Buffanblu, Crusaders rise

While other divisions and leagues literally are beating each other up, the Kahuku Red Raiders are breezing through the early fall.

Kahuku collected all 23 first-place votes to remain atop the Star-Bulletin Football Top 10 this week. The Red Raiders scored all of their points prior to halftime in a 37-0 victory over McKinley on Friday.

Without a scrimmage, Kahuku was hard-pressed to find competition prior to the Oahu Interscholastic Association season. In its lone nonconference game, Kahuku beat Kamehameha 16-0.

In the win over McKinley, the margin of the score meant that the entire second half ticked away on running time -- even less game experience for the powerful Red Raiders.

It could be a scenario that plays out over the rest of the regular season. The OIA Red East is down in talent level and numbers this year. Kahuku is the only team from that division in the Top 10.

The OIA Red West, meanwhile, has Mililani, Leilehua, Waianae and Kapolei in the rankings. That confirms what coaches around the league forecasted a month ago.

Punahou and Saint Louis made significant advances in the poll. Punahou stepped up a notch to No. 3 this week, and Saint Louis moved up two spots to No. 5.

Punahou knocked out Utah's top-ranked team, Timpview, 10-0 on Saturday. Saint Louis outslugged another Utah powerhouse, Davis, 54-26.

The Buffanblu may have suffered a significant injury, however. Linebacker Sam Higgins left the game on a stretcher in the fourth quarter with a neck injury and was hospitalized Saturday night.

Higgins returned home from the hospital yesterday.

"They wanted to be real cautious," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "They tested him. He had a bilateral stinger, a little numbness on both sides of his body. His feeling is back now."

Punahou hasn't clicked on all cylinders yet, which is testament to the Buffanblu's balance as a team. Shutting out Timpview was stunning, but so was Punahou's run-and-shoot attack.

Receiver Miah Ostrowski followed up last week's 150-yard effort against Kailua with 10 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown against Timpview.