By Paul Honda
hondareport@aol.com
Monday, Aug. 21, 2006

Odds and ends about the first Star-Bulletin Top 10 prep football poll of the season.

Buffed out. No matter what anyone says about Kahuku's approach, which was to play all 97 players (if possible) and move in hurry-up offensive mode, the final score is what matters to pollsters. Punahou won, with flair, and deserves its No. 1 ranking.

One person can make a difference. You'll probably never hear an old-school coach like Reggie Torres bring it up, but the absence of defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu in the second half diminished Kahuku's pass rush tremendously. It gave Brett Kan all the time he needed to bounce back from those four interceptions, and without a blitz package, Kahuku's DBs were sitting ducks.

By default? The usual powerhouses, Saint Louis and Kamehameha, followed Punahou and Kahuku at Nos. 3 and 4, but it certainly wasn't based on their season-opening nonconference wins. Saint Louis held a 7-0 lead in the third quarter against McKinley, an Ironman squad with only 35 players. Kamehameha didn't exactly rack up pinball-machine points against a rebuilding Nanakuli squad (another OIA White squad). Talent-wise, and certainly coaching-wise, Saint Louis and Kamehameha have proven their worth over the decades. Sometimes, voters just don't forget very easily.

Best offense in Division II. Iolani certainly moves the ball with precision, and you have to wonder, how do these kids remember all these hand signals and plays without ever huddling. Ryan Dung was sometimes spectacular, if efficient, when he was on the field against Radford. The Rams have a solid defense, even with mass graduation, so Dung's play at quarterback as a first-time starter was remarkable.

Second-best offense in Division II. It could be Waialua, which returns nine starters from last year's squad. Caleb Forte passed for 340 yards in a 48-27 win at Honokaa on Saturday even though the Bulldog offense uses the option as a base. His intelligence and savvy are irreplaceable, and he has been with some of these coaches since his Pop Warner days. It'll be difficult to find another player quite like him in tiny Waialua, so the Bulldogs are hoping their offense can carry the weight of a playoff run.

Sleeper out yonder? Mililani may be out of sight for most of the Top 10 teams, but certainly not out of mind. There isn't much regard for the Trojans' win over OIA White contender Kaimuki, but when they face off with Iolani on Friday, all eyes will be on Central Oahu. Radford threw the ball somewhat well against Iolani's defense, and Mililani promises to have some new wrinkles in the air.

Mule comeback. Either Kailua is better this season or Leilehua isn't a dominant team. When the Mules rose to prominence two years ago, reaching the state championship game, it seemed that they might have a dynasty in the making. Tough to do at a school that doesn't have immense enrollment, particularly when injuries claim too many of your top players, as was the case last year. If the Mules stay healthy, they have enough talent (Bryant Moniz is the best quarterback in the state) to reach the state tourney.

Just say no. Campbell coach Tumoana Kennessy laughs about his team's emergence in the poll at No. 10. If it were up to him, there would be no Saber sighting until the post-season, when it really matters whether you're recognized by fans statewide. If the Sabers keep playing this well, their stay in the Top 10 could be a lengthy one.

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