For two years, Chevan Cordeiro was relegated to backup duty.
A player of his talent and caliber, Cordeiro could have easily found playing time somewhere else. Yet he stayed at Saint Louis backing up Tua Tagovailoa and patiently waited for his turn.
It came in 2017, and the 6-foot-1, 175-pound University of Hawaii commit delivered a season every bit as good as that of his former teammate, who is now at Alabama.
Cordeiro delivered a fifth state championship to the Saint Louis brotherhood with two eye-popping performances in back-to-back state tournament games. A record 528-yard passing performance with five touchdowns against Mililani was followed up by another 440 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-28 victory over Kahuku in the Open Division final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships on Saturday night (and Sunday morning).
Cordeiro, who became the 10th player to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season, punctuated a season filled with SportsCenter-worthy highlights with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jonah Panoke with 37 seconds left to win it.
If you want to nit-pick, maybe it was slightly underthrown as Panoke had to go up and get it over Kahuku defensive back Alex Fonoimoana-Vaomu. But considering the situation, down four with 46 seconds remaining in his own territory, Cordeiro made the biggest play in the biggest moment to give Saint Louis back-to-back state titles for the first time.
“The play was both X and Z receivers doing deep routes,” Cordeiro said. “I chose to go with Jonah because he was 1-on-1. I just threw it up and he made a great catch. It’s amazing. We worked hard this whole offseason and throughout the season for this moment. To come back and win against Kahuku, a great team — there’s nothing else we can ask for.”
Cordeiro said Panoke was 1-on-1, but it’s also a throw he has made so many times. Panoke has had Cordeiro as his quarterback since the second grade. Ten years of running the same route and getting a catchable pass from his QB led to that one shinning moment with more than 22,000 in attendance watching.
“We knew we only had about 35 seconds left and Chev told me ‘we gotta make a play and this is how we win,'” said Panoke, who had eight receptions for 152 yards. “Coach called Z-9, and I knew it was my time to step up.
“I’ve been with Chevan since the second grade and we’ve had a connection all the way up to senior year.”
Cordeiro finished a perfect 10-0 in his senior season. He completed 67.5 percent (195-for-289) of his passes for 3,130 yards and 29 touchdowns with eight picks.
Of the 10 quarterbacks to have a season of at least 3,000 yards passing, nobody had done it attempting less than 300 throws. Cordeiro’s completion percentage is the second-best of the group, trailing only Mililani’s McKenzie Milton (69.1 percent). Milton and Cordeiro both threw eight interceptions, the lowest total among quarterbacks in that 3,000-yard group.
Milton is now a sophomore starter at Central Florida and has led the Knights to a 10-0 record as one of 15 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Award given to college football’s best player, regardless of position.
Saturday saw Milton, Tagovailoa and Pearl City alum Jordan Ta’amu, now the starter at Ole Miss, combine to throw for nine touchdown passes in FBS games. Tagovailoa, who threw three TD’s against Mercer, is already the backup QB at the premier college football program in the country as a true freshman. Ta’amu, who has started the last three games for the Rebels, has thrown for more than 1,000 yards in three starts.
Cordeiro appears to be next in line to thrive at the next level despite being an unknown to most schools entering his senior season.
He’s committed to the University of Hawaii, along with Panoke. There’s a worry he might not show up on the Manoa campus, however. It’s hard to believe other schools won’t make a push at the last minute.
Cordeiro has remained steadfast in his commitment to UH so far. But after getting such a sweet taste of Cordeiro at his very best over the last nine days, it’s going to feel like an eternity between now and signing day for UH fans that know what a difference the latest Saint Louis great could make for his hometown school.
I wonder who Lane Kiffin thinks would help him win more games at FAU: Any of Saint Lulu’s players or the corrupt refs that gave them the game?
Stop crying about officials kahuku just got beat plain and simple
Isn’t it unreal with all the Hawaii QBs excelling and the future of the position here in hawaii?
Look at just this year alone in high school:
Chevan Cordeiro
Taulia Tagovailoa
Dillon Gabriel
Sol Jay Maiava
etc
Why are the islands the new hot bed for QBs? Anyone have any theories to why?
Isn’t it weird that toomeke and his Kahuku ladyboys keep complaining after they lost. I’m so happy you’re feeling pain that makes my day. What a loser
All u bandwagon people, claiming kahuku, shame on all u guys . The game was blown out like how mililani was blowing kahuku out too, and again like the luckiest team in the world , they almost pulled it off. Stop blaming the refs, tired of hearing the same old thing every time kahuku lose . Now u red raiders knows how it feels to lose in the worse way, in the last seconds , feels sore ah. Like how the red raiders been winning championships all in the last seconds. Red raiders should be called ” miracle of Hawaii
“. Saint Louis was getting bored at let kahuku back in the game cause they can strike at any moment. Again cry baby kahuku people like usual , 80 percent of all u people is non athletes talking on here, shame on all u guys. And if wasn’t for the kahuku qb, kahuku would be nobody’s , the qb is kahuku , they should’ve called saint Louis vs maiava, cause really that’s y they were still lingering around all the way to championship game . Get grip raiders saint Louis is the kings of Hawaii football , and remember the only reason u are nationally known or recognized is because of saint Louis. So all u red raiders thank the crusaders for putting u on the map . Nuff said , go back and cry in your shoe box
Anywaaays is the biggest loser. He has a grudge against Coach Lee and the ILH? Why do you ask?
1) He got smashed by a team coached by Cal Lee.
2) He never got into a ILH school.
I don’t get why he loves Kahuku so much since he’s from Waialua. And it’s hysterical that Paul Honda called him out for using multiple usernames.
Let anywaaays make excuses. It’s what gets him through the day. If we take that away he might cut his wrists. We definitely don’t want that. Who would be all laugh at if he was gone?
Too meek 2
Your right about them waialua people , they are all bandwagon suckers, when I take a Cruz out there i see kahuku flags in waialua and shirts when they are all bulldogs , shame on them hopping on the wagon. Why would they claim kahuku when they are waialua bulldogs. I guess it’s the football culture there , they rarely win so they hop on the wagon . Shame on u aaannnyywwaaayss lol
I clearly remember either toomeke or anyways or they might just be the same person say that they graduated in 1988. Bro, what the hell are you doing on this site commenting. You’re old. I’m still in my 20’s. Stop having a midlife crisis. Get off of here.
@ Kailua Boys
I’ve been thinking the same. How come so much QB talent in Hawaii? One possibility is June Jones and his run ‘n’ shoot. I think an argument can be made for his influence. I’m thinking Timmy Chang, Colt Brennan, Nick Rolovich, etc. Many of June’s players and assistants have gone on to coach at the local high schools, and they bring with them June’s legacy.
@Westside how was that been blowing out? 17 points is not blowing out. I never did use excuses when we lose and I have friends that are st.louis alums and they use excuses to when they lost to kahuku years back so it work both ways. You say Sol Jay is kahuku so that means chevan is st.louis because he was the only bright spot. You should know about blowing out because kahuku have been doing to all the Westside teams year in year out lol
Watch him change his mind and go else where after the debacle that is the UH football team. it will be just like Milton with his having good success when he goes away. Geez, Rolo will misfire again!
@Pawa’a
Its unreal. Also I think the development has been amazing with the young QBs. All the camps and clinics have been great for the kids. Especially Uncle Vince at st. louis helping all the QBs no matter what school every sunday and throught the year. Plus the fact you have guys like Marcus etc. leading the example, that def helps too.
I also think islander guys have the perfect prototype body with athleticsm and mind for the position. Not as athetically superior for the speed positions but all around can do everything well. The more leaner athletic islanders and learning that if were not as big as lineman we can find our own niche as a QB too. I’m loving it
LOL- I have never seen such a bunch of POOR SPORT winners as you St Louis bunch… HAHAHAHA!!!
You won…and still complaining about comments in here – what a pathetic bunch of losers.
BTW – I’m pretty sure anywaayyysss lives on the rock. (never met him/her). I live on the mainland. DUH.
Congrats to St Louis on their win… Begs the question – how does a team that passes 90% of the time get NOT ONE holding call against them? NOT. ONE.
And plenty pictures posting on the web showing choke BLATANT holding with the ref IN THE PICTURE staring right at the holding and not throwing the flag?
Gotta be a new record for not calling at least ONE holding call on a team that pretty much only passes.
But – the game is over – and all those quality starting Seniors for St Louis (3 of whom are from Big Red Country – including Tufaga, who pretty much won the game for the Crusaders) are now all gone.
See you next year. You know where to find us. We’ll be in the Ship…again. Until then…alooooooooooooooooooooooooooha!
RRFL.
Toomeke- you crying about holding how many times Tuitele was tackled and no flags. Sol jay fumbled the ball and they said he was down. Bad calls both ways. Stop blaming the refs and take the loss like a man. Isn’t that sad that your defense knew they were throwing the ball 100% and you still couldn’t stop them. Never saw a team win a championship without a running game.
@knation
Btw I from westside but went to the current state champions lol, anyways I’m not happy with the saint Louis win , winning like how saint Louis did is unexceptable , only kahuku would be proud to win like that cause they been doin that. But then again must be sore for kahuku people losing like that , now they know how it feels to lose like that in the last seconds , taste of their own medicine. Remember the last 3 games kahuku played was nail biters being lucky like usual , when u guys win 18 state championships then come talk , prep bowl does count as state championships fool. Cry a river loser
The reason why there is so much talent at the QB position is because Coach Vince Passas does QB camps every weekend. It’s open to all not just SL kids. He is the best QB coach around period. He gives back to all who come not only here but the outer islands too. He’s reputation speaks for itself. Marcus Tua Chevan Timmy Darnell Jason Jeremy and the list goes on. Thank you Coach Vinny for all you do for all these kids out of the goodness of your heart.
There’s Too Meke crying again. “Oh there’s no holding calls. Wah wah wah!”
“How can there be no holding with all the passing plays, waaaahhh!”
You call people poor sports but immediately following that up with crying. That’s crazy.
You try to congratulate STL but hedge your compliments with excuses.
Go back to Waialua anywaaays.
Too meek you’re over 40 wtf are u doing on here. You said you graduated in 1988. Seriously that’s like a 50 year old on here. I’m still in my 20’s man. Seriously get a life when I’m 50 I won’t be on here. You’re ridiculous
@westside guy you just another hater on here. Everyone celebrates like crazy when they win championships and I didn’t mind how st Louis celebrated. A win is win in my book and I don’t cry about losing obviously you’ve been since you like to talk about crying. St.louis and kahuku will meet again and this kahuku the team has a lot of startets returning just like how st.louis had this past year. So stop being a diva and have sneaker lol
@ Da fun, lol!!!
@toomeke #2….I’m right aint i lol!? Seriously what the hell is a 50 year old doing on here commenting on this stuff. Leave it to us younger people and go enjoy your retirement lol