Kamehameha put up a fight, but right now, Kahuku is utterly dominant in all phases.
A 49-0 win to open the 2022 season confirmed one thing: the defending Open Division state champions are fully prepared to repeat their success.
A loss to Kahuku, which could land in the national rankings sooner rather than later, is a litmus test more than a failure.
“Kahuku’s a great football team,” Kamehameha coach Abu Ma‘afala said. “Disciplined, play together, well coached, great athletes, great recipe. That’s what great teams are made of and that’s what we’re trying to get here at Kamehameha, as well.”
Kahuku eschewed much of its pass blitz-heavy approach in favor of containing the ground attack. Kamehameha finished with 54 yards of total offense against that balanced defensive unit led by Liona Lefau, Leonard Ah You and Brock Cravens Fonoimoana. Playing on its pristine new field, the offense generated 410 total yards, using its two-running back shotgun set efficiently. When Waika Crawford wasn’t delivering passes to Kainoa Carvalho and Kingsley Ah You, running back Clyde Taulapapa led a deep RB rotation that finished with 230 rushing yards.
Kahuku has a bye weekend ahead, followed by a matchup with Waianae at Carleton Weimer Field on Aug. 20.
The Warriors host Warren (Calif.) on Friday.
“Our kids came up and they fought to the end,” Ma‘afala said. “I’ve had other lopsided losses like this and didn’t have this kind of energy on the sideline, this togetherness. That’s something we’ve been preaching and the kids responded. All the things when we look on film are fixable. Now the hard work is on us as coaches to get them to buy into that, fix those things and get better before our next game.”
BigRed needs to figure out how to distribute the ball better if they are going to even stand a chance against the #1 team in the country.
@88
you hit it on the money . Its clear that they trying to feed the ball to you all know who. Of course he going look good , when he touches the ball 20 times a game. Look the first 3 plays of the game , we all know who the ball went to . Kahuku better work on their running game against the top schools in the nation, cuz they aint getting away with it throwing the ball, Against those schools, passing game is shut down , especially because kahuku passing offense aint complex. They call a play and lock it . And we all know who they lock it too. Kahuku is good , really good, and will pound everybody in the state of hawaii , but they will not compete against the top dawgs from the mainland. too much speed . Kahuku # 1 reciever will be shut down.
was it necessary for 11 to score a rushing TD from the 3 yardline when the score was 35-0? when kahuku already has a few good RB’s ? CMON MAN . not to mention 11 already had 2 TD’s. WE all know where this is going . SMH .
Good first game Big Red. Let’s continue to improve each week and spread the wealth around to make sure Kaikai can do what he does without being the “main weapon” and allowing defenses to double or triple cover him. You don’t need to be the best team in the country, just need to be the best team each game you play and you will be fine. GO BIG RED!
I also believe Big Red needs to spread the wealth more. I think they tried, unfortunately, #33 had some drops, they’ll all get better tho. Also, our qb is really comfortable with #11.
Strategically tho, it makes sense to load up with #11 this early in the season.
Oline needs to definitely get better if we’re to make it a game with SJB and St Frances. Overall size, strength and speed with the top 10 teams is just Different! If we had the line size(both O and D) like we did under Semones and Livai, I would give us at lease a 50-50 chance against SJB and St Frances; but since we don’t, the odds drop considerably. Just trying to keep it real…add fuel to the fire.
RRFL!!
Dear Kahuku Coaches, I don’t care how you win, just win baby win!!!.
Why was everyone expecting to see a absolutely balanced offense in game 1? Against a team that they were smashing? You looking to see what? statue of liberty play?, maybe some flea flickers?, triple reverse? This isn’t a video game if they aren’t stopping what your doing you keep doing it.
Congratulations to Kahuku shutting out Kamehameha on there first game on there brand new field. In my opinion the defense is solid all-around and have no weak spots which is crazy since they lost a lot of there starters due to graduation. The offense also looks solid but they gotta put the rock in somebody else’s hands other than 11. If they rely and depend on him all the way until the Bosco game, its going to be a tough game. Bosco just got a couple of the best athletes to transfer to play this year. A team that is high in speed and talent just got more faster and talented. I expect Kahuku to spread it out more so 11 gets some heat off on him. I don’t think the run will be effective in the Bosco game. Don’t get me wrong they have plenty of backs to run for them but the size to speed ratio is crazy for Bosco. I hope i’m just wrong and 26 and 35 just runs over all of them. Would love to see a Hawaii team beat the 1 team in the nation. By the way, Kahuku locked in the 2022 open championship when that Mililani qb just chucks up the ball in the air and the st louis defense can’t even play the ball skillfully. The ILH is slowly depleting of talent. The OIA runs the state now.
Running up the score on Kamehameha is a shame, no class on the Coach, Kahuku has no chance against Bosco, come State Tournament time the ILH will have it’s top ILH team ready for who ever is the team from the OIA.
@ilh
Ahhhhhhh shaddappp!!!
I have been saying this for YEARS. IF Kahuku wants to hang with the big boys on the mainland. PLS work on the passing game. you cannot and will not run over everyone.
RR starting 2022 right where they left off. That was an absolute THUMPING against a quality opponent. Best of luck to my Seariders next week.
Kahuku could cure cancer tomorrow, people going say what took you so long, they could stop world hunger today and everybody going say but the food tast junk….never going satisfy everyone…..plus i just come on here for read the comments….gotta get my laughs in for the day
Kahuku loses by 35 against SJB and SF
Heard Kamehameha had 33 players leave the team
Truth and reality with set you free:
But they going beat everybody in the state by 35 LOL.
Win it this year Kahuku, because next year will be a new team and may take 3 more years before being in contention again, Kahuku will get one lost in the State this year.
@ilh
Ahhhhhh shadddappp!!!
#30 IN THE COUNTRY MISSION VIEJO BEATS MILILANI 34-21, PRETTY GOOD FOR NOT HAVING ANY SCRIMMAGES AND TRAVELING OVER 2500 MILES FOR THEIR 1ST GAME, KAHUKU WILL HAVE IT’S HANDS FOOL PLAYING #1 SAINT JOHN BOSCO AND #3 SAINT FRANCIS.
@ILH
Yep that game was out of hand real quick . If you ask me , Mission Viejo took their foot off the pedal and was experimenting after that . They couldve scored when they wanted to . People who know football knows , 34-21 doesnt even come close to what the game actually was .
Its crazy at what goes on up there at Millville. Didnt Mililani Qb make 2nd or 3rd team all state last year ? And now apprently he is on the bench ? And I believe the starting QB for Mililani threw 6 interceptions the past 2 games ? With that being said, y’all know whats up .