It’s a matchup fans have gotten used to seeing every season, but just not quite this early.
No. 1 Saint Louis and No. 2 Kahuku, which again held the top two spots in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Football Top 10 this week, will play Friday night at Aloha Stadium for the fourth straight season.
It will be the first time during that span that a state title won’t be on the line. Not since Aug. 17, 2013, have the two teams played in a game that didn’t end the season.
Saint Louis has won the last two — and four of the last six — meetings since the Red Raiders won five in a row from 2000 to 2006. The teams have split the last 14 meetings overall.
Saint Louis enters the game ranked No. 10 in the nation by MaxPreps and No. 11 by USA Today. The Crusaders have been a unanimous No. 1 pick in every Star-Advertiser Top 10 this season.
Kahuku has been ranked No. 2 every week of the season by nine of the 10 voters. Only one has picked Mililani ahead of Kahuku every week since the preseason.
The Trojans lost their first game of the season at St. John Bosco (Calif.) on Friday, 52-14. The Braves remained No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps and No. 2 by USA Today.
That loss didn’t hurt in the eyes of the voters in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10. Mililani remained solidly in the No. 3 spot, with only one voter dropping the Trojans to No. 4.
The top eight all remained the same in the first poll in two weeks after the threat of Hurricane Lane wiped out all but Kamehameha’s win over Carson in Calif. in Week 4.
Kapolei, which got a big win and had a lot of fun on its trip to Calif., jumped up a spot to No. 9 with Damien falling back to No. 10 after losing at Mt. Spokane (Wash.). The Monarchs dropped to 1-6 all-time against teams from the mainland.
St. Francis (six), Leilehua (one) and Kauai (one) also received votes.
TOP 10 SCHEDULE
Friday, Sep. 7
No. 1 Saint Louis vs. No. 2 Kahuku at Aloha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
No. 6 Kamehameha at No. 4 Campbell, 7:30 p.m.
No. 10 Damien at Waipahu, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sep. 8
No. 5 Punahou at No. 3 Mililani, 6:30 p.m.
KS-Maui at No. 7 Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.
No. 8 ‘Iolani at Leilehua, 6 p.m.
Waianae at No. 9 Kapolei, 6:30 p.m.
Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10
| FOOTBALL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Updated: 10/23 | ||
| RANK | SCHOOL | VOTES |
| 1. | Kahuku (10) | 100 |
| 2. | Miililani | 86 |
| 3. | Campbell | 81 |
| 4. | Punahou | 73 |
| 5. | Saint Louis | 53 |
| 6. | Kapolei | 50 |
| 7. | Konawaena | 40 |
| 8. | Farrington | 23 |
| 9. | Lahainaluna | 18 |
| 10. | Kamehameha | 8 |
My opinion, I think the top ten is just about right (for now) until the end of the season. As far as the number 1 vs number 2, it will be exciting, St. Louis is mean and are in championship form no doubt! but Kahuku will come to play for sure and not be intimidated,
Kahuku’s defense will have to be ready for St. Louis offense and step it up. St. Louis looks good in all phases and so is Kahuku too, but Kahuku needs to (time & time again) limit its penalties and not kill themselves by giving away yardage, because St. Louis will come to play ball and take any advantage you give them, Kahuku needs to play smart.
I know it will be an exciting and interesting game and hopefully an injury free game, can’t wait for kick off time, and who ever comes out on top will be of deserving, good luck to both teams.
My opinion…(RRFL)
This is a big OPEN weekend. Punahou is actually rooting for Kahuku. Punahou needs to win the ILH to get the State berth. There is no way the postponed Mililani/StL. does not get played. This is the best ILH/OIA match ups of the Open season. Good luck to all.
I can’t wait for the KATOOSH (Big Hits) that’s gonna come in this game. Good luck boys!!
May GOD be with all the players on the field and the parents and fans in the crowd…its gonna be a intense game, as a red raider I’m rooting for them but I just want to see a game where they give it there all and no matter the outcome or calls by the refs that they do it for not just there community but for GOD..now idk how the rr4L fans will react on these post of the game ,but may the kids have fun and be safe .
Good Luck to Both teams…But, why do we have Division 1 teams on this ranking list..Iolani,Damien…I thought this whole set up was make sure the less powerful teams get chance to win something or play teams that’s their calibre ..I wouldn’t be surprised by the end of the season St.Francis will be in the top 10 rankings…Kinda makes you go hmmm…
For Rankings, eye test tells me Pun and Kam belong ahead of Cambell, but let the season play out and that question will be answered soon enough.
As for 1 vs 2 in week 4 has ups and downs. I preferred the season end finale of public vs private, but on the upside we get to watch it twice a year now.
Good luck to both teams. Better believe Coach Rolo will be spending Friday night at Aloha Stadium as well.
Okay, so the top 10 minus Lahainaluna is 5 ILH and 4 OIA. So remind me why ILH only has 3 teams year after year ? Sand baggage.
All Darren Johnson does is win big everywhere he goes. He did it at Kailua and Kaimuki before Campbell. Now he got Campbell rated at #4 in the state. But he always gets run out of town.
Kahuku vs. Oahu = always a good game!
If Damien and Iolani can be ranked higher then some of the teams in the Open div then they should be playing in the Open division.
I think you got it wrong, Oahu (ILH) vs The World (Kahuku) since you guys got players from Samoa to Utah!
You guys all home grown das y!
bbwwaahhaahhaahhaa
Sorry to burst your bubble but this game won’t hardly represent the hype you guys are making it to be! I said it before and I am saying it now before the show begins. This is the best team in the nation and the Red Raiders will get hammered comes Friday night. But Kahuku is clearly the second best team in Hawaii.
lol…”best team in the nation”… lmao.
put down the bong and slowly back away…
Ghandi, he’s a good coach but……if one knows anything about the history, it’s the outside baggage that drags him down. follows him at all the schools he’s involved in. It is good though that the AD has retired. Pico can move the program forward w/integrity and pride upholding the public schools philosophy and not the ILH’s win at all cost.
The HPW didn’t mention the 3 touch down womping Kahuku have on Mariota led Saints. The year of the asterisk (*)state title. Too bad it was the only blemish for Stl. Ended playing a 5th ranked Mililani.
What does that have to do with Anything this year?
Thought I mentioned it like that 2013 picture of Stubblefield that HPW posted. It had nothing to do with this year.
Oh yeah I don’t know what that picture was I mean that didn’t think they should have put that before the kahuku fanboys bring that back up