It was unanimous among the 10 voters in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Football Top 10.
The ILH finished 1-2 in the rankings for the first time since 2002 with four-time state champion Saint Louis (12-0) and ILH runner-up Punahou (10-2) finishing the season holding down the top two spots in the final rankings of 2019.
Saint Louis, winners of 38 straight, has been the unanimous No. 1 team for the entire season and has been ranked No. 1 for 50 consecutive weeks dating back to the final poll of 2016. It is the longest streak at No. 1 for a team this century.
The Crusaders’ 45-6 win over No. 3 Kahuku in the state final did little to suggest the Buffanblu aren’t the clear-cut No. 2 team in the state. The Buffanblu lost their only two games of the season to Saint Louis by a combined 13 points. Saint Louis beat every other team in the state this season by at least 21 points.
The last time the ILH finished the season in the top two spots was 2002, when Saint Louis beat Castle 34-15 in the state final. The Knights finished No. 3 in the rankings that year behind Kamehameha, which started the year 8-0 before losing to Saint Louis twice to end the season, including a 14-13 loss that would have sent the Warriors to the state tournament instead of the Crusaders.
Campbell (6-6) and Mililani (8-5) tied for the No. 4 spot, receiving 60 votes each. The Trojans beat the Sabers 30-26 to open the season on Aug. 9 and the teams never played again. Mililani struggled down the stretch on offense, averaging less than 13 points over their final seven games. The Trojans were shut out twice and held to three points or less in three of their final four games while the Sabers nearly beat Kahuku in the Open Division state semifinals, losing 21-19 in a game that came down to the final minute.
Division I state champion Hilo (14-0) finishes the season with its best ranking ever to close a year at No. 6. Division II state champion Lahainaluna (11-1) jumped D-I runner-up ‘Iolani for the No. 7 spot with the Raiders (10-3) closing at No. 8. That ties the Raiders’ best finish to a season since 2012 when it closed at No. 6 with senior Reece Foy at QB.
OIA champion Moanalua (10-2) and D-II runner-up Kapaa (8-2), which lost its only two games of the season to the Lunas by a combined 14 points, round out the Top 10.
Leilehua (four), Damien (three) and Farrington (two) also received votes.
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 |
People say why Punahou is at 2? It because Punahou beat Every Oia Team in that division. It just Punahou didn’t beat St. Louis. So Punahou deserves to be at 2. I don’t care what people have to say, and Kahuku didn’t even beat Punahou. And find it crazy that people said “there no need to have a third rematch” on Punahou vs St. Louis. But lets point out Kahuku vs Campbell they played them 3 times this season. What your excuse? They need to fix that format and get Punahou in the state. Cause thru out those years St. Louis gonna dominate Cal Lee Dynasty.
Austin. As the Punahou great, Laie Boyz Manti Teo said. “Nobody remember’s Second Place”. You think Cal Lee wanted a 3 strike?
Punahou played STL tough, losing both by 6 or 7 or something like that. That is far more impressive than losing by 28 at the half and not watching to continue due to the light break. Or, losing by 39, the worst loss in the highest tier division since the state tourney was created.
You think fans wanted to see that again? No one outside of the Kahuku/Laie area wanted to see that.
I’d rather watch Damien play STL.
No matter if Punahou barely won against the 3 OIA teams that are in the state playoff, the result of every game was a WIN. Simple as that. Why are we moving backwards in this Open Division when the #2 seed doesn’t even touch at all, the state playoff door. Makes no sense.
Politics playing a major role in these decisions because its not filling someones pocket more than the other person next to them or you got bitter alums in the committee that is FINALLY getting there revenge at certain schools.
The Open division is really pointless and redundant when they really play each other in the regular season, have their own playoffs, and then play each other in at states.
Punahou vs. Damien, hmmmmm. Interesting. Nah, we already saw Hilo break the 100 point barrier earlier.
#1: St Louis
#2-10: Who cares? (Hint: not the coaches or players)
There. I fixed it for you. Duh.
RRFL
Haha haha. TooMeke you right. People trying to argue about wanting to be number two. Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh, you number two.
They’ve been #2 for so long they no nothing else…lol
It also implies that everyone feels like Puns would have offered more of a fight than a 39 point absolute drubbing.
How can you be IN the championship game and convince people that you not better than a team thats not even in the tournament? I guess they figured out how.
Btw, I dont think Puns players or coaches care about the ranking but it does create such a buzz for those whose life and community is centered on how well their HS football team does.
Fix the format. If you don’t speak up then change doesn’t happen. Talk to Albert Einstein about that. Best teams should play in states. Some teams are in the playoff not because they’re one of the best teams, but because they play under the current broken format. While one of the best teams watches the state playoff.
Obviously you didn’t watch the Kahuku Punahou game. If you had you would’ve known it could of gone either way. So since we are playing the “what If” game, what if they played a second time…. Thats why win and your in. They didn’t. Oh well, maybe next year.
Yes, what if. Punahou vs.Kahuku, score 13-14 in Punahou favor, 6 minutes left,Kahuku ground and pound killing the clock with 35 yard on the ground, gets to Punahou 20 yd line, 1st and 10, what???pass into the end zone against Laie boyz, Gilman, best safety in State? OMG..coach. could have pounder 4 minutes off the clock and kick a 22 yd. Fg. Kahuku 16 Punahou 14. What If.
Obviously, you dont know what you talking about.
We talking about how, despite not being in the state tournament, Puns is the better team this year Finishing second in the voting suggests that others feel this way also.
And I think that deep, deep down in your heart, you feel the same way but just wont accept it. Every program has an off year, look at the Puns, havent been to the state tourney since getting slapped by Taulia.
It is fun to debate tho.
Here another fact on STATE Official HHSAA Record.
KAHUKU. 13 TITLE apperance. 8 STATE KOA. 5 Runner Up………Oh, and a ROOTED Public school.
St Louis. 11 Title apperance. 7 State Koa. 4 runner up. Recruitment PRIVATE SCHOOL.
Punahou. 6 Title appearance. 2 Koa heads. 4 runner up. Recruitment RICH Private School.
The glaring fact here is, how can the smallest PUBLIC high school on Oahu beat these RICH PRIVATE ENDOWMENT SCHOOLS???? And after that community of Kahuku give up their natives sons like,Tufaga,Wily,Welch,Brown,Ornellas, Nihipali,Gilman,Taulapapa,Teo,Toma,Uluave,on and on. But yet gets in the BIG game?? Beyond all logic. And mark my words folks, with 9 returnees on offense and 5 on defense, and tons of JV, Kahuku will be in the 2020 Finals.
Cry-
So, are you saying your team is need of a coaching change? New OC? DC? Head Coach?
Okay, Puns lost 2x to Lulu just like RR’s. We wont add up the pts, lets just say that RR’s lost by a whole lot more points than did the Puns. *correction, it was only 1 game and a half (score could have been better or worse)
Okay, wait for it, head to head Puns beat RR’s. So, in turn, finished the season ranked higher. No what ifs. Just the what.
I heard Reggie is available along with Toma as OC and Sola as DC, yeesh that would be a force to be reckoned with.
If you’re playing the what if game, then what if:
1) the ref didn’t blow a bs inadvertantly whistle on the fumbled punt in game 1 of the pun vs StL game
2) the refs actually made the proper calls when the receiver did not have complete possession of the ball as he went out of bounds for StL’s first TD AND when the StL receiver trapped the ball in the red zone to set up another TD during the pun vs StL game 1
3) the ref didnt call holding (which no one could see including the OC16 announcers) on the TD run by Terrell in the pun vs StL game 2
Maybe Punahou would be state champs and going to LV for the bowl game.
However, we don’t live in a world of “what if’s” and if you do, well it would suck to be you.
It’s gonna be a long wait until the 2020 season starts again…..Happy Holidays
#13.ilovehawaii. lol. I get what your saying. St.Louis #1 everybody else runner up. Yeah and that knock down of Punahou by Taulia was epic. Only problem was Kahuku mercy ruled Taulia in the semi, 54-7. Imagine if it was Pun.
how can you say smallest public school. Kahuku’s district is from Sunset to Kahaluu. Think before you write stuff on here. lucky never have 2 teams in state tourny since the state tourny era started. otherwise kahuku wouldve have to go through two ILH schools to win it all. Yah thats right 2 ILH schools. If the system was like that from the beginning, i’d say kahuku maybe wins 4 state championship games. Half the championship games won was all in the last seconds. 2 against punahou 2 against saint louis. just go back in the closet and cry. I know the community is sad and heartbroken and a i know there is alot of counceling going on to cope with the lost. hold your head high, you’ll be back next year only for the big dance but not to win it lol not with that pathetic offense.
It’s funny cause back in the Prep Bowl era, you never heard a 2nd place ILH team say “we should be in the prep bowl” cause we beat the OIA in the pre-season & scrimmage. Now they want to cry?
Aaaannnddd BOOM there it is. Al “Junior” Bundy is in the building.
Not doing so well in the present so lets bring up the past.
You are spot on. Everybody else is runner up but…… Puns just a skoshi bit in front.
They were in the Prep Bowl. They played the 2nd place OIA team.
???, Notes, Go Figure, and all your other aliases: back in the Prep Bowl era you also never heard of the 2nd and 3rd place OIA teams crying cuz they neva get into the Prep Bowl.
Prep bowl format would be good and it would cut out all of this who should be in and out stuff.
#1 OIA vs #1 ILH
Simple and straight forward.
The current format causes all of this bs. Of course, only an ILH school would be left out if kept this way.
I’m sure the OIA has no problems with it as their potential undeserving teams would get in.
One of the most hilarious articles I ever read was the one that was titled ” St Louis edges closer to …”. St Louis is not chasing anybody’s record; other teams are chasing their records. You are not chasing anybody when you’ve won state championships in 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
If anybody doubts the greatness of their program, just read the words of Coach Carvalho when after the game he says “Their program is a great one. They have great coaches. Who wouldn’t want to play for those coaches?” Strong words from an honest coach.
I will say this about the whole puns was #2 and should’ve gotten a crack at states.
Say puns met the saints in the state final. Is it worse to have Kahuku, the OIA rep in the final or a team that already lost twice to the saints, one being a division title game? puns lose the division championship so they get a 3rd crack at the saints for a even bigger title? That doesn’t make sense. Maybe the 3 oia vs 1 ilh format is bad or whatever but in the end it worked itself out. Would it be fair for the saints if they lost the state title game to puns? lol saints should get a rematch since the puns would’ve gotten 2 rematches each time for bigger stakes ahahahahah. Then we go nba finals style best of seven
Funny to read all the whining from both sides…ILH and OIA. This whole situation about the whining between the fans from the private and public schools sports program could be solved easily. The leagues should compete amongst each other…keep it private schools and public schools. I’m sure that the OIA and outer island public schools could create their own play-off format in all sports (boys and girls) and the private schools take ownership of their own sports program. If ever this should happen, it would be a boring season for the ILH because the OIA and outer island public schools would definitely succeed in all of the sporting events without the private schools. I’m sure there will be a protest and whining by the private schools for creating such a format because they need the public schools participation more and the public schools can do without the private schools.
Also thy what if post is dumb. You know how many calls went the puns way over the years? PLENTY. Every team gets calls their way and against them. puns taunted the saints crowd when they won 1 game back in 2015. They never beat the saints after that
Northshore (not Northsahore as you created). Two years ago,(at the Waikaloa Resort) the outer islands (BIFF, MIL and KIL) voted with the ILH to secede from the OIA/HHSAA rigged football inter-league play which eventually pressured the OIA to make a few concessions that lead to the current pilot system. You may recall that the OIA originally wanted 4 teams in the Open if the ILH runner up would be added and 4 teams in Division 1 and 3 teams in Division 2. Your farfetched hypothetical would likely leave the OIA playing with themselves which is probably what you’re use to anyway.
Okay, for #1 Team in Hawaii, St.Louis…….the #2 according to writer,stats,etc. PUNAHOU. The States HHSAA champions, again St.Louis….the States Championship runner up..KAHUKU. Let’s all get ready for next year. Merry Christma’s and Happy Holidays.
@ #19. I like laugh so hard.
If you follow my posting, and I know you do, I said Kahuku is the smallest HIGH SCHOOL public school on Oahu. Read Again please. SMH.
When the Open season started, the 3 ILH schools,administration,teams and coaches knew that the ILH would only have 1 spot in the HHSAA Championship. They put the pen to the paper and agreed. Bottom line, win the ILH go to dance. Do you want Punahou in the dance? Fine. Play a NBA final format in the ILH and see if Cal goes for that. Right. Just imagine if Punahou was in the HHSAA this year along with St.Louis. The Championship night would have 0 teams from the OIA. Talk about the OIA walking away from that one. In reality it about Parity. As is ILH had 2 reps. OIA,Kauai,Big Island and Maui had 1 each. Aloha.
As a RRFL I agree with the final rankings. Punahou deserved to be 2 as they clearly were STLouis best competition. Rankings also donʻt mean a thing for next year as changes take place and we will see . what happens when the time comes. There was a drop in competitiveness this year in the OIA than in years past but fear not it will get better (at least for the North Shore) and donʻt worry about Punahou because unlike what many are assuming if there were two ILH in the Open Playoffs, Punahou would not have won a second time against Kahuku or Mililani like it did in the season. They can enjoy being #2 if thats what they want but mark my words, it will only get better. Rest up and see you next season. Save all of your trash talking and coaching from the couch until next year and stop trying to be a sports analyst and be better fans of the game and of the kids playing it. All of your time is over so let them have theirs. AMEN.
Amen…
@ #33
I highly doubt punahou would lose to Mililani or Kahuku if they played a second game.
Neither of these teams O were dynamic enough to beat punahou’s D this year. These 2 teams got embarrassed (to put it nicely) in the State Championship tournament (on both sides of the ball).
Of course anything can happen, but it wouldn’t have happened this season.
Next season may be different though.
Laters…..