Campbell’s emergence has tilted the scales of power in the football standings of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West.
The Sabers are 3-0, including wins over Waianae and Punahou. The nonconference win over the Buffanblu was especially impressive because it was at Alexander Field. The Sabers, under Amosa Amosa, have another big test ahead with a road trip to Leilehua.
Campbell, which was unranked in the preseason poll by media and coaches, zoomed ahead of the Mules this week. The Sabers are ranked No. 4 in the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10, while Leilehua stayed put at No. 5.
Three Mules sat out the win over Damien on Friday.
"It was more important to save them for Campbell," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "We finally have receiver Jeremiah Andrade back. He’s the most dangerous weapon in the state."
Andrade sat out two games after suffering a concussion against Service (Alaska).
Back to the future
Punahou’s perfect season was abruptly shattered by Kamehameha last year in the final of the girls volleyball state tournament.
Kamehameha, which won its seventh state crown in a row, will open the Interscholastic League of Honolulu with the Buffanblu tonight at Hemmeter Fieldhouse. Kamehameha edged past Punahou in today’s Star-Advertiser Girls Volleyball Top 10, accumulating six first-place votes to Punahou’s four.
Kings of the Big Island?
Kamehameha-Hawaii’s shocking 16-13 football win over Kealakehe stirred up a tremor on the Big Island.
Though the two teams are in different classifications — Kamehameha-Hawaii is in Division II — both teams came into the season with new head coaches. Dan Lyons, Kamehameha-Hawaii’s water polo coach, became head football coach, and Kealakehe boys basketball coach Sam Kekuaokalani took over the football program.
Lyons replaced Dave Baldwin, who was not asked to return. Kekuaokalani took over for Gary Clark, who surprised the school by departing back to Utah in mid-summer.