HondaReport.com - Pupule's Top 10 football ballot

No earth-shattering changes, but Farrington's West Coast offense is taking no prisoners, while Saint Louis and Kamehameha are coming along far more quickly than I expected.

Week 2 of game action provided some revelations for fans and voters. Here's my ballot for tomorrow's Star-Bulletin Top 10.

1. Punahou (2-0-0, 0-0-0 ILH). Sure, a nine-point win over Waianae doesn't exactly demonstrate dominance, but remember ... Waianae came off a shellacking at the hands of Farrington last week. Playing the state's top-ranked team was a matter of pride for the Seariders. Punahou can build on the win, which probably came at the toughest site of any on its schedule not including the game in Seattle coming soon.

2. Saint Louis (2-0-0, 0-0-0 ILH). This defense put a lid on one of the state's most explosive offensive units on Saturday. The Crusaders have allowed just 7 points in two games with quality opponents (McKinley, which just won at Kapolei, and Leilehua). The outstanding balance of this team, plus a veteran, creative coaching staff, pushes Saint Louis ahead of Kahuku to the 2 spot on my ballot.

3. Kahuku (1-1-0, 1-0-0 OIA Red East). Kaniela Tuipulotu, the top defensive tackle in the state, sat out of the game with Kailua with an ankle injury. Some voters give teams the benefit of the doubt when they play without key starters. Not me. Because the nature of football is that every player, all 11, must do their part for a play to work, the absence of an individual matters only to fans and coaches. To a voter, it should be strictly a matter of WHO WON THE GAME. Kahuku bounced back from the loss to Punahou by rallying past Kailua 29-16. A dominant team doesn't fall behind 10-0 against a team with only a handful of returning starters. That doesn't diminish Kahuku's power, but right now, in my eyes, they're a work in progress. The potential of the Red Raiders is enormous, but they're not quite there yet. That's how it is with a lot of new starters, especially early in the season.

4. Mililani (2-0-0, 0-0-0 OIA Red West). The Trojans relied heavily on the legs of Jordan Torres (234 yards) in the win over pesky Iolani. Muddy conditions became a plus for Mililani and a minus for the visiting Raiders. Not a convincing win, but a win over any Top 10 team matters to me (re: Power Poll style).

5. Kamehameha (2-0-0, 0-0-0 ILH). Kamehameha simply overmanned and outplayed Aiea, but the intriguing byproduct of Saturday's 35-20 win was the change in playcalling. George (Kahaku) Ka'ai is playing up to his potential. Boy, that was fast. A year ago, he was a raw, tall slinger who overthrew his targets often. This year, he's on the money and impressing our Star-Bulletin game reporters. "They're way, way better now than when they scrimmaged Mililani (three weeks ago)," Danny Cup Choy said.

6. Iolani (1-1-0, 0-0-0 ILH). Yes, they lost at Mililani, but the game easily could have swung Iolani's way. Personnel changes and mud made a quest to win less important and getting looks at reserves more important. Ryan Dung, though, had a dropoff from his outstanding effort against Radford, missing open receivers downfield more than once. Iolani doesn't lose ground in my ballot.

7. Farrington (2-0-0, 1-0-0 OIA Red East). Whether it is a strong team or a younger team across the line of scrimmage, the Govs are showing no dropoff. Elijah Filifili is making a run at All-OIA and All-State honors with his outstanding play at quarterback. The defensive unit, though, may be as good as any in the OIA. This team could and should beat Iolani on a muddy field. On turf, Iolani has the edge. Maybe.

8. Baldwin (1-0-0, 1-0-0 MIL). It's unfortunate that the MIL simply did not schedule any nonconference games this season. It gives voters no point of comparison. However, the 41-0 win over a supposedly improved Maui squad leaves a strong impression. The Bears move up on my ballot.

9. Campbell (2-0-0, 1-0-0 OIA Red West). A resounding home win over Damien — a solid team, mind you — convinced me that the Sabers belong in the Top 10 for sure.

10. Aiea (1-1-0, 0-0-0 OIA Red West). Lofa Liilii's absence from play against Kamehameha was a huge factor, but again, as is the case with my perspective on Kahuku, you still are responsible to win regardless of an injury. Aiea still has major talent and potential, but working in a first-year QB for a complex run-and-shoot offense takes time.

On the cusp
Kailua, Leilehua, Radford, Castle, Damien, Pac-Five, Lahainaluna, Kauai.