Kahuku is not taking its Division I championship trophy and resting.
The Red Raiders are going to Las Vegas to face Bishop Gorman on Sept. 17, Kahuku offensive coordinator John Hao confirmed Saturday.
For the last two years in a row, the Gaels have won the Nevada Division I state championship and finished at No. 1 in the USA Today Super 25. They were also No. 4 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national poll and No. 7 in the MaxPreps national computer rankings this season. Kahuku finished 37th in the computer rankings.
In November, Kahuku head coach Vavae Tata, in his first year at the helm, led the Red Raiders to a 13-0 season and a 39-14 win in the D-I state championship game over Saint Louis.
“They want to be national champs again,” Hao said about the Gaels. “They’re trying to schedule everyone who is ranked. They’re playing the state champs from Florida, Texas and Hawaii all this year.”
Hao said the Red Raiders have two or three games before they visit Nevada on the week that otherwise would have been a bye.
Quarterback Tate Martell is a highly-recruited prospect for Biship Gorman. He will be a senior.
The Red Raiders have a bunch of top players returning, including quarterback Kesi Ah-Hoy and defensive backs Kekaula Kaniho and Stokes Botelho.
Kahuku has won eight Division I state championships. Bishop Gorman has 14 state titles in various divisions, including five in Division I.
Coming from BG, and seeing Kahuku play in Hawaii, the score will not be close. Bishop Gorman is too good and well balanced for Kahuku. Kahuku only runs the ball and BG knows how to handle any team it plays. Good luck Kahuku. 54-14 Bishop Gorman.
Charles you talking too general and need to analyze each position and the matchups. Kahuku doesnt make you guess their offense, they make you try and stop them. Will BG’s D-Line be able to handle 300 pound Samoan O-linemen pushing on them for 4 quarters? Will BG’s Linebackers be willing to bang heads with 250 pound Full backs coming through the hole?
St. Louis was the #1 team in the state by far coming into the state title game and they smashed liberty, the same liberty team that smashed Mililani. Everyone said that Kahuku had not been tested all year coming into that title game….yet after winning the Championship, St. Loius was not the hardest team that Kahuku faced. Waianae and Farrington was harder for Kahuku to beat. BG might be loaded offensively and defensively but thats what everyone said about St. Louis.
Hao and Tata are also smart coaches and know how to utilize the talent to the fullest.
Charles, So your saying that BG will score more points (54) against Kahuku in one game then what was scored on them combined for the entire 13 game season last year? I can understand what your saying about the predictability of Kahuku’s run game, but did you not witness their defense? Out of BG’s 6 out of state opponents, they only scored above 50 once, against LB Poly (52). I’m sorry, I don’t see them putting up 54 points against Kahuku’s D.
Peejo, I do remember Mililani giving up 76 points, but Liberty gave up 53 to the Trojans. Both defenses got lick’ns. Remember that Kahuku’s defense shut out the mighty Trojan offense that averaged 50+ a game.
I believe that Kahuku’s defense can keep them in the game with BG. I’m guessing it will take at least 28 by Kahuku’s offense and special teams to win. That is the question, and it will be good to see how Hao does with the offense. I see Kahuku’s defense just as good as last year, with the offense somewhat better.
Aitorahi Hahahaha of course you would say its a rebuilding year when you suck….its a rebuilding year every year in football…..everyone losses players so saying it was a rebuilding year is just a poor port excuse they got smashed. In 2015 who did Kahuku go against that was good? NOBODY! They stayed and played the sorry teams out there. East lost to Centennial whos only loss in their season was to bishop gorman until they lost again to De la salle in California state championship and their other loss was to the Colorado state champs at least we go outta state and play real teams and not garbage teams. Hahaha to think itll be a good game is a joke Kahuku hasnt seen real speed and bishop gorman has poly kids who arent from Kahuku that have power. Wait and see itll be a blow out…..and East wouldve smashes Kahuku this year if they played. Just saying ive seen Hawaii football and and Mainland football is on a different level.
And EWAEWA youre dreaming I watched Kahuku and their oline and full back were not over 300 lbs and 250 lbs. Hahaha look up rosters and Bishop Gorman is bigger something in the water in Hawaii makes most people short. Youve never been to Bishop Gorman it’s the size of a college campus they recruit all over the US and train year round I know for a fact they are faster, better conditioned, better technique and executed, disciplined, coached, and even as strong as the poly boys out there in Hawaii we’re talking top of the class football in every aspect. And when they play you’ll see that Kahuku wont be able to hang with them I dont think theyll score more then 1 td. Itll be a blowout andni cant wait cause y’all never seen real football. Kahuku cant pass their recievers are slow and I know they cant run on mainland teams just on the teams in Hawaii where most kids are barely 5″8 hahaha those are facts.
And Bishop Gorman will score at will with the pass, run, special teams and defense! Kahukus kids that will play in September will never have played a better defense or offense itll be a blowout out by at least 4 touchdowns and if they dont score 54 pts like Charles said itll be because theyll be playing their 3 and 4th string cause they’ll feel bad Kahuku came all the way here to Vegas or here to Bishop Gorman to get spanked and when they do everyone from Kahuku will say cause its a rebuilding year. Hahaha Kahuku sucks. Go Gaels and every other mainland team who plays Hawaii teams.
Jkwg go hug a nut you monkey! Utah football ain’t shit!
I look forward to this game. Go ahead and over look this public school. Who did BG loose to last? A public school? and before that ? Another public school? You tell kids they are the underdogs, they will play their hearts out because they have nothing to loose and everything to gain.
I wish they would have played at Kahuku, then they would see what community support is like.
People who use their real names, post more polite comments
I’m from Hawaii and just moved out here to Vegas and I’m a big fan of football on every level. I also played football back home for Mililani and I’m telling you right now kahuku has no chance against bishop Gorman! You guys sit here and talk about how big kahuku is. BG is bigger faster and stronger! They train way harder in 100 degree weather. Back home we complain when it’s 88 that it’s hot. I’ve seen these boys and kahuku ain’t gonna be able to handle BG speed!
Chris brown who’s from Hawaii and played football out there is saying kahuku has no chance
Talofa lava from Kahuku, Hawai’i. Just 2 months ago. My 2 sons ages 12 and 13 yrs old who play football for Laie Park Big Boys were blessed with the opportunity to go to Bishop Gorman High School. My kids are 5th Generation Red Raiders, born and raised in Kahuku town. We love Kahuku and all of its people, espically the Red Raider Football team. As much as I’d love to see my kids play for Big Red on Friday night in Kahuku, the plan for my kids lives are far beyond the football field. Football is just a tool that I’m using to get my kids #FreeEducation! So with a 98% ratio of kids graduating and going to a D1 school from Bishop Gorman (not to mention their football program), do you blame me for transferring my kids to Gorman? My goal before I die, is to raise my 2 sons to become gentlemen with D1 school college degrees. I am a official #Uncle to all these kids in Kahuku, I love this community, but I have to do what’s best for my kids. This August I am moving my family to Vegas to prepare my 2 sons for Bishop Gorman football. I have my pride and will be cheering for and sitting on the Kahuku side at the game in September. I understand football, I understand stats and rankings, and I know who the underdogs are, but the Honest truth is, Blue or Red fan Pride will not win this game. The winner of this game are the ones who played Stronger, longer, Faster, and smarter! This is definitely a game to watch, and who ever wins, we have to respect it. Thank you. Shout out to my 2 nephews at Bishop Gorman Haskell Garrett and Ie Boy Gaoteote, and Shout out to all my nephews, The Kahuku Red Raiders football team. May the best team win. #GoBigRed. God bless you all and no disrespect to anyone. #Aloha and #Mahalo.
#D1Bound #TogetherWeMakeFootball #GATA
Kahuku may be a really outstanding team but BG is going to put them in misery without a doubt
Kahuku is all island kids. They don’t have the fast black kids and the money bishop Gorman has. That’s the truth. The truth is though Kahuku kids shine in college and NFL. Yeah that’s right count em. What pisses me off is these bishop fans act like it’s their home grown kids that win it for them when the fact is the kids that do all the damage are out of staters.
BG is tuff so is Kahuku, BG is fast so is Kahuku. BG got a defense, but not build like Kahuku. BG got a great offense, but can be stop, Kahuku got a offense hard to control. BG and Kahuku both have great conditioning. BG got great coaches So does Kahuku, Kahuku got Fans all over and there coming to Las Vegas. But it’s that me. Hope to see Elvis and Frank on the Strip. RR4L Go Big Red
P.S. I’ll be evaluating the game, I’m hungry already.
Rough Rider:
Your comparison between BG and Kahuku is terrible!
BG is tuff so is Kahuku (Explain tuff between the to teams).
BG is fast so is Kahuku, but not built like Kahuku (explain not built like Kahuku).
BG got great offense but can be stopped, Kahuku got offense hard to control (explain how gormans offense can be stopped and explain what’s hard to control on Kahuku offense).
I can tell you this much I agree Kahuku has the best fans when it comes to high school sports. But I do know Gorman doesn’t concern themselves with the crowd they only concentrate on the 11 in front of them.
Craps48:
Kahuku is all island kids: what does being a island kid have to do with anything?.
They don’t have the fast black kids and the money bishop Gorman has: what does “the fast black kids and the money bishop Gorman has” have to do with anything?
“The truth is though Kahuku kids shine in college and NFL. Yeah that’s right count em” what does this have to do with anything pertaining to the game that’s about to be played on 9/17/16?
“What pisses me off is these bishop fans act like it’s their home grown kids that win it for them when the fact is the kids that do all the damage are out of staters”
why would this piss you off, how does the “out of staters do all the damage”? Last I knew is each kid that steps on that football field are human, each kid has to work hard. Even one of your own Kahuku players stated that “this is just a regular game to us” he even stated “we can’t treat them as if their gods” he clearly feels they are just another football team. Also Kahuku coaches know exactly who Gorman is and is confident they can win, so when there are post stating words like “out of staters” are used, it show me a lack of confidence on your part on the team you are cheering for.
Before sprouting things out like “out of staters” etc. let’s do some research on this out of state players and the reasoning they moved to Las Vegas and are playing for Bishop Gorman.
I’m from Hawaii but I’m also a big fan of high school football in general and frequently watch big high school match ups from all over the country. So I like to hear actual facts about a program and why so many parents chose to enroll their children into Bishop Gorman.
Gorman is also great in education and has 98% college bound rate!
As a Gorman Football Player’s Parent, I’d like to thank the Kahuku Team and your families and friends for making the long trip to Las Vegas. Win or lose, we will celebrate a chance for all of the kids on both teams to experience a great game they’ll never forget. I’m sorry for some the ugly comments on this message board and know they don’t represent what we Gorman families have in our hearts or beliefs.
We are excited to welcome our fellow friends who have travelled so far to celebrate the fun and traditions of top tier football. Safe travels!!
The families at Bishop Gorman
GO KAHUKU!
Polo, East just beat De La Salle and where your hawaii team at? Yall just got smacked! I told you all that BG was to good, fast, strong, and just as big for Kahuku! Rough Raider or whatever your name was…What happend to your comparassion? Kahuku was to SLOW, WEAK, PREDICTABLE OFFENSE, BIG FOR NOTHING! Your comparisson was dumb and clearly shows youve never left that little island of Hawaii that is full of Asians! You are to SLOW and BEHIND in the game of football for the Mainland! Once again i told you all back in JANUARY that i couldnt wait for this day and it came and i was right….Kahuku didnt score more then one LUCKY touchdown today! Big for nothing softies! Stop coming to the mainland to get smashed on! Hahahaha cant believe you guys thought you had a chance! Hahahahha