It’s a defense without a superstar, though each of the Kahuku starters are capable of making any play asked.
On a night of dominance, a 42-0 road win over Moanalua, it was classic Kahuku. Smashmouth ground attack. Balanced defense, all the rewards that come with a tremendous pass rush — without having to gamble with blitzes too often, if at all. And then there was special teams, where Stokes Nihipali-Botelho, already busy with his defensive role, was a huge weapon.
The senior would never overstate it, but he consistently boomed kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, played outstanding football in the secondary and returned the second-half kickoff 98 yards to paydirt. It was as fun as the game can be — if you love defense and special teams.
“Sometimes I surprise myself with those kicks,” said Nihipali-Botelho, one of the eight Red Raiders who were voted to the Star-Advertiser all-state first-team defense last season. “We had to come out with a bang (in the second half). Everyone did their job and I did mine. It was good to come out with a statement.”
For the Red Raiders, now 18 quarters into a display of defensive dominance — 18 scoreless quarters against Hawaii teams, that is — it was business as usual. Kahuku brought pressure from various angles, sometimes from seemingly all angles against Moanalua’s dangerous quarterback, Alaka‘i Yuen. They got a pick-six from all-state defensive back Kekaula Kaniho, and he ended up being one of the few starters who sat the second half.
“That’s always our main goal, to get that goose egg,” Nihipali-Botelho said.
That’s four shutouts already this season for Coach Vavae Tata‘s team.
Kahuku closed out the game with most of its starters on the field playing defense — “We don’t have that many backups on defense,” Nihipali-Botelho noted — and extending that shutout streak. With all the hoopla of the trip to Nevada to face Bishop Gorman behind them, the Red Raiders clearly played like the No. 1 team in Hawaii. The trip is fading into memoryville, and the task ahead is all the Red Raiders are focused on. Defending the state championship, emphasis on defense.
“We will move on to the next opponent. Come back on Monday and get back to work,” Nihipali-Botelho said, noting next week’s foe, Kaiser. “Hopefully, get the ‘W’.”
The next-game mentality is true for most championship teams, if not all. And yet, news about the upcoming state-tourney format being expanded to include more OIA and ILH teams is something players and fans are looking forward to.
“I’m ready. We’re ready as a whole,” Nihipali-Botelho said. “We came out to work, show our skills and just ball out, all 11.”
\\\
Defense Wins Championships .
Back on track, good job BIG RED!
Kind of risky to leave your defensive starters out there playing during the 4th quarter of a blowout just to get a shutout . I would rest my starters to prevent from unesscery hit that could cause injury i hope in the future they rest if it’s a blow out
Due to injured starters Big Reds O and D were doing in-game adjustments and looked really sloppy the first quarter. They should win the OIA title but Injuries will be the xfactor in determining how far they go in states, they are not as deep as last years squad and IMHO they are not a lock to repeat as state champs.
As physically tough as Kahuku is against OIA teams, you can well imagine how physically tough and better Bishop Gorman was in beating Kahuku..I mean, in the 2nd half, BG’s first 13 plays, 10 out of 13 were smashmouth and they ran straight at Kahuku to drive down the field and eventually scored……Also, Liberty which plays in the same conference as BG is just as physical and tough and would have been great to see Liberty play Kahuku or Kapolei or Waianae…….not to mention some of the ILH teams……….oh, well…..Hawaii football leaves much to be desired….
@buzz, most other coaches would do that too but Vavae Tata is known for this kind of stuff. Run up the score, keep playing the starters. It’s standard since he became head coach.
I still rate Waianae’s 1979 defense as the best ever in the OIA. The OIA was a lot tougher back then as he ILH wasn’t stealing as many players from the OIA as they do now. That team had Max Maneafaiga, Fred Toilolo , Jerry Faagai, Watson Mahaulu, Elgin Awong, Bob Sylva, Joe Masaniai,
Moanalua played tough in the first quarter. No points scored. A big hit by Na Menehune caused a fumble with almost resulted in a score. Menes could not punch it in for score. In the fourth, Na Menehune also prevented no score. All in all it was a win for the Red Raiders. If it wasn’t for the goose egg score, this game was not an impressive performance by The North Shore Giants. What I am impressed by was the courage and game play by Moanalua Defensive personnel. So much effort that seven Menes were hurt in the first half alone.
Even though #1 Kahuku wins 42-0, this win did not reflect their original dominance from previous games.
I predicted at least two touchdowns per quarter and a pick six. It’s really not to much to ask of the #1 ranking team in Hawaii.
@buzz
I don’t think it was as much as preventing a goose egg as it was having replacements to actually go in, they are not that deep on defense as they are on offense..
Got to give props to the FANS. Big game or small game they turn out in huge support. Whoosh…whoosh…whoosh…CHOP.
Lol. Other than BG, and Maybe Liberty now, maybe Liberty, Hawaii highschool football has much more quality teams than Nevada.
If some of you are banking on Big Red’s “lack of depth ” as a means for your team to take states, keep on dreaming .
Are you guys kidding with this run up the score crap and keeping the starters in? Its very evident that none of you actually take the time to watch the game or know anything about this team. The same can be said with the author of this article because if he would taken the time to check the depth chart and look at the jersey #s on the field he would of seen different #s running around during all 4 quarters. On Defense Kahuku only has 6 DBs. Watch any of their pre game work outs and you will see 6 of them running drills. #1 did not play the 2nd half. So now your down to 5 with 4 on the field and only 1 to sub. There only 6 D Linemen and they all rotated in 3 at a time. The 4 LB spots only have 2 subs and they all played. #17(LB/TE/FB) had to move over to TE because of the injury to our TE or else we would have 7 LBs to rotate. Educate yourselves before you post and make these dumb comments because it make you look misinformed and Toopid. If you guys need an example of running up the score watch the replay of the Kapolei and Farrington game. I guess taking a knee with less than a minute left to play and the game in hand is a no no for June jones offense.
Nobody is talking about Kapolei. They are irrelevant to what we are talking about. We are talking about Kahuku. It’s a well known fact that Tata runs a classless organization. It’s standard operating procedure. It’s a shame because the kids are good but the adults guide them down the wrong path. Anything for a state title I guess.
Please share more about this classless organization. Don’t just make accusations. I would love to hear this…
Someone is jealous. Since Coach Vae was hired he raised the bar on academics for our Football athletes. The trip to vegas put Kahuku on the map as a classy program with unbelievable fans and community support. Kahukus penalty per game has also gone down. Kahukus football program is doing everything right they are the cream of the OIA and Hawaii football in general.
Just what I thought…. Crickets
@88
They obviously didn’t watch the game!
1st qtr 0-0
2nd qtr 28-0 at the half. Opening kickoff returned 98 yards for td 35-0
Rest of the game 7 pts.
Wait let me guess. Moanalua just played amazing defense the rest of the second half. Or could it be Kahuku let off the gas pedal the rest of the game. Atleast try to know before you make claims. BTW last TD scored with little over 6 mins in the 3rd.
Yes. They are the cream. The rancid cream. “Coach Vae.” I have watched the game and every game since the late 80s. The cream has gone bad and when the light is shone on the organization those who are not willfully blind will soon understand. The day of reckoning is coming for this program and its recruiting and “academics.” I cannot reveal too much right now but it is coming. Enjoy what you have while you can.
Everyone in the state knows that kahuku recruits! It’s no big secret. They recruit at the same place as many others have! Down at laie park big boys… Tell us something new!
88 please don’t be upset. Guys, 88 is angry since I didn’t want to spend the night. Now he is taking it out on Mr. Honda, the blogging community, and all mammals. Geez 88, I had to go home and give mom her pills. Don’t be so bitter mary.
88 can you please get another catchphrase and be original? “Crickets” belongs to everyone’s hero, @anywaaays. Or is that you too, you sneaky guy, lol. I will be over around 11pm tonight 88. Please make sure you don’t run out of scented oils this time, please?
99boiz September 25, 2016 at 7:27 pm
Someone is jealous. Since Coach Vae was hired he raised the bar on academics for our Football athletes. The trip to vegas put Kahuku on the map as a classy program with unbelievable fans and community support. Kahukus penalty per game has also gone down. Kahukus football program is doing everything right they are the cream of the OIA and Hawaii football in general.
What Coach Tata really needs to do is raise the bar on his humbleness in public. I hear he goes around chirping about he “owns high school football”. I hear that him being a sober “changed” individual is a front. And that his ego is so big that he turned down Rolo’s offer to be a D-Line Coach at UH because he thinks he should be a DC.
If Kahuku was already “nationally ranked” they were already “on the map”. All the BG game was is to show everyone nationally that our small rock in the pacific doesn’t come close to BG. Bringing the crowd support & Fremont light show pep rally was just hype.
To say they are the “cream” of OIA, I would have to agree. But to say the “cream of Hawaii football in general”, I would have to disagree. In the last 15 years I would say they are a dominant team. But to say overall as being a successfull program graduating athletes, preparing them & sending them to the next level. I would say close to nonexistent.
You sure hear a lot of things buddy. Here’s an idea how about you actually go and talk to the Coach man to man and get to know him instead of HEARING stuff about him and passing judgment. To much he said she said. And on players graduating and moving on to the next level from Kahuku, for you to say it’s non existent is plain ignorant. Last time I checked there are a few at UH, one at the Naval Academy, a couple at UNLV, UTAH, BYU and Oregon St. and that’s just off the top of my head. Like I said educate yourself first before you post.
Love reading all the comments on the other stories… Ohh wait nobody cares!! Seems like everyone’s to busy critizing the same program that just so happens to be very successful. How about all you coaches and experts keep it to yourself!!
808Savage September 25, 2016 at 9:43 pm. . . Coach Tata really needs to do is raise the bar on his humbleness in public. I hear he goes around chirping about he “owns high school football”.
Maybe it’s his ILH background that makes him feel like everyone is below him.
Alpha: “Maybe it’s his ILH background that makes him feel like everyone is below him.”
Or maybe it’s your inferiority complex that makes you assume that private school grads are looking down on you. If you feel stupid, it’s not because private school kids are making you feel that way.
Oh wait. You’re not even FROM here or graduated from a Hawaii public or private school. How can you even talk about ANY of this? You’re just nuthugging Kahuku. What the hell? How sad is that?
@jeezy33…. what sad is how petty you can get. Freedom of Speech, the right to my opinion. Your nobody to tell me what I can comment on here. Call me whatever name you want, you need the status more then I do.
@alpha “@jeezy33…. what sad is how petty you can get. Freedom of Speech, the right to my opinion. ”
You’re good at playing the victim. You start off being petty to begin with by saying this:
Alpha September 26, 2016 at 5:35 am
808Savage September 25, 2016 at 9:43 pm. . . Coach Tata really needs to do is raise the bar on his humbleness in public. I hear he goes around chirping about he “owns high school football”.
Maybe it’s his ILH background that makes him feel like everyone is below him.
This is a petty attack. And then when someone calls you on your BS, you go “I have the right to my opinion, stop being petty to me!!!” and other types of hee hawing.
Get a clue, dude.
@Jeezy33. . . Victim? I just left a comment(opinion) and you start dropping the inferiority complex card on me. And then you say I’m nuthugging Kahuku yet your the one busting my balls. Let me add to my original comment @808savage. MAYBE it’s his ILH And NCAA (Stanford, UCLA, Vanderbilt) background that makes him feel like he above everyone when it comes to Hawaii’s H.S Fottball….
Jeezy33. . . And then when someone calls you on your BS, you go “I have the right to my opinion, stop being petty to me!!!” and other types of hee hawing.
What BS you calling me out on? Petty recognize Petty I guess. . .
@alpha “Let me add to my original comment @808savage. MAYBE it’s his ILH And NCAA (Stanford, UCLA, Vanderbilt) background that makes him feel like he above everyone when it comes to Hawaii’s H.S Fottball….”
LOL oh, please, alpha. You put that comment “maybe it’s because he’s ILH which makes him think he’s better than everyone else” not as some thoughtful and educated comment like “HMMM. maybe it’s because of his vast and diverse experience at all levels of football which may make him seem arrogant to others!”
You wrote it as a quick burn to 808Savage and people who are posting here from ILH schools that you think are unfairly slamming Kahuku (because you are a nuthugger, which is okay!).
Stop pretending, dude. Just own it.
@jeezy… ok I own it, you called me out on it. High five.. . Now get off my nuts…. #HPWcommentPolice
@jeezy33, it be nice to get your point of view on other comments I made on other articles . I posted on Farrington, Mililani, Moanalua articles also. You calling me a Kahuku nutthugger yet you only find jeezy33 on Kahuku post.
Alpha September 26, 2016 at 5:35 am
808Savage September 25, 2016 at 9:43 pm. . . Coach Tata really needs to do is raise the bar on his humbleness in public. I hear he goes around chirping about he “owns high school football”.
Maybe it’s his ILH background that makes him feel like everyone is below him.
When public school kids feel like they are beneath private school kids because of their behavior & way they carry themselves that is a personal problem. When a Coach is out on a 4th of July drinking everyone’s beer & acting a fool talking all his smack about his team & power on the North Shore. That is called arrogant & forgetting where he came from.
@Alpha You are correct Jeezy is only posting on Kahuku articles he must have some kind of crush on someone or something that is Kahuku football.
808Savage & Jeezy might be the same person becuase they are complaining about the same thing. Whats sad is that they know Tata personally and are envious of him. Maybe 808savage applied for head coach too and lost to Tata? or maybe 808savage has a son that got cut from the team because Tata does not give out freebies and makes the kids earn their playing time by being accountable on the field and in the classroom…an approach that no other Head coach at Kahuku succedded at? What Tata does in his personal time is no ones business unless you personally take offense to his actions, which means you are jealous. LOL get a life!
Whats sad is that 808savage and Jeezy are from Kahuku, talk about crabs in a bucket. As a fan and supporter of Big Red there are tens of thousands that feel the same as me and support all our coaches both past and present and especially the kids.
LohuiLani September 26, 2016 at 10:32 am
808Savage & Jeezy might be the same person becuase they are complaining about the same thing. Whats sad is that they know Tata personally and are envious of him. Maybe 808savage applied for head coach too and lost to Tata? or maybe 808savage has a son that got cut from the team because Tata does not give out freebies and makes the kids earn their playing time by being accountable on the field and in the classroom…an approach that no other Head coach at Kahuku succedded at? What Tata does in his personal time is no ones business unless you personally take offense to his actions, which means you are jealous. LOL get a life!
Whats sad is that 808savage and Jeezy are from Kahuku, talk about crabs in a bucket. As a fan and supporter of Big Red there are tens of thousands that feel the same as me and support all our coaches both past and present and especially the kids.
Yeah I didn’t fulfill the qualifications as a Kahuku HC. It seems like the qualifications to have a chance at getting the job was to avoid the 10yr background check. Whoever did the resume processing may accept criminal records & associating with kids. Might be the same person that reviewed the Mililani staffing also. When you talk “credibility & accountability”, your actions reflect on yourself & your team whether you’re on or off the field. And jealous you may assume?? Plllleeeaassssee. While you & your “tens of thousands of supporters” that grab your ankles for Tata. There are always people like myself that call it like we see it. Sorry to crash your Tata Envy Wagon full of overaged “has beens & never was” but your face of your team which is your HC needs to learn what HUMBLE is.
88 September 25, 2016 at 10:00 pm
“Last time I checked there are a few at UH, one at the Naval Academy, a couple at UNLV, UTAH, BYU and Oregon St. and that’s just off the top of my head. Like I said educate yourself first before you post.”
You are not really strengthening your argument with this list here. You might need to educate yourself 88 before you tell others to do. Unlike you, I actually do research using multiple sources. From that point, I evaluate the data I compile, make an educated analysis, then write my argument.
I don’t just ramble on like you do, try to talk tough, provide barely or non-existent evidence, and play it off like I am educated.
Here is my source: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges
These schools that you list are not that great academically. Here are their rankings based on US News & World Report who many consider to be the “Holy Grail” of higher education rankings.
University of Utah – #111
UNLV – rank not published (this is usually done when it’s near the bottom of the lists and the publication does not want to embarrass the university to harm enrollment)
BYU – #68
Oregon State – #143
UH – #169
And here is Kahuku for you since you love them so much: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/hawaii/districts/hawaii-department-of-education/kahuku-high-and-intermediate-school-6132
Kahuku scores lower than the state average on both math and English. At least they score above their district average in English. But their math scores are worse than abysmal. I mean looking at the scores provided in math, one can make a strong argument that the high school students should re-examine counting by ones and tens. It’s bad.
Half the school (50% of 1464 students) are classified as Total Economically Disadvantaged. 37% of the school is on the free lunch program.
And what is the worst you might ask? The College Readiness Index is only 19.0 out of 100. That is very bad.
Yet you want to come online to talk big about football when these are the scientific numbers?
No wonder there is no improvement. You would rather blog about football than roll up your sleeves, take out a book, and help your kid do their homework.
And half the school population is categorized as Total Economically Disadvantaged?
See 88, this is called finding data and evidence to strengthened your argument. In 2 years of attempting to read your “nonsense” I have barely (yes I am being generous) ever seen a post you make featuring empirical evidence or scientific data.
@hossana
brah check your facts Liberty High School gets SMOKED by Gorman every time. ALL HAIL KAHUKU HAIL FUTHA MUCKAZ
“LohuiLani September 26, 2016 at 10:32 am
808Savage & Jeezy might be the same person becuase they are complaining about the same thing. Whats sad is that they know Tata personally and are envious of him.”
Actually, I haven’t said a single thing bad about Vavae Tata, especially not in this post. You might want to check your reading comprehension abilities. Everything I wrote was directed at alpha.
It seems to be the common refrain here from Kahuku fans. They seem to have trouble understanding that more than one person can have the same opinion about kahuku (or the kahuku fans here), so they accuse multiple accounts of being from the same poster vs say, red x, who does post under multiple accounts.
“Whats sad is that 808savage and Jeezy are from Kahuku, talk about crabs in a bucket.”
Uh.. I’m not from Kahuku. Please stop trying to play the psychic game. you’re failing miserably.
“Alpha September 26, 2016 at 9:25 am
@jeezy… ok I own it, you called me out on it. High five.. . Now get off my nuts…. #HPWcommentPolice”
#butthurt #umadbro?
@Jeezy
LohuiLani is always good for one shot fired & then she’ll sit on her tail. We won’t be hearing from her anytime soon. What’s cracks me up is she assumes we’re the same person & from Kahuku. Hahaha! She got the wrong guy, got us mistaken for Kahuku’s Finest —>anywaaays
Jeezy33 September 26, 2016 at 11:27 am
“Alpha September 26, 2016 at 9:25 am
@jeezy… ok I own it, you called me out on it. High five.. . Now get off my nuts…. #HPWcommentPolice”
#butthurt #umadbro?
No maam/sir I’m not #butthurt #madbro. I acknowledge that you were correct. All I asked was for you to get off my nuts, and apparently your still on them.
The only evidence 88 can post are simple things like:
1) Kahuku 49 – Leilehua – 0
2) Kahuku is 7-0
3) In 2015, Kahuku won the state championship n football.
4) Kahuku had 465 yards rushing on 42 attempts.
I guess some date is better than no data. But I wonder if he actually knows how to find data on anything other than what shows up on scoringlive or SA?
Good morning ladies! wow all the love for Kahuku coming from outsiders still posting tldr. There is plenty of room here on Kahukus bandwagon for part-timers like you all – cause we doing big things. Did any of you do something good for your communities this past weekend? I cant remember which alma maters you all are from but we still showing love to you since you dont want to go to your own articles and show support for them you come to Kahuku articles?
Ken from Campbell – Congrats on beating Waianae Awesome win
Jeezy from Iolani – You guys put up 24 on St.Louis and Punahou, I think you should do well in the state playoffs.
Edu from Lowell, SanFran – uhhhhhhh, football team 0-4 but the boys cheerleading squad is making splashes. Did you enjoy your weekend at Hulas bar and grill?
808savage – ????????? whats your alma mater
*Like they say Misery needs company so please keep posting in our Kahuku articles so we can comfort and cheer you on. The more love the more better! whooop whooop, when you winning on the field you winning all over the internet! I look forward to all your tldr articles.
@ anywaaaays, you seem to have a issue with male cheerleading. I am guessing you are either upset because:
a) you got cut from the team
b) were interested in a male cheerleader and got denied.
You also mention “Did I enjoy my weekend at Hula’s? I am guessing you are trying to make an insulting comment that I am a person who enjoys going to Hula’s? Well I have never been there. But, I would have no problem going there. See, I enjoy people of all race, creed, and sexual orientation.
I am still curious why I called you out two different times to make a bet and you have yet to appear. Oh yeah I forgot, you are a crap-talkers.
Yeah, we all kinda know that now. Regarding the my alma maters football team and the gay insults, don’t you think you can come up with something a little more original? I mean, YAWN…
But then again after seeing all of your posts, i am pretty confident you are out of ammunition since your thinking is really limited. But no worries, you have a state title! YAY, nothing much else though.
I am waiting for @anywaays to log out and sing-in with his other usernames later today…
@anywaays too bad you guys are never winning in the classroom. And too bad you got exposed when you had the opportunity to bet like a big dawg, but instead you choose to run away with your little tail between your legs.
I would offer you another chance to take me up on your offer. But we all know you wouldn’t show. But you will show on here, haha. You homer….
Who cares? It was Moanalua.
Who cares? It is EF (i.e. No one of consequence)
How long before States? Because other than that…
Who cares?
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
@ TooMeke, on my worst day, I am generally 1000 times more intelligent at you. I feel for your parents who provided you these opportunities. Just look at your style of writing and content.
Every time your fingers hit the keyboard you actually get dumber. I was taught more repetition usually results in better writing. But for you it doesn’t. You seem to be the anomaly.
anywaaaays!! September 26, 2016 at 12:47 pm
Good morning ladies! wow all the love for Kahuku coming from outsiders still posting tldr. There is plenty of room here on Kahukus bandwagon for part-timers like you all – cause we doing big things. Did any of you do something good for your communities this past weekend? I cant remember which alma maters you all are from but we still showing love to you since you dont want to go to your own articles and show support for them you come to Kahuku articles?
Ken from Campbell – Congrats on beating Waianae Awesome win
Jeezy from Iolani – You guys put up 24 on St.Louis and Punahou, I think you should do well in the state playoffs.
Edu from Lowell, SanFran – uhhhhhhh, football team 0-4 but the boys cheerleading squad is making splashes. Did you enjoy your weekend at Hulas bar and grill?
808savage – ????????? whats your alma mater
*Like they say Misery needs company so please keep posting in our Kahuku articles so we can comfort and cheer you on. The more love the more better! whooop whooop, when you winning on the field you winning all over the internet! I look forward to all your tldr articles.
The RONAIAH of HPW is back!
@anywaaays “Did any of you do something good for your communities this past weekend? ”
idk. did YOU? Please enlighten us!