Kamehameha backed into a corner

Was it really Kamehameha’s fault?

The Warriors joined the list of teams to get throttled by No. 1 Punahou last week, and were punished for it by the voters.

Kamehameha dropped two spots behind Kahuku and Farrington in the Star-Advertiser’s latest football poll. Their opponent this week, Saint Louis, stayed firm at No. 3 behind the Buffanblu and No. 2 Mililani.

Here is the latest edition:

1. Punahou
2. Mililani
3. Saint Louis
4. Kahuku
5. Farrington
6. Kamehameha
7. Leilehua
8. Campbell
9. Lahainaluna
10. Kaiser

So Kamehameha’s crime seems to be not winning the games in its tough league against teams it seems nobody else can beat. It was left wanting after only two losses last year (Both to the eventual state champ) and will need to finish this season with the same number of losses to make states. Beat No. 3 Saint Louis one week, follow it up with two wins over No. 2 Punahou and then take out at least one top five team in the tournament. Maybe two. Make a run worthy of the Kansas City Royals and nobody can doubt that you are a worthy state champion.

That is why Paul Honda calls polls ‘cotton candy.’ No nutritional value but they taste oh, so good.

The debate could have been so much better but Hurricane Iselle wiped out the first week of the season when the Warriors were scheduled to test themselves against Waianae. That would have been telling, but all we know right now is that Kamehameha is slightly better than a California power and doesn’t have the defense to hang with the ILH’s best.

What did that weekend of slight drizzle cost us? How about Leilehua vs. Punahou, Kahuku vs. Campbell, Pearl City vs. Castle and Baldwin vs. Farrington. All four games would have probably gone to form but they sure would have been entertaining.

The poll has been fairly static this year as everyone waits for the seemingly inevitable Punahou vs. Mililani rematch in the state championship, but it will almost certainly shake up a bit after this week’s games.

In addition to the No. 3 Crusaders vs. the No. 6 Warriors, No. 2 Mililani takes on No. 10 Kaiser and No. 7 Leilehua hosts No. 8 Campbell. No. 5 Farrington plays Waianae, which is receiving votes, and No. 4 Kahuku plays preseason poll darling Kapolei in a rematch of the season opener.