‘Iolani overtook Kapolei in the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10 on Monday, landing at No. 7 in the weekly poll.
The Raiders overwhelmed Pac-Five, 46-7, on Friday and improved to 2-0. They won their opener against Damien two weekends ago, 28-0.
Saint Louis remained at No. 1 with all 10 of the first-place votes by coaches and media. The Crusaders showdown with No. 4 Punahou last weekend was postponed to adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
This weekend, Saint Louis will play No. 5 Kamehameha in the featured 7:30 p.m. game at Aloha Stadium. In the 5 p.m. game, ‘Iolani will face Kamehameha I-AA.
On Saturday morning, Damien and Pac-Five are scheduled to battle at Saint Louis’ field. Kickoff is set for 10 a.m.
While the ILH plays on, the KIF, OIA, MIL and BIIF are on hold until the Sept. 24 vaccination deadline for student-athletes. The OIA’s season opener is pencilled in for Oct. 15 after being postponed on Aug. 4, two days before the original season opener.
Star-Advertiser Football Top Ten
Sept. 6, 2021
Rank School (first-place votes) points, last week’s ranking
1. Saint Louis (10) (0-1, 0-0 ILH) 100 1
2. Mililani (0-0, 0-0 OIA) 86 2
3. Kahuku (0-0, 0-0 OIA) 77 3
4. Punahou (1-0, 1-0 ILH) 74 4
5. Kamehameha (0-1, 0-1 ILH) 59 6
6. Campbell (0-0, 0-0 OIA) 51 5
7. ‘Iolani (2-0, 2-0 ILH) 30 8
8. Kapolei (0-0, 0-0 OIA) 26 7
9. Leilehua (0-0, 0-0 OIA) 18 9
10. Lahainaluna (0-0, 0-0 OIA) 12 10
No longer in Top 10: Farrington (No. 10).
Also receiving votes: Hilo 8, Moanalua 5, Farrington 3, Waianae 1.
Maybe Iolani should play an Open division team before jumping ahead of Kapolei in rankings.
Isn’t it true that Iolani doesn’t want to play ILH Open teams but are fine with smashing an ILH Div 2 team (ie. Pac5)?
So why is Mililani ahead of Kahuku? The last full season, Kahuku beat Mililani for the OIA. Maybe they will recruit a new team? Mililani should petition for a 2a team so the actual kids that live in Mililani can play.
@Eddie K
Don’t you think Open Division teams should be able to recruit?
Do you really think an OIA team with only district kids actually have a chance to beat STL & Punahou?
The only exception might be Kahuku.
What’s your thoughts?
The bottom line is the best Football Program will attract the best athletes, but its really up to the parents where to send their kids(via for Academics, Athletics, Music, Etc.) Everyone will recruit but you still have to provide and coach the kids. It is called the Alabama Syndrome LOL
I will agree with To Da Hale. Iolani is proving nothing by beating up on these D2 teams. Damien could have and maybe should have declared for D2 this year, especially after Coach Eddie left. But at least they had the guts to play up in D1.
I can understand Iolani being afraid to play Saint Louis, but they could at least play their “rival” Punahou one time this year.
Iolani is fine with playing against teams that are essentially JV teams (Kam II, Lulu II).
Iolani was not fine with competing against the 4’s and 5’s from the Varsity squads.
Shared that they, the 4s and 5’s, would still pose a safety issue as they will still be physically superior to the Iolani players and other ILH non-open teams.
If Damien moves down to Div II then does that mean Iolani, lone remaining team in ILH Div. 1, be unable to participate in the state tournament like the Pac, 2 years ago??
Iolani will dominate their ILH schedule and wait for States if there is States…next year will Damien be allowed to drop to D2, messing up Iolani chance for States…TBD
I’m sure Wendell won’t let that happen as the voice for the ILH.
How can he hang another banner in the gym if Damien drops down to D2?
He’ll come up with something to make sure Iolani can win their division.
At this point, any football is better than no football.
If a school declare for D2 for the year, then they should be D2 for all the sport that they participate in. They shouldn’t be allowed to pick and choose what sport they want to be D2 or D1 ,it should be the same division all across the board. If they are D2 for football then they should be D2 also for basketball ,baseball ,volleyball etc. If SAFETY is the main reason they declare D2 for football because the size of the players then , why be D1 for basketball because you have a 6’8 kid, so what about the safety of the other school that don’t have a 6’8 kid. What ever excuse you have to be in D2 (size, enrollment, safety etc.) Then be D2 for all the sport and not pick and choose so you can be successful.
@To da hale is on point again. If Damien drops down to D2 next year, you can expect Iolani to drop down as well. Then Iolani will play the victim and say they had no choice and that they wanted to give their boys an opportunity to compete in states.
TOP neighbor island Programs ranking:
1. Hilo Vikings
2. Lunas
3. Baldwin
4. Kapaa
5. Kamehameha Maui
6. Kauai High
7. Kamehameha BI
8. Konawaena
9. Kealakehe High
10. King Kekaulike
Thoughts?
Damien is basically a JV team this year. They lost almost every starter on offense and defense since 2019. In addition very small turnout for football this season. Under 30 boys. End of the day Damien is a glorified junior varsity squad.
SA won’t place an asterisk next to Look’s career wins regardless of the JV talent that Iolani shamelessly plays each week just like the bulk of his wins that came against Div II talent over the last 3 decades. Hull and Felipe will keep the hype train on track while SA rankings will continue to undermine local prospects by equating the pretenders with the contenders.