When Punahou closes the regular season against Mililani on Friday night at Aloha Stadium, every voter is in agreement.
On paper, the Buffanblu are favored over the Trojans with all 10 voters ranking Punahou second ahead of Mililani in this week’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser Football Top 10 released today.
Punahou took a 4-3 lead in the series against Mililani with last year’s 43-21 victory at John Kauinana Stadium. Three of the seven all-time meetings have come in the state tournament. Punahou defeated Mililani 49-19 in 2012 to reach the state final and completed an undefeated season with a 28-22 victory over the Trojans to win the state championship the following year.
Mililani came back to beat Punahou in a memorable 53-45 shootout in the 2014 state title game. It’s the only win by the Trojans in the last five meetings.
This week’s Top 10 remains the same with three teams coming within two votes of each other.
No. 9 ‘Iolani, which lost to No. 8 Leilehua 28-25 on Saturday at Aloha Stadium, held off No. 10 Damien by a single vote. Unranked Lahainaluna finished just two votes behind the Raiders.
Kapolei (two) also received votes.
No. 1 Saint Louis remained No. 6 in the USA Today Super 25 and No. 7 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 after beating Farrington 41-7 on Friday.
TOP 10 SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 11
>> No. 1 Saint Louis at Waianae, 7:30 p.m.
>> No. 2 Punahou vs. No. 3 Mililani at Aloha Stadium, 7:45 p.m.
>> No. 6 Moanalua vs. No. 10 Damien at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
>> No. 8 Leilehua at Radford, 7:30 p.m.
>> No. 9 ‘Iolani at Castle, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12
>> Farrington at No. 4 Kahuku, 6:30 p.m.
>> No. 5 Campbell at Kamehameha, 6:30 p.m.
>> No. 7 Hilo at Waiakea, 7:30 p.m.
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 |
It doesn’t matter if Punahou wins. Still the #2 team in the State may not make it to the open division playoffs while one of the #2 and #3 teams will. Just like a 10-2 PAC 12 team going to the NCAA payoffs while a 8-1 SEC team won’t. Open division playoff should be changed to be #1 versus #2 and #2 versus #3 no matter what league. Or get a 6 team playoff where #1 and #2 get a bye.
Shouldn’t it be #1 vs #4 & #2 vs #3 (in a 4 team tournament)?
IF 2 ILH teams were in, I bet they would be in the same bracket as the OIA wouldn’t want to see an all ILH championship game (regardless of their respective rankings).
@to da hale. I agree. But the OIA will not allow more than one ILH team in the tourney. The ILH is stuck with the one. If they don’t like it, the OIA will say too bad.
From an entertainment standpoint, it should be the four best teams. But the OIA doesn’t want to reward the ILH for being great at recruiting. I totally understand why the tourney why the OIA stands firm on the matter.
Listen. The ILH tourney will have StL. and Punahou. Hey, best team wins. Recruiting and $$$ separate public and private schools. Just do away with the OPEN. This bs about, “it will make your team better” is malarkey. ILH should bring up Damien and make it 4 teams. Then do away with “poaching” like QB from Damien to StL.
Crying about it won’t change the HHSAA format. ILH #2…barbecue.
The State Championships in ALL sports should be comprised of the BEST teams! That’s what Championships are for! The ILH gets screwed in most sports because the OIA and outer island officials allow to few ILH teams!. LAME! A 10th ranked team is in, the 2nd ranked team is out??? REALLY? Currently, both football and girls volleyball won’t have the top 2 or 3 ranked teams in the State Tournament! What a Joke! These officials should stop whining and put on their Big Boy Pants!!
Wait till next year when some of the OIA Open teams decide to move down to Division 1. That will throw in a wench to the remaining OIA Open teams. We already know that the OIA / ILH split will happen in the Open Division.