Football

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Latest news

‘Iolani’s Brody Bantolina carries the Raiders to a return trip to the Division I state final

By Hawaii Prep World on December 17, 2021

In a game that was closer than the final score made it look, running back Brody Bantolina proved to be the difference in a 21-0 victory for the ‘Iolani Raiders in the Division I semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Football State Championships at Skippa Diaz Stadium. “We contained them. These guys executed the game plan to a ‘T,’” ‘Iolani head coach Wendell Look said. “Coach did a heck of a job prepping these kids. Can’t say enough about the […]

Saint Louis seniors Kapoi, Moore, Spencer, Savaiinaea sign NLIs

By Paul Honda on December 15, 2021

Two years ago, the sophomore trench men of Saint Louis showed great potential, according to coach Ron Lee. As seniors, Ethan Spencer, La‘akea Kapoi and Jonah Savaiinaea have fulfilled the prophecy. Saint Louis won the ILH Open Division championship again, and the Crusaders are in position to secure a fifth state title in a row. On Wednesday, Spencer and cornerback Kona Moore signed national letters of intent with Hawaii, while Kapoi signed with San Diego State and Savaiinaea signed with […]

NLI signing day: Kaeo Akana makes it official with Utah

By Paul Honda on December 15, 2021

For a long time, Kaeo Akana and his teammates ran sprints of 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 140 yards up Pauoa Road at 5:15 a.m. The stillness, the darkness of early morning was always there for Akana and teammates like Jackie Johnson III. This time, the early morning was shared with family and friends as Akana arose and signed his national letter of intent to play football at Utah. “I got up at 5 o’clock,” Akana said of his […]


Unbeaten Kahuku enters state tourney ranked No. 1

By Paul Honda on December 13, 2021

Kahuku collected 11 of 12 first-place votes to remain a staunch No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10 on Monday. Kahuku’s 2021 squad defended its OIA Open Division title (2019) over the weekend with a 21-14 come-from-behind win over Mililani. Kahuku has not won an Open Division state championship yet. Its previous state title came in 2015 in Division I, prior to the installation of Open Division. No. 2 Saint Louis collected the remaining first-place vote. The ILH champions […]

Kahuku turns to ‘Summer special’ in the rain for OIA title No. 28

By Billy Hull on December 11, 2021

The No. 1-ranked Kahuku Red Raiders had been practicing it for months waiting for the right time. It came in the fourth quarter of the OIA championship game in the Open Division with the scored tied 14-14. Facing a fourth-and-6 at the Mililani 26, the call of ‘Summer special’ was sent in. >> PHOTO GALLERY: Kahuku vs. Mililani Named after junior Liona Lefau‘s mother, Summer, Lefau wasn’t about to let the play call go to waste. Quarterback Waika Crawford took […]

King of the road: Kahuku is No. 1 for sixth week in a row

By Paul Honda on December 6, 2021

Kahuku collected 10 first-place votes to remain atop the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10 on Monday. Saint Louis received the remaining two first-place votes from a panel of coaches and media. Kahuku is 7-0 after a 33-7 playoff win over Waianae and has been at the top of the poll for six weeks in a row. Every game has been away due to renovations to Carleton Weimer Field on the Kahuku campus. The rankings remain status quo with no changes. Konawaena, […]

Big plays, big ‘D’ spark No. 1 Kahuku in 33-7 semifinal win over No. 9 Waianae

By Paul Honda on December 4, 2021

Sterling Carvalho didn’t like what he saw sometimes on the synthetic turf of Skippa Diaz Stadium. In Kahuku’s 33-7 semifinal win over Waianae, there were 419 combined passing yards by Jason Mariteragi and Waika Crawford. That’s a like. Kainoa Carvalho continued his sensational season with nine receptions for 166 yards, including an 85-yard screen pass for a TD. Another like. Kahuku’s defense was in vanilla mode early on as Waianae established some rhythm with Kolu Quisquirin-Sabagala and the ground attack. […]

No. 3 Mililani earns state berth with 42-7 win over No. 5 Campbell

By Paul Honda on December 3, 2021

Scores are trickling in from across the state on Friday night, but one from Skippa Diaz Stadium still pops out. Mililani 42, Campbell 7. The win places Mililani in the final of the OIA Open Division bracket and earns the Trojans a berth in the state championships. “We were fortunate to get the win,” Mililani coach Rod York said. “We came out and worked the game plan, but we had three series before the half and three turnovers. So we’re […]