Kahuku. Saint Louis.
Tradition. Storied. Legendary. This is also the only time when the Kahuku Red Raiders are considered underdogs. The two teams meet tonight at Aloha Stadium. Saint Louis (2-0, 2-0 ILH Open) has not lost a game in two years.
“Saint Louis is No. 1 in Hawaii and No. 10 in the nation for a reason,” Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho said. “They’re a well-coached team with a lot of speed. We’ve got athletes, but it is hard to replicate their speed (at practice). There’s Coach Cal (Lee), the veteran, the O.G., I’m just a rookie (head) coach. You know they’re going to make changes. They’re coming to compete.”
Kahuku (3-0, 2-0 OIA Open), ranked No. 2 in the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10, could lay down a bit for this game. The OIA doesn’t count games against ILH teams in its regular-season standings, while a win or loss will be added to the ILH standings for two-time defending state champion Saint Louis.
“If you came to our practices this week, you would not think this is a no-count game,” Carvalho said. “It’s definitely a championship atmosphere.”
Last year, Saint Louis edged Kahuku 31-28 in the Open Division state final at Aloha Stadium. In the ’16 state final, Saint Louis prevailed over Kahuku 30-14. The Red Raiders have not lost to a team other than Saint Louis from Hawaii since 2014.
“You can’t tell my players who lost to these guys two years in a row that this is fun and games. At the same time, we have to understand this is not the end,” said Carvalho, a longtime assistant who was hired as head coach this year.
Saint Louis is on a 17-game win streak, including two wins over Narbonne (Calif.). The last team to beat the Crusaders was Punahou, on Sept. 29, 2016. Kahuku last beat Saint Louis in the state championship matchup of the ’15 season, a 39-14 rout in then-coach Vavae Tata’s first season.
MaxPreps ranks Saint Louis No. 10 nationally. First-year starting QB Jayden de Laura has been immaculate. Playing in the first half of two victories, the junior has passed for 384 yards and six touchdowns. His accuracy (18-for-25, 72 percent) and low-turnover rate (one interception) don’t quite reveal his penchant for risk. Tough and rangy, de Laura has scrambled sideline to sideline occasionally, something that may not prove wise against a physical, aggressive Kahuku defense.
Up front, Saint Louis’ offensive line has been a cornerstone for the young passer and a very young fleet of receivers. The front five of left tackle Justice Mills (6-1, 280), left guard Arasi Mose (6-4, 358), center Rod Dupont (5-10, 302), right guard Jonah Kea (5-10, 253) and right tackle Ben Scott (6-5, 285) has permitted just two sacks with de Laura in the pocket. It’s an all-senior starting unit with the exception of Dupont, a junior.
“It’s surprising how good they are up front, offensively and defensively,” Carvalho said. “We know they always had the George Ornellases and Gerald Welchs but what’s scary is their O-line and D-line. They’re big, quick and match up great with us.”
Saint Louis’ O-line will face a blunt-force crew at the line of scrimmage. Kahuku’s defensive line has length and versatility, and the linebacker corps is led by Miki Ah You. Defensive end Tausili Fiatoa (6-2, 230) has earned his head coach’s praise.
“We knew what we had, but these last few games, he solidified our thoughts of how good he can be. He’s solid in the trenches,” Carvalho said.
Kahuku, of course, is no slouch in the trenches. The O-line doesn’t have the tackle-to-tackle girth of Saint Louis, but the mobility and versatility are key. Left tackle Enokk Vimahi (6-5, 290) leads the group, which includes left guard Bryce Beatty (6-4, 290), center Trycen Mau (5-10, 225), right guard Marcus Lombard (6-0, 295) and right tackle Micah Soliai Howlett (6-4, 305). Vimahi, Beatty and Pau are seniors; Lombard and Soliai Howlett are juniors.
“Their O-line is good, good runners, the quarterback (Robbie Sauvao) can get around,” Lee said. “The defense is quick and agile. It’s going to be a good test for us. We’ll find out how good or bad we are. That’s how you find out, competing.”
They will get plenty of action against Saint Louis’ 3-4 defense. Stanley McKenzie (6-2, 280) absorbs the action in the middle, flanked by Faatui Tuitele (6-4, 299) and Gino Quinones (6-3, 270). Quinones has committed to USC. Tuitele has 39 scholarship offers.
“What we’ve seen thus far is he’s showing that he’s the real deal,” Carvalho said of Tuitele. “So that’s why it’s a great measuring stick, especially for our offensive line. Can we block someone of that caliber? But have they seen someone as good as Enokk yet this year? Win or lose, either side of the ball, we’ll make our corrections and adjustments. It’s great to have these kinds of matchups.”
BEST OF THE REST
PUNAHOU VS. MILILANI
6:30 p.m., Saturday at Mililani
No, these teams aren’t clones. But personnel-wise, it’s a fascinating comparison. Punahou coach Kale Ane loves an old-school game settled in the trenches, but has delegated the offensive schematics to assistant coaches for years, from Darryl Kan to the trio of play-callers on staff today. That’s allowed for a wide-open formation that still allows for a thunder-and-lightning attack on the ground.
In last week’s 40-14 win over Farrington, Vincent Terrell and Sitiveni Kaufusi (6-3, 230) were chain-movers for No. 5 Punahou (2-1, 2-1 ILH Open), making use of their burly, talented blockers up front. The slasher, Terrell, and gasher, Kaufusi, combined for 174 rushing yards on 28 carries.
That helped fend off Farrington’s comeback effort on a night when Punahou’s aerial game, led by first-year starter Hugh Brady, was both explosive and erratic (19-for-50, 290 yards).
Punahou’s swarming defense will be tested by No. 3 Mililani’s sturdy offensive line and QB Dillon Gabriel. The senior has passed for 1,063 yards and 14 touchdowns without a pick.
In lieu of a consistent ground attack, partly due to an early-season injury to RB Kilifi Malepeai (6-2, 250), the Trojans (3-1, 1-0 OIA Open) have relied on Gabriel’s ability to execute coach Rod York’s hybrid of the run-and-shoot and read-pass option with surgical precision. They’ve also benefited from a deep receiving group that already has six pass catchers who have at least 103 yards.
Will the Trojans be fresh after returning home from California? The loss to the nation’s No. 1 team, St. John Bosco, likely sharpens the men of Troy.
KAMEHAMEHA VS. CAMPBELL
7:30 p.m., today at Campbell
The Warriors and Sabers are back home after successful road trips to the continent. No. 6 Kamehameha stifled Carson (Calif.), 17-6, and No. 5 Campbell (3-0, 1-0 OIA Open) overwhelmed O’Connor (Ariz.) 37-20.
A stingy defense led by linebacker Hoku Arias gives Kamehameha (2-1, 1-1 ILH Open) a shot against any of the state’s top teams. Christmas Togiai’s development at QB has been important, and with Reino Bush and Alec Serrao in the backfield, the Warriors have the kind of balance that coach Abu Ma‘afala relishes.
WR Skyler Ramos (16 receptions, 203 yards, three TDs) has been stellar.
The Sabers are one of the most explosive teams in the islands, even as coach Darren Johnson continues to evaluate his QB situation. Returnee Krenston Kaipo and Kaniala Kalaola have combined for 755 yards and 10 TDs through the air. Sky Lactaoen is among the state’s rushing yardage leaders (312 yards with three TDs), and Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (10 receptions, 266 yards, three TDs) and Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala (10, 180, three) have paced a deep group of pass catchers.
Campbell’s play-making extends to defense, where LB Tyrese Tafai and safety Poki‘i Adkins-Kupukaa lead the way.
WAIANAE VS. KAPOLEI
6:30 p.m., Saturday at Kapolei
The learning curve for young Noa Bailey included tough lessons in losses to Kamehameha and Punahou. Then came a road trip to Downey (Calif.), and now the ninth-ranked Hurricanes (2-2, 0-0 OIA Open) and their sophomore QB are suddenly riding momentum.
The 23-14 win over a tough Downey program had contributions across the board for Kapolei, from Bailey to running backs Ezekiel Waiolama and Zion-Jabez Robello, and play-making pass catchers De‘Zhaun Stribling and Ikari Stokes.
Waianae (0-3, 0-1 OIA Open) hasn’t played since Aug. 17, making this a potential turnaround point once again. Last year, the Seariders began 0-3, then overcame Campbell to spark a six-game win streak. In 2017 and this season, the early schedule was brutal. Waianae’s two most recent opponents: Saint Louis and Kahuku.
‘IOLANI VS. LEILEHUA
6 p.m., Saturday at Leilehua
The Raiders (3-1, 2-0 ILH D-I) finally got a supreme test, losing to Oregon 6-A state champion Clackamas 7-0, but there is plenty of reason for optimism. Though first-year starting QB Jonah Chong struggled, No. 8 ‘Iolani’s defense bent without breaking almost all game long.
Kyler Mento, Lanakila Pei and a swarming host of Raiders were impressive. In four games, they have permitted just 33 points.
Meanwhile, the Mules (3-1, 3-0 OIA D-I) may be one of the hottest teams in the state. Since losing a nonconference game to Farrington, Leilehua has edged Kailua, beaten Castle and routed Nanakuli. The return of RB James McGary (123 yards, one TD against Nanakuli) has a major domino effect on the offense and defense. First-year starting QB Max Nichols (913 yards, 12 TDs) will probably get more single-coverage looks downfield for stellar WR Jeremy Evans and Dorian Furtado, but the relentless Raiders defense will offer plenty of resistance.
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Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser
