The finals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships will feature six of the top 10 teams in the state.
That is according to this week’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser Football Top 10 released today.
No. 1 Saint Louis will face No. 3 Kahuku for the Open Division state title in the nightcap Friday at Aloha Stadium. That game will follow the Division I state championship between undefeated No. 6 Hilo and No. 7 ‘Iolani. The tripleheader will begin with No. 8 Lahainaluna looking for a fourth consecutive championship against No. 10 Kapaa beginning at 1 p.m.
Kapaa (8-1) entered the rankings for the first time this season after beating Kaimuki 35-28 on Saturday at Vidinha Stadium to reach the final for the fourth time in the last five years. The Warriors have yet to bring a state title to the Garden Isle.
The Lunas (10-1) have rattled off 10 straight wins since losing to Damien in overtime to start the season and are a season-best eighth this week.
‘Iolani jumps two spots to No. 7 after dominating previous-No. 7 Moanalua on the scoreboard 35-9.
The top six teams all remain the same, although Punahou lost a second-place vote to OIA champion Kahuku. The Buffanblu were listed No. 2 on nine of 10 ballots.
Despite finishing the season 6-6, Campbell nearly passed Mililani for the No. 4 spot, finishing two votes behind the Trojans (8-5), who lost five games in a season for the first time since Rod York‘s second season in 2011. Mililani was held to a field goal or less in three of its final four games.
Leilehua (nine), Damien (two), Kamehameha (two) and Kamehameha-Maui (one) also received at least one vote.
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 |
Punahou Still Ranked #2 and is not in the state tournament? what does that tell you lol. Shame on hawaii high school football.
Who da heck gave RR’s a second place vote after almost losing to Campbell??
Whoever you are, you are ten much and need to slap yourself.
Kapolei and I cant believe Im saying this, Kamehameha would beat 6-10.
Of the 6-10, Hilo, Iolani, and the Lunas are legitimate.
Can someone please provide an argument for Moanalua being in the top 10? Even with Javar back, they got handed their okole the other night.
Cant comment on Kapaa but look forward to seeing them play. I was surprised they beat the Mules so Im excited to see what they got. Oh wait, theyre playing the sandbaggers, never mind.
Hold on, Kapaa beat Kaimuki not the mules, but still yet, they playing the sandbaggers so never mind.
Not sure if Kamehameha or Kapolei would beat 6-10. Kam had no offense pretty good D though. Kapolei struggled all year and getting cracks by Farrington who lost by 35 to Leilehua (albeit at the beginning of the season). Leilehua, Damien, Moanalua and Hilo (Div 1) are Open Division size with good skilled players. One could reasonably argue that the lower half of the Open Div would lose to the upper division Div I. Although, Iolani is really small but hammered Waianae in pre-season 30-0 and Kam and Kapolei might run over the diminutive Raiders but Iolani’s skills are better than Kam’s and Kapolei at least from the eye test. Kam and Kapolei offensively were offensive. Kam should’ve kept the basketball QB Togiai and Kapolei should’ve gave Rapis the nod after he won the GPA.
this week will be the lowest turn out ever in state championship football history. Saint Louis is going to make shame out of those Kahuku Red Raiders. LOL. It wont be even close.
Shame..? Why should we be shame….We get to play the No.6 team in the Nation..We won already…Small Public school out in the country made it to the Big Dance again..Good Luck Boys..
Never thought I’d see the day Red Raider nation was happy with just making it to the championship game. Sad
It’ll be a great Friday. No parade, silence coming back. The entire town will have to learn to not depend on their high school as a source of main entertainment. People will realize that there’s more to life than throwing a parade for a high school football team when they win. Life will go on. Coaches will get fired, again. Kahuku will hire a coach that focuses on Running the ball. Teams by now have learned how to stop it. Same result next year.
Side note Kamehameha is better than those teams. I don’t get it how D1 teams are ranked above open teams.
Ranking again is overrated – to 1&2 should be the result of the State Final, sorry Buff&Blue
this guy keeps saying Kahuku is a small community lol. Yes Kahuku itself is small. Do i have to explain myself again? Kahuku’s district is from Sunset to right before kahaluu. Thats a 25 mile stretch. So please red raiders stop trying to make poor me. And yes the kahuku faithful faiths are going down hill, now they just happy to be in the state championship, now they dont want to play saint louis and punahou because they recruit lol. Tucking the tail between the legs. When you not winning , its ok guys, you guys make like Kahuku supposed to be on top of the world year in year out. cant wait to see what they write on here after the 42-0 final score on friday lol.
Directa – Unless Kahuku holds crusaders to less than 6 points or beats them, then I believe the state final deserves to be 1 & 2 ranking. If not, Buff & Blue will remain #2 in my book
Dafun. It probably looks better in the poll to rank a team like Hilo 13-0, Iolani, Lahainaluna, etc. over Kamehameha’s and Kapolei’s 3 win season but I think the lower half of the Open vs. the upper half of Div 1 would produce interesting contests?
Rapis didnt have it (should have stayed at Aiea) and Togiai made his choice and I respect the coach for sticking to his guns.
Those games would be competitive but they would not beat Kam or Kap.
The bottom half of the Open and The top half of Div1 would be interchangeable but which of those teams have the ability to remain competitively safe in the Open every year?
Kam
Kapolei
Farrington
Waianae
Directa-
No team that forfeits a game should be allowed in any rankings.
As an aside, I hear that the leagues are discussing a new rule called the Triple R or Red Raider Rule, that if a team is losing by 28 points or more by the half that you now have an option to call the game on account of safety. I honestly think that it doesnt have a chance but……..
Joking aside, I think that the final rankings will eventually end up the way you say. it does say alot that Puns is still ranked #2 on 9 of the 10 ballots. Well see if RR’s have a good enough showing to sway the voters.
Kahuku is ignorant. Just saw on social media somebody went put one kahuku flag on the saint louis gym. Thats why people no like kahuku. Ignorance and think that they on top of the world. saint louis please take this as disrespect and demolish the score board. Keep starters in till last second and pound the so called big boys of kahuku. No repect.
Redrooted: OIA no competition, not many top teams in the OIA, Kahuku should always win the OIA, much bigger boys that looks like men, check there birth certificates, maybe 20 yr. Olds already, lol
On a side note, is this the first time 3 teams are ranked in the top 25 with maxpreps? St Louis, punahou and kahuku are ranked nationally in the top 25? That has to be a first.
Why does everyone doubt the Red Raiders??? StL has always put out the more talented teams, but it doesn’t always end in W’s. Let the game play out.
Good luck to both squads tomorrow.
Bra, they almost lost to campbell and campbell wasn’t even that good. They literally almost lost and got lucky in the end that’s why we are doubting kahuku. It’s pretty obvious
Doubting Kahuku? Bradda get real, come back to reality lol. Kahuku is terrible , like above said almost lost to Campbell lol. Kahuku don’t belong in this game , they got lucky against Campbell and mililani . Kahuku the luckiest team in Hawaii history