Beware of Mid-Pacific soccer.

The defending Division II state champion Owls aren’t bowing down to D-I competition, and Brandon Ho is a big reason why.

Ho, a senior co-captain, is a four-year starter, and MPI coach Jayson Abe would not trade him for any other player in the state.

To say Ho is at the forefront of the Owls’ upward mobility wouldn’t be quite accurate because he’s not in the front. He’s one of two center fullbacks on the four-man backline.

When asked for a snippet of what Ho has meant to the Owls program, Abe didn’t waffle.

"There have been numerous plays where he really saved us," the coach said. "Three or four times, opponents have had breakaways and out of nowhere, Brandon comes from behind and makes a game-saving tackle. He has saved our butt so many times."

But it’s not just the spectacular plays that make Ho special. It’s also his defensive steadfastness, ball distributing ability and knack for reading the flow of the game that have been invaluable over the long haul as well as in a 2-1 conquest of Kamehameha and a scoreless tie with Punahou, two ILH D-I powerhouses.

"He was an impact player as a sophomore, when he was possibly the best player on the team," Abe said. "He’s been a captain since he was a junior. A terrific player. Real talented. I haven’t seen a player able to anticipate a game like he does. He has speed and athleticism and he’s one of the most complete players we’ve had at Mid-Pacific in a long time, and we’ve had quite a few really good players."

Ho spent last weekend in Florida at an Olympic Development Program tournament. He is on the Region IV (West) team, playing against three other regional teams from around the U.S.

"We lost all three games, but we dominated them all and just couldn’t put it in the back of the net," said Ho, who went —of all things — alligator hunting on Monday.

Obviously, he’s not afraid of whatever competition is in front of him. Actually, that is an understatement.

"When I first step out on the field, I want everything to go right the first time and then everything falls into place," he said. "If things are going bad in a game, I remind myself that I’m the best player on the field and that gets me going."

He said it matter of factly, more a mechanism for success than braggadocio. And since "best" is subjective, who is to say it isn’t true?

Not Abe.

"He’s played a lot of matches at a very high level," the coach said. "To me, he’s the best defender in the state, so calm and composed, steady, and even though he’s in the back row, he generates a lot of our attacks. The mental aspect of his game is also a big part of it."

Ho added that when needed, he gives teammates reminders to calm down if they are getting over-anxious.

"It helps with their touch," he said.

Ho thinks his future in soccer might be as an outside back because his ODP coaches tell him the center backs are almost always bigger, around 6 feet. Ho is 5 feet 7.

"(At the more advanced level of the game), the coaches love the outside backs to go on the attack and come back and defend," he said.

Ho is interested in playing in college and his first choice is Division III Whitworth in Spokane, Wash., where the Pirates coach says he will have a starting job if he attends.

"I don’t want my whole college experience to be just about soccer," he said.

Like any high school kid, Ho has learned some valuable lessons.

"Van wars," he said. "One year, we went a little overboard and got antsy. The leftover food and candy pieces, we chucked it at the other rented van while at the front gate (of a visiting school) and while (being driven). It got really bad and it was just a mess. We spent a half-hour, 45 minutes spraying it all off and cleaning the rug. We weren’t thinking of what that would mean, putting a bad name to MPI. At the time, it didn’t seem bad. Lesson learned."

Ho and some teammates were suspended one game. He also wrote a letter apologizing to the tournament hosts.

That mischievousness is behind him, but there might be some peskiness ahead on the soccer field.

The Owls face Kamehameha and Punahou one more time each, and the defense of the D-II state title will be in late February.

"Early in the season, we talked a lot about personal and team goals," Abe said. "I was expecting them all to say, ‘Win states. Win every game.’ By and large, they all said they wanted everybody to get along, play well together and have a good season, which I think is pretty cool. It’s a good balance between enjoying the game and competing."

By no means does that mean the Owls are not going to go all out for what they can get.

"We have seven or eight seniors and we want to build off of last year," Ho said. "We don’t want to leave without winning it again. What it all comes down to in the end is ‘How much heart do we have?’ "

THE TOP 10

Voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

GIRLS

Moli Heimuli
Farrington basketball
Scored 33 points in a 72-60 victory over Kalani in an OIA East game.

Taniya Alo
‘Iolani wrestling
Pinned all three of her opponents in 47 seconds or less in winning the 127-pound class at the Hawaii Wrestling Association Officials Scholarship Tournament.

BOYS

Shandon Hopeau
Kapolei soccer
Scored three goals in a 6-1 win over Waialua and another three in a 5-0 win over Waipahu.