HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mililani's Michael Among-Serrao looked for running room during a win over Castle. The Trojans remained at No. 7.
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Prep poll already shaken up
Te‘o takes it to the house for the Buffs
STORY SUMMARY »
One week into the season and there's already been a change atop the Star-Bulletin Top 10 Football Poll.
Saint Louis, second in the preseason poll, ascended to the top spot this week following a 21-6 win over previous No. 1 Kahuku.
The Red Raiders slipped to No. 2, while Iolani made its debut at No. 8.
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Manti Te'o is no ordinary iron man.
In an era where many programs have dwindling numbers, a team like Punahou can easily specialize its players and limit them to one role. Kale Ane won't go down that new age road.
The longtime Buffanblu coach is a blend of the old school and new, and when he sees Te'o's prowess, he doesn't close doors. He allows Te'o, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound junior, to reach for his full potential.
Star-Bulletin Top 10
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu dominates the Star-Bulletin's high school poll early in the season
School |
League |
W-L
|
1. Saint Louis |
ILH |
1-0
|
2. Kahuku |
OIA |
0-1 |
|
3. Kamehameha |
ILH |
0-0
|
4. Punahou |
ILH |
1-0
|
5. Waianae |
OIA |
1-0
|
5. Baldwin |
MIL |
0-0
|
7. Mililani |
OIA |
1-0
|
8. Iolani |
ILH |
1-0
|
9. Aiea |
OIA |
1-0
|
10. Leilehua |
OIA |
1-0 |
|
That's why, even as Te'o chased the McKinley Tigers down from his linebacker spot on a blistering Saturday afternoon, the best offering he provided for the highlight reel came from the other side of the ball. When he took a snap from Kimo Makaula 5 yards deep in his own end zone, it was almost by accident.
McKinley had come up short on fourth-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line. Punahou took the field without starting running back Dalton Hilliard, who had an equipment problem.
"That was supposed to be mine. A button broke on my helmet," Hilliard said.
Te'o took the field, lined up as the tailback in Punahou's I formation, and before he knew it, a hole unfolded off left tackle. Thirty yards upfield, defenders using their angles drew within a stride of him.
"I kept looking back. I was hanging," he admitted.
Instead of slowing down, however, the North Shore native hit another gear and broke away from the smaller speedsters. It was a sight to behold, and Te'o went untouched to the end zone for a 99-yard touchdown run.
"I didn't know he was gonna make it," Ane said.
The run was absolute confirmation that the foot injury of one year ago is ancient history. An offseason of rugged training is paying off dearly.
"That's a lot of running with my dad," Te'o said. "The Te'o hell."
Punahou had a ton of spectacular individual performances, like Te'o's three touchdowns on just three rushing attempts and one reception. But it was the chemistry of both offense and defense that was compelling in the 56-18 win.
It never hurts, of course, to have something greater than an iron man. Te'o is an iron horse.
Crusaders rise to No. 1
A 21-6 win over previously top-ranked Kahuku vaulted Saint Louis to the No. 1 ranking in today's Star-Bulletin Football Top 10. The Crusaders led 7-6 in the second half when a punt-return miscue by the defending state champions provided a golden scoring opportunity at the Kahuku 11-yard line.
After Saint Louis scored its second touchdown, Joseph Lacaden provided one more score. The linebacker stole the ball away from Kahuku reserve quarterback Siatima Tapusola and sprinted 37 yards for a game-clinching touchdown.
Kahuku's mistakes are correctable, and with 96 players to analyze, coach Reggie Torres and his staff got their opportunity to put them on stage. The Red Raiders handled personnel the same way in last year's season-opening loss to Punahou.
Saint Louis, meanwhile, was stellar defensively with five sacks, including three by Geordon Hanohano. The Crusaders offense had some inconsistency against Kahuku's speedy defensive unit, but Micah Mamiya looked strong in his first game since injuring a collarbone in last year's state semifinals.
Like Punahou, Saint Louis has incorporated a pistol formation effectively. Unlike Punahou, however, the Crusaders prefer to run a little bit of the flex option out of a shotgun, two-back set.
Torres was impressed with Saint Louis' interior defense. Tackles Ryan Eastman and Hanohano locked the inside lanes up.
While the Crusaders prepare for Kailua in another nonconference game, Kahuku has time off until flying to Utah for a game against powerhouse Bingham.
"We're far from where we want to be," Torres said. "But we're competing with the best. We've just gotta clean it up."
Star-Bulletin Top 10 Football Poll
Team, record |
Last week |
This week |
Pts. |
Pvs.
|
1. St. Louis, 1-0 (11) |
beat Kahuku |
at Kailua |
110 |
2
|
2. Kahuku, 0-1 |
lost to St. Louis |
does not play |
83 |
1
|
3. Kamehameha, 0-0 |
did not play |
at Castle |
80 |
3
|
4. Punahou, 1-0 |
beat McKinley |
does not play |
79 |
4
|
5. (tie) Waianae, 1-0 |
beat Farrington |
vs. Mililani |
64 |
5
|
5. (tie) Baldwin, 0-0 |
did not play |
at KS-Hawaii |
64 |
6
|
7. Mililani, 1-0 |
beat Castle |
at Waianae |
55 |
7
|
8. Iolani, 1-0 |
beat Kaiser |
vs. Kalaheo |
21 |
--
|
9. Aiea, 1-0 |
beat Kaimuki |
vs. Campbell |
17 |
9
|
10. Leilehua, 1-0 |
beat Kailua |
vs. Radford |
13 |
8 |
» Voted on by coaches and media from around the state
» First-place votes in parentheses
» 10 points for first-place vote, 9 for second, 8 for third; etc.
» Also received votes: Kapolei 11, Farrington 2, Kealakehe 2, Kauai 2, Lahainaluna 2
» No longer in top 10 (rank): Farrington (No. 10)
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