Kahuku rumbles but
stumbles

IT was a blessing.

The rain.

The game.

On a night of sneak previews, this was the real thing.

It was Kahuku-Saint Louis.

Already, in August, it was the real thing.

Yes, football season started last week, we know. It's a crime to call these "preseason" games, because the kids can't tell the difference. Football is football. Hitting is hitting. Winning means joy. Losing, pain.

But maybe this one will wake up the rest of us.

Maybe having a game like this this early can help ordinary people understand.

Football season is here.

And, Lord help the rest of the state, the Red Raiders are, too.

Again.

This one began the way it too often does for Kahuku early in the season, running right over you, then right by you, then fumbling it away.

Fumbles (six lost).

Sure interceptions dropped (two).

Point-afters made (just one).

But Kahuku's talent -- its speed and power and numbers and balance and hitting and heart -- always seems to make up for mistakes.

Bronson Ponciano-Ahue lofted a beautiful pass to Redmond Tutor, who had the ball punched out of his grasp at the goal line, then caught it again. Kahuku, six-zip.

And it was on.

Shaun Kauleinamoku snagged a slant pass, bobbled it, grabbed it, and Saint Louis had the lead.

Where was the "Rocky" music? Which team was Mr. T?

The answer came quickly.

As always, Saint Louis is well-coached. Saint Louis is quick, and Saint Louis is crisp. Saint Louis is a well-oiled machine.

Saint Louis is loaded.

Saint Louis is good.

But Kahuku is the monster Saint Louis once was.

The Crusaders had moments, but too few, and then they were gone.

Saint Louis was knocking, but there was a fumble at the goal line, and Kahuku had the ball.

And before you knew it, the speedster, Spencer Hafoka, went on an Olympic sprint. He crossed the goal line like he could go another furlong.

Then he took a screen pass, bounced off a stick of a hit, and cruised home while Kahuku linemen scattered bodies downfield.

Micah Strickland bounced it outside for paydirt on fourth-and-6.

The Red Raiders finally kept an interception, and Tomasi Fuller took it back all the way. Linebackers sprinted nearly the length of the field to deliver the blocks that put him in.

And then Hafoka, good grief, yet again.

And let's not forget, the second half opened with two straight sacks. Saint Louis punting from its own 1.

An interesting matchup, monster and machine.

Saint Louis is good.

Kahuku is imperfect. Stunningly so.

Of course, the stunning part is that you're allowed to be when you chase down anything that moves, pull away from pursuers, win collisions and move the pile from both sides of the ball.

Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said, "If we can cut (turnovers) down, man, we'll be a lot better team."

That is scary in a deep and profound way.