1. Leilehua 3-0 (1-0 OIA Red West)
Last week: did not play
Still ranking the Mighty Mules ahead of the worldly Buffanblu? Yes, I am. It's not a question of talent. Leilehua has fortifying itself with young talent and hasn't lost since winning the '07 state title.

2. Punahou 3-0 (0-0 ILH)
Last week: def. Central Kitsap (Wash) 42-19, Qwest Field
The best news to come out of the Northwest on Saturday is that there were no major injuries. The Buffanblu went through a walk-through on Sunday because they have just a few days to really prepare for their ILH opener with Saint Louis.

3. Saint Louis 2-0 (0-0 ILH)
Last week: did not play
While Punahou was busy accumulating mileage, the Crusaders were healing and fine-tuning. The Crusaders clearly have the tools to win the ILH and state crowns. A healthy Austin Wakinekona is an X Factor.

4. Kamehameha 3-1 (0-0 ILH)
Last week: def. Davis (Kaysville, UT) 13-6
This program is successfully making the transition from a run-oriented playbook to David Stant's wide-open approach. Anyone who expects the Warriors to suddenly wipe out every foe by five touchdowns is lacking patience.

5. Farrington 3-1 (2-0 OIA Red East)
Last week: won at Castle 24-6
Castle is a classic giant slayer, but the Governors have too much discipline and patience to stumble. As Dayton Kealoha morphs from utility man to top-level quarterback, the Govs will only get better. Govs are the best in a league that has plenty of shuffling still ahead.

6. Iolani 3-1 (1-0 ILH)
Last week: def. Damien 27-21, Aloha Stadium
Voters tend to shortchange the Raiders, who simply combine smarts and creativity better than almost everybody else. Overachievers? That's not a tag to be embarrassed about by any means.

7. Waianae 2-2 (2-0 OIA Red West)
Last week: won at Pearl City 42-28
The four-touchdown explosion by the Chargers is an eye-opener to Waianae's future opponents. The Seariders shut out Kapolei the week before, but don't forget that there are a ton of first-year starters on both sides of the ball. They will evolve each week.

8. Kahuku 3-1 (2-0 OIA Red East)
Last week: won at Roosevelt 28-0
The Red Raiders looked sharp in the win at the Ticky, relying on a strong ground attack. They only went to the option a handful of times, but were very successful each time. The sticky note for me is that Allan "A.J." Kubota was pinpoint accurate on his throws, short and deep. He looks much more comfortable now that the staff is done with evaluations and rotating three QBs.

9. Kapolei 2-2 (1-1 OIA Red West)
Last week: def. Nanakuli 40-0
The Hurricanes have plenty of season ahead, and if they're resilient, the ups and downs of recent weeks will only strengthen them. If and when Luke Spencer and Chad Lopati return, that will be a bonus.

10. Castle 2-2 (1-1 OIA Red East)
Last week: lost to Farrington 24-6
The Knights, like Iolani, rely on execution and precision to beat bigger, deeper teams. This is a key period in their season. Are they going to wear down after facing Top 10 competition week after week? Or can they stay healthy and develop?

On the cusp
Baldwin has the weapons to win another MIL crown, but it'll take time to infuse the new transfers and first-year starters. The Bears have been without DE Mana Rosa (arm), who will be the latest D-I recruit from the Valley Isle. ... Waipahu was entirely dominant against three foes, but the fourth was Mililani, an 0-3 team craving a victory. The Trojans answered the doubters with a 20-7 win, and voters who almost liked the Marauders as a Top 10 team will likely pass when the ballots come back. ... Kalaheo won a squeaker at Aiea, 7-2, which answers another question I had: Can the Mustangs win a close game? Aiea is the same team that was soundly defeated by Campbell recently, so I'll reserve any notions about Kalaheo's position. For now. ... Konawaena easily skunked Ka‘u, a team that pulls off a minor miracle each week by fielding a team. The Wildcats are now 4-0, winning near (upset of Kealakehe) and far (across the island against Waiakea). The 'Cats deserve plenty of votes, but I can't quite post them above Castle, let alone Kapolei, on my ballot. Just more evidence that we should do a Division II poll, but until the state uses an enrollment-based criteria, such a poll would be ludicrous. ... Campbell was without QB Lalo Respicio and fell at Radford 26-14. Respicio is one of the state's hottest passers, and a rematch between the two teams could happen in the OIA White playoffs. ... Radford is clearly not your typical Division II team this year. They run and run well, even with a sophomore backup at running back. Doug Brown isn't the prototypical pocket passer, but his ability to throw on the move is rare. ... Damien also suffered its first loss, a 27-21 defeat at the hands of Iolani. The Monarchs are a potent second-half team. If they could only match that in the first half, who knows? ... Lahainaluna had the week off and is a clear-cut pick to take the MIL's D-II crown. This might be the year when the Lunas capture the league's overall crown. ... Mililani needed that win over Waipahu to right the ship after three tough losses to quality foes. The Trojans have enough talent to run the table, but in the rough Red West, getting to the playoffs is enough. Remember, Leilehua won the state title with four losses last season. ... Kaimuki had a timely bye last week. They have starting units that can compete with the best, but finishing games strong -- winning the close ones -- means the Bulldogs need to develop their secondary contributors. ... Kauai topped Sierra (Calif.) 28-7 and may have its best team in recent years. Kapaa, with former Kauai coach Kelii Morgado, should give the Red Raiders a couple of high-pressure tests.

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