Lunas climb to No. 5

Defense wins championships, and the Lahainaluna Lunas are certainly championship material.

Lahainaluna, which stunned Baldwin 21-14 on Saturday, vaulted three positions to No. 5 in the Star-Bulletin Football Top 10.

Bobby Watson's Lunas (6-0-1) stifled Baldwin's prolific run-and-shoot offense and now have an inside track to the second-round title in the Maui Interscholastic League. Because the first round ended in a tie between the two teams, the second-round titlist will claim the league crown outright, according to MIL rules.

Kahuku garnered six of seven possible first-place votes and remained atop the rankings following a 67-21 win over Roosevelt. Senior Micah Strickland rushed for 305 yards on just 14 carries for the Red Raiders (6-1, 5-0 Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East).

Kahuku is also back in the Tony Poll national rankings at No. 25, the Red Raiders' first appearance on the list since losing at Skyline (Utah) in August.

Saint Louis, which shut out Pac-Five, remained No. 2 after blanking Pac-Five 44-0 on Friday.

The Crusaders are followed by Mililani, which fought off arch rival Leilehua 35-14 on Friday to seize sole possession of first place in the OIA Red West. Mililani (7-0, 5-0 league) received one first-place vote.

Kamehameha handed Iolani its first loss of the season 51-20 and remained locked at No. 4.

Lahainaluna, Baldwin, Castle and Leilehua follow. Iolani and Hilo share the No. 9 spot. It is the highest ranking of the season for Albert Kawelu's Hilo squad, which overwhelmed arch rival Waiakea 40-6 on Friday.