learned that from my mother, who’s a retired English professor (since you’ve decided to show your utter lack of decorum and engage my parentage in your weak attempts of dialogue).”
So you are telling me that your mom never made that much money then? Geez stop!
First you tell us that your mom doesn’t have professional integrity by allowing you to do her work that she got paid for.
Now you are telling me that she had a job that made less than the state median for annual income.
What is next? Are you going to tell us that your mom worked at Femme Nu to provide additional income for you?
What kind of son are you to share this kind of information to embarrass your mom! Geez, that lady loves you and tried her best to raise you. Can you at least show her some respect?
I love 88 – tldr
Guys, can we have an intellectual conversation about how much we all Love Kahuku football. My question to all you hard core Red raider fans and you part timers and also you people admiring from far….Is the offensive play calling doing better or worse since John Haos departure? To me it looks like nothing has changed.
anywaaaays!! September 26, 2016 at 9:32 pm
I love 88 – tldr
Guys, can we have an intellectual conversation about how much we all Love Kahuku football. My question to all you hard core Red raider fans and you part timers and also you people admiring from far….Is the offensive play calling doing better or worse since John Haos departure? To me it looks like nothing has changed.
Haven’t seen Kahuku play since the Waianae game on tv. But the scores, articles and stats seem to say nothings changed. It’s not that difficult to call plays for this offense anyways. Trying to stop it is a different story, easier said than done. IMO. . .
@alpha why change anything on offense when no one can stop it…I see what they are doing, but let’s wait and see the outcome…
None of these comment are about Kahuku’s great defense…. So I’ll say it… The best defense this year is Kahuku… Great job guys… Keep it up and good luck…Go Big Red…
@I lafa 88: I bow down to your trolling expertise. It far exceeds my efforts.
As for MIT. Prove it. I can prove mine. Name a time and place. Put up or shut up.
Meanwhile…*crickets*
TooMeke September 27, 2016 at 5:49 am
@I lafa 88: I bow down to your trolling expertise. It far exceeds my efforts.
As for MIT. Prove it. I can prove mine. Name a time and place. Put up or shut up.
Meanwhile…*crickets*
I too can prove mine. I have a business meeting today at 12:00pm with KS to lease some land for development.
Here is the address. 567 S. King Street, Suite 200, Honolulu, HI 96813. My meeting is with Maylyn. Please tell the receptionist that you are here to see her and William. She will send you into the conference room.
And just for you, I will bring a photo copy of my:
BA from Yale
MBA from Wharton
JD from Harvard
Make sure to bring your too. I might even hire you on the spot since you can “grade” papers in the 10th or 11th grade. Also, I will be flying to New York to close some deal in Mid November. Play your cards right and I might hire you. I need someone to carry my bags.
Well I will see you today sir. I am very interested to meet this “child prodigy” that is self-proclaimed. Please dress appropriately. When you meet with big dogs, appearance is very important. See you soon.
Hooo, Too Meke, wat cuz, crickets?
Haha so lame. I will be there waiting chump.
To bring the conversation back to the article above, Kahuku defense.
No defensive superstar? His name is stokes. Quit throwing to him, quit kicking to him or near him. He is fun to watch, when ever oc16 broad casts their game or someone streams it.
Looking at SL defense special teams standings. KHS has twice the scoring than the next school. That is impressive. I know they stood in first place last year at this time, but I don’t remember how much above the second place team they were.
Either way. No matter whose offense faces them, might try running the ball, because that is what Waianae does, and they seem to keep the score closer, 13-0 last year.
It sucks that Waianae lost to Campbell, because now “they” are going to say Kahuku hasn’t played anybody.
Take out the Gorman loss and the defense has only been scored on for 22 points in 7 games. That’s some low scoring games, for the opposition.
TooMeke September 27, 2016 at 5:49 am
@I lafa 88: I bow down to your trolling expertise. It far exceeds my efforts.
As for MIT. Prove it. I can prove mine. Name a time and place. Put up or shut up.
Meanwhile…*crickets*
This guy is calling people out. He’s telling people online “Name a time and place. Put up or shut up.”
Yesterday he’s acting like he’s so smart. He grades papers. He is a scholar. And today I put the address of where I was going to be. I put the time. I put the name of the person I was meeting with. I even said my name and who to ask for.
My meeting is now done. Just had to sign a couple of contracts. And this “TOO MEKE” fella is no where to be seen?
Put up or Shut up? Well son, I am here and you are nowhere to be found. Kinda sucks when someone calls your bluff.
Thanks for wasting everyone’s time. I would write “crickets” but that is so played out and not even clever.
@TOOMEKE, haha what a crap talkin clown! Calling fools out and no more da kine nuts! Chee-Pono!
Toomeke: “I learned that from my mother, who’s a retired English professor (since you’ve decided to show your utter lack of decorum and engage my parentage in your weak attempts of dialogue). Hell, I corrected her college students’ papers when I was in tenth grade.”
BS. There’s no way in hell your mother would let you grade college papers, even eng 100 ones, when you’re a sophomore in high school unless she was a complete dirtbag of a professor and didn’t do her own grading and comments and/or she had no idea what TAs were.
“Did I mention I went on to obtain my Doctorate at yet another PAC-10 school? Because if you know anything about higher academia (and I’m not accusing you of that by any stretch of the imagination), then you would know that most universities generally refrain from admitting their own undergraduates into their graduate programs. They like diversity amongst their graduate students (again, I don’t expect you to comprehend that concept).”
I call BS. What were you researching for your dissertation? What was your focus in the English department in your phD program? What texts did you use for your areas/comps? I’ve never heard of anyone who is actually in academia call it “higher academia.” What does higher academia mean? Is it the opposite of “lower academia?” What conferences have you participated in? Any journal publications? Which ones and what were the articles about?
Toomeke, you are so full of crap that it’s laughable.
@jeezy, this dirtbag TooMeke calls me out. And then Education 1st calls him out and he is a no show.
I told this fool yesterday, “Way to throw your mother under the bus” for telling the world that she does not have professional integrity to do her own work. But I think you are more accurate when you say “you are calling BS.”
I actually agree with you more. I think TooMeke is more or a liar than his mother is a professor who didn’t do her job. Thanks for pointing it out. I should have known that TooMeke is a piece of crap. Now we also know he is a coward too.
Jason Keuma September 27, 2016 at 11:01 am
To bring the conversation back to the article above, Kahuku defense.
No defensive superstar? His name is stokes. Quit throwing to him, quit kicking to him or near him. He is fun to watch, when ever oc16 broad casts their game or someone streams it.
Looking at SL defense special teams standings. KHS has twice the scoring than the next school. That is impressive. I know they stood in first place last year at this time, but I don’t remember how much above the second place team they were.
Either way. No matter whose offense faces them, might try running the ball, because that is what Waianae does, and they seem to keep the score closer, 13-0 last year.
It sucks that Waianae lost to Campbell, because now “they” are going to say Kahuku hasn’t played anybody.
Take out the Gorman loss and the defense has only been scored on for 22 points in 7 games. That’s some low scoring games, for the opposition.
As you stated, “WHO HAVE THEY PLAYED?” Waianae? Waianae beats Kamehameha. Kamehameha gets smashed by Punahou. St Louis smashes Punahou. And to make matters worst Waianae loses to Campbell. So back to the question to support this defense. WHO HAVE THEY PLAYED ALL YEAR??
I love 88 September 27, 2016 at 3:54 pm
@TOOMEKE, haha what a crap talkin clown! Calling fools out and no more da kine nuts! Chee-Pono!
Its safe to say that all these Kahuku Supporters are fake. The closest you’ll get to the actual real person is the Kahuku Mascot.
808Savage September 27, 2016 at 8:01 pm
As you stated, “WHO HAVE THEY PLAYED?” Waianae? Waianae beats Kamehameha. Kamehameha gets smashed by Punahou. St Louis smashes Punahou. And to make matters worst Waianae loses to Campbell. So back to the question to support this defense. WHO HAVE THEY PLAYED ALL YEAR??
The same teams they played last few seasons including state championship . . . A bunch of no name football schools. Hawaii produces awesome football talent, but no threat when it comes to national powerhouse football schools. In the 17yr hhsaa history Kahuku been the only consistent program with 8 state champs, STL(3), Pun (2), Kam(2), leilehua (1), Mililani (1). . . So say all you want about this year but until it actually happens, it’s just your own opinion.
Who have THEY played? Can be asked of the top ILH team. A 66-44 St. Louis /punahoe game tells me that there was absolutely no defense played. I tried watching last years stl/pun game on YouTube. I could not finish it. It is not the style I can stomach.
The transitive thinking that A beat B, and B beat C, therefore A will beat C , works in math but not always in sports. Kahuku beat Mililani, 20-7. St. Louis beat Mililani, 56-30. Therefore St. Louis should beat Kahuku easily? They play the game for this reason.
We are fans of the game, we want to see good games, but this double elimination-like set up is just silly. OIA 5 and 6 gets to play in the state D1 tournament? They just loss in the OIA playoffs, but they can play some more?
That needs to be addressed.
An OIA team has to win 13 games to win states, but an ILH team can win as few as 10? (Both these numbers are with the 2015 format)
We want good games, this format is giving more games, not more good games. I guarenteed that this years D1 will not draw as large a crowd as last years.
We like football, which is why we are on this discussion board, discussing football.
Oh where oh where has my little Too Meke gone?
1) Maybe he is getting his second Doctorate?
2) He could be using a secondary username and forgot how to log into his Too Meke one?
3) He could be with 87, 88, 93, 56, 24, 25.7, 33 1/3 on the corner playing shadow football?
4) He could be using dictionary.com and google to write intelligent posts to give the perception that he is smart.
5) Maybe he is still grading his mom’s papers?
Jason Keuma September 27, 2016 at 9:43 pm
Who have THEY played? Can be asked of the top ILH team. A 66-44 St. Louis /punahoe game tells me that there was absolutely no defense played. I tried watching last years stl/pun game on YouTube. I could not finish it. It is not the style I can stomach.
The transitive thinking that A beat B, and B beat C, therefore A will beat C , works in math but not always in sports. Kahuku beat Mililani, 20-7. St. Louis beat Mililani, 56-30. Therefore St. Louis should beat Kahuku easily? They play the game for this reason.
We are fans of the game, we want to see good games, but this double elimination-like set up is just silly. OIA 5 and 6 gets to play in the state D1 tournament? They just loss in the OIA playoffs, but they can play some more?
That needs to be addressed.
An OIA team has to win 13 games to win states, but an ILH team can win as few as 10? (Both these numbers are with the 2015 format)
We want good games, this format is giving more games, not more good games. I guarenteed that this years D1 will not draw as large a crowd as last years.
We like football, which is why we are on this discussion board, discussing football.
OIA has to win 13 games. But what type of games & teams are they playing? Can those teams survive an ILH schedule? Defense or no defense. You got quality games played every week in the ILH. Last season results is done & over with already. We’re talking now, present day. Strength of schedule & teams earning their keep. A high scoring game is a non defensive game I agree but you cannot possibly tell me that you cannot stomach a Louisville or past day Oregon Duck game. How about June Jones Hawaii offense? You couldn’t stomach that either? I dont know how people enjoy watching a Kahuku offense or Kahuku D against the trashy no scheme offenses in their division.
808savage. They play the same teams, twice. Two out of three, don’t even give them a close game. So basically, because they beat up on each other, they are good. All teams put in the work, the practices, the meetings, and anyone can loose on any given day.thats why they play the game.
I enjoy the discussion. But you didn’t touch upon the extra games the OIA has to play, or the unfairness of being eliminated from one playoff, and being accepted in another.
Why bring up college games? if both offence and defense is playing great. I know, Kahuku is accused of having a “pop warner offense” by some, but they score, and the defense keeps others from scoring.
Different state format: one champion from each league playoff.
More cross league play. Let ILH winner play OIA 3 in preseason, ILH 2 play OIA 2 in preseason, and OIA 1 play ILH 3.
I enjoy the discussion
I failed to respond to something savage808 said. I enjoyed watching the crusaders O play against a real D last year. You know Kahuku caught as many passed from the St. Louis QB as they did from the Kahuku QB?
yes, last year is in the past, but the same arguments are being used today, that was settled last year.
I am so disappointed that Too Meke didn’t show up yesterday. He was acting like an internet tough guy. I asked him to meet me, gave him the address, and gave him my name. And he still didn’t show. And what is worse? He hasn’t even been back on the blog to say why. How rude!
And who says “crickets?” HAHA. That is the most unoriginal and lamest thing I have seen. And the funny thing is a few guys think it’s funny, creative, and gets under people’s skin.
It’s so lame. Sorry but I cannot think of another word than lame. It is lame.
#crickets #crickets #crickets
HAHA!
Jason Kuema: “An OIA team has to win 13 games to win states, but an ILH team can win as few as 10? (Both these numbers are with the 2015 format)”
This is why I think that this year’s state tournament format is a precursor to the merging of the OIA and ILH leagues. The format makes much more sense if there was a three tier league with ILH/OIA along with a relegation system.
As far as ILH having NO defense, I wouldn’t go that far. It’s pretty clear from interleague play throughout the years that aside from the very top OIA teams, ILH tends to blow out OIA teams. Kahuku did blow out Saint Louis last year, but if you look at the other title games, almost all of the Kahuku wins were pretty close. ILH is a wide open, passing league, and even Kahuku, historically, is giving up almost 20 points a game in states to Punahou, St Louis, and KS-Kapalama.
Out of all the OIA teams, Kahuku is the only team that can compete regularly/win with ILH teams in states, so I’m excited at the prospect of an OIA/ILH merger and see Kahuku play tougher teams on a more consistent basis and ILH teams playing more games. It’ll be good for all the teams involved.
Jason Keuma September 28, 2016 at 5:40 am
I failed to respond to something savage808 said. I enjoyed watching the crusaders O play against a real D last year. You know Kahuku caught as many passed from the St. Louis QB as they did from the Kahuku QB?
yes, last year is in the past, but the same arguments are being used today, that was settled last year.
The only real team that played Kahuku was BG. Other than that, all these “shut out numbers” are against trash. 2 ILH teams to win the state tournament. I hope they’re cut out to play 2 quality teams back to back. Something they haven’t done all season.
Savage808- Does it make sense that if you can’t win your league that you have a seat at the table for states?
One team from each league, if you are eliminated from the OIA/ILH/MIL/KIL/BIL league tournament. Your season is over. Pick a division an play in it.
“Does it make sense that if you can’t win your league that you have a seat at the table for states?”
Yes. Because if the point of your playoff tournament is to get the most worthy teams in the state into a playoff to determine a state champion, not necessarily what league is the strongest in the state/what league has the strongest teams in the state. there’s a difference.
“One team from each league, if you are eliminated from the OIA/ILH/MIL/KIL/BIL league tournament. ”
This is an arbitrary cutoff point and assumes that all league champions are equal. If all leagues were the same size and more or less the same strength, then okay, but they’re not. So multiple teams should come in from the same leagues, whether that’s an at-large process or a function of having a formula define how many playoff spots each league gets by virtue of the size of the league.
To me, a more “true” system for a league champ would be each league champ gets in, and the rest of the berths are filled in by at-large selections by an HHSAA committee made up of reps from all leagues. League reps should not be able to vote for their own teams. So if that includes 2 ILH teams and 4 OIA teams a year, or 4 ILH teams and 2 OIA teams, or 6 OIA teams and 1 ILH team, then so be it. The strongest teams should be in the tournament.
al. . . . To me, a more “true” system for a league champ would be each league champ gets in, and the rest of the berths are filled in by at-large selections by an HHSAA committee made up of reps from all leagues. League reps should not be able to vote for their own teams. So if that includes 2 ILH teams and 4 OIA teams a year, or 4 ILH teams and 2 OIA teams, or 6 OIA teams and 1 ILH team, then so be it. The strongest teams should be in the tournament.
This does make more sense. . . There’s years where the #2 ilh team lost out in states due to the format. Alot of ideas on these threads actually make sense. But one thing I learned since moving to the islands is if it make sense, it’s not gonna happen. #politics
Five team playoff. To put a sixth team in to “fill the bracket” would just give a team a second chance. The sixth team already had a chance to beat their league champion already. Minimize the number of games.
I believe my point of the OIA having to play 13 games to win states was not understood. Yes you have to play teams that are under 500, but each game can cause injury. High school teams should not play as many games as college, just as college teams do not play as many games as the pros.
OIA take it down to 6.
HHSAA take it down to 5.