HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
McKinley enters Top 10 poll after win over Kahuku
After some up-and-down years recently, the McKinley Tigers have assembled a body of work this season that is in stable condition.
Much of that is due to the efforts of a rejuvenated corps of returnees led by first-year coach Bobby Grey. Since arriving, his study of the program's internal workings and structure -- Grey's anatomy, if you will -- has yielded eye-opening results.
The Tigers used a blowout loss to Saint Louis as a springboard. In that early nonconference game, the Tigers were actually within 7-0 for more than a half. Since then, they've won three of four games, including a 14-13 shocker over Kahuku on Saturday.
Coaches and media voted McKinley into the Star-Bulletin Top 10 for the first time today. One believer is Delbert Tengan.
"I really think that McKinley is deserving of the No. 10 spot," the longtime Saint Louis coach said. "To beat both Castle and Kahuku speaks for itself. I believe that they have two legit wide receivers -- both being in the 6-foot-2 to 6-3 range -- to deal with, and the quarterback (Tilton) Kaluna is not only dangerous passing, but running the ball as well."
Last week, McKinley won at Castle, 12-9.
Titanic in more ways than one: Kamehameha coach Kanani Souza was almost at a loss for words after another heart-breaking loss in the rugged Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
His team's 14-13 loss to No. 1-ranked Punahou means the Warriors are 0-2 in league play, a tough spot for a team seeking the league's lone state-tournament berth. Kamehameha is still in the hunt, mathematically speaking.
Kamehameha's Ryan Montez scored on a 1-yard run to bring his team within 14-13 with 2:50 remaining. Then came the decision, after a Punahou penalty, to go for 2 on the PAT. Montez was stopped short, Punahou ran out the clock, and Souza felt badly for his team, not quite sure what to tell them when they returned to campus.
"I've got a bus ride to think about it," said Souza, who had watched the second half from the coaches' box upstairs.
The Warriors remained at No. 3 in the Top 10, but that won't help them in their quest for the ILH crown, especially since the top two teams are from their league.