HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mililani was the only team to move up in the Star-Bulletin's football poll this week. Dalaunte Stevenson, above, had five receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown in a win against rival Leilehua.
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Crusaders have no challengers for top spot
STORY SUMMARY »
Saint Louis is sitting pretty at No. 1 in the Star-Bulletin's high school football poll after three weeks, and it figures to stay there.
The Crusaders, who are 3-0 and have given up only a single touchdown this year, do not play this week, while a few of the teams behind them play each other.
No. 2 Punahou faces No. 6 Kamehameha on Friday, No. 4 Waianae hosts No. 9 Leilehua and No. 5 Mililani visits No. 8 Kapolei on Saturday.
Defending state champion Kahuku sits at No. 3 and visits Kailua on Saturday.
Saint Louis doesn't play until Sept. 21, when it gets Punahou.
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With so many quality teams across the state, the difference between a title contender and a champion is often a matter of minutiae.
Leilehua, for example, went to Mililani on Friday and was locked in a virtually even battle for the entire game. In the end, however, a field goal by Colin Lund derailed the Mules. Sort of.
The visitors got the ball back and drove to the Mililani 31-yard line in the final 30 seconds, but an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty sent the Mules backwards. It was the ninth yellow flag for Leilehua.
"All the little things add up," coach Nolan Tokuda said of his team's tough 16-14 loss.
For Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux, game day hasn't changed a great deal since he laced up the cleats for Saint Louis. He tapes every joint on his fingers, and though he played quarterback at Utah, he's as proud of the Trojans' defensive unit as anything else. Mililani came up with five turnovers, including two picks by senior defensive back Cody Kilthau.
The Trojans were ready for Leilehua's empty-backfield sets.
"We had a couple of things to go to," Arceneaux said. "We weren't surprised. Leilehua is such a big-play team. We tried to play solid football underneath (defensively)."
Mililani (3-1) rose to No. 5 in today's Star-Bulletin Top 10. Another top-flight defense, Kapolei, awaits this weekend.
VonAppen hangs tough
Kalaheo's last win over Kahuku is believed to have been in 1981, according to former Red Raiders player Eli Kapu.
"I was on the JV that year. (Kahuku's varsity) finished in a tie with them, and Kalaheo went to the playoffs, not us," he said.
Kalaheo's 33-26 loss at Kahuku on Saturday was noteworthy in different ways. The Mustangs led 10-0 early, but had opportunities to open a much larger lead.
Quarterback Cody vonAppen and his receivers were effective much of the night; vonAppen threw for 249 yards without a pick. But his habit of scrambling and taking on all gang tacklers raises a question: How many more hits can the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior take?
"My teammates go all out, so I do the same thing," said vonAppen, who was a two-way starter until this season. If he stays healthy, Kalaheo will be a force to be reckoned with in the postseason. That is, if the seven two-way players also remain free from injury.
Star-Bulletin/KITV4 Top 10 Poll
Team, record |
Last week |
This week |
Pts. |
Pvs.
|
1. Saint Louis, 3-0 (21) |
did not play |
does not play |
210 |
1
|
2. Punahou, 2-0 |
did not play |
vs. Kamehameha |
186 |
2
|
3. Kahuku, 1-2 |
beat Kalaheo |
at Kailua |
165 |
3
|
4. Waianae, 4-0 |
beat Campbell |
vs. Leilehua |
146 |
4
|
5. Mililani, 3-1 |
beat Leilehua |
at Kapolei |
107 |
6
|
6. Kamehameha, 1-0-1 |
did not play |
vs. Punahou |
103 |
5
|
7. Baldwin, 1-1 |
did not play |
vs. Maui |
79 |
7
|
8. Kapolei, 3-0 |
beat Aiea |
vs. Mililani |
63 |
8
|
9. Leilehua, 2-2 |
lost to Mililani |
at Waianae |
47 |
9
|
10. Kalaheo, 3-1 |
lost to Kahuku |
vs. Castle |
16 |
10 |
» 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: Lahainaluna 12, Damien 5, Kauai 4, Aiea 2, Kaimuki 2, Farrington 1, Iolani 1, Kealakehe 1
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