... The shift happens. The shift is real. The heyday of spread option football, heavily influenced and engineered by Paul Johnson at UH, came and went. The multi-dimensional force of the four-wide passing, a.k.a. the run...
... The shift happens. The shift is real. The heyday of spread option football, heavily influenced and engineered by Paul Johnson at UH, came and went. The multi-dimensional force of the four-wide passing, a.k.a. the run and shoot, came and stayed. A proven, winning offense championed by Mouse Davis, June Jones, Ron Lee. When the New England Patriots went mostly shotgun, four wide to win one, then two, then six Super Bowls, it simply confirmed what the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons (under Jones' tutelage) did. But this shift back to power football, grounding and pounding against defenses that were built for speed and finesse, isn't just physical and bruising. For hardcore gridiron fans, it's fun to watch. At every level, defenses have been forced to transform again. Instead of seven or eight defenders with coverage skills and agility, a DB with linebacker physicality and size is prized again. Of course, in Hawaii, not all teams are created equally. When 'Iolani takes the field on Saturday against Westview (San Diego), the discrepancy in size won't be as visible as it was in a 41-27 loss to Edison two weeks ago. Westview (1-0), of San Diego, comes off a 23-19 win over Mt. Carmel. The Wolverines are ranked No. 45 in San Diego (MaxPreps). Westview is a public high school with an enrollment of 2,116 students. Last year, Westview went 7-5 overall, won the Valley League title, then lost in the Division IV playoffs. 'Iolani is 1-1 as the Patrick Samsonas era begins. The Raiders average 27 points per game. The offensive line is mobile, as usual, with some girth. Senior Maxxom Nakaahiki (6-0, 285) is a key returnee. Junior Isaac Anderson (6-1, 305) is a two-way lineman. McClymonds (Calif.) at No. 1 Mililani Friday, 7 p.m. McClymonds (0-0) is ranked No. 1 in Oakland and No. 163 in California (MaxPreps). The Warriors have a history of developing players for the next level. Cornerback Michael Dansby (University of Arizona) was selected by the Seattle Seahawks) and J.C. Davis (Illinois) was picked by the New York Giants in this year's NFL Draft. Last year, the Warriors were 11-3 and lost to RF Kennedy, 42-25, in the CIF 3A title game. Current RB Rahsjon Duncan (6-1, 186) is a three-star cornerback who committed to Washington. He should be a major challenge head to head with Mililani playmaker Bless Cabrera-Hopkins. The senior has meshed with new QB Hunter Fujikawa seamlessly, hauling in 14 passes for 278 yards and four TDs. The defense for Mililani (2-0) has been stellar in two wins. Since allowing 24 points by Liberty (Nev.) in the first half, the Trojans have delivered three shutout halves. LJ Jeff had a team-high seven tackles against Saint Louis, forcing two fumbles. Tayden Satele registered two sacks. The swarm includes Toa Satele, Matai Sam, Preston Ramiscal, Taua Fonoti, Kellen Furuya, Nui Gillman (interception) and Lexton Magno. Damien at Oakridge (Texas) Friday, 2 p.m. Damien's lone off-island game was originally going to be a trip to San Diego. Coach Anthony Tuitele planned to be at a family wedding there on a Thursday, so a Friday game would have fit neatly. However, there were no interested opponents. It was still the spring of 2026 when he talked with his seniors-to-be. "They all said, 'Coach, we still want to travel.' I made contact with a third-party in a way that coordinates games," Tuitele said. The game at Oakridge (0-0) of Arlington, Texas, was finalized in May and the Monarchs (0-2) put on their blue collars. They sold prime rib plates, had a car wash, did a Vertical fundraising event, sold Krispy Kreme donuts. On Monday night, they took the red-eye to Vegas, got on their connecting flight to Arlington. Practiced on Tuesday at the Dallas Cowboys facility, then had a dinner buffet in the stadium luxury suites. "We're going to visit SMU," Tuitele said on Monday. On Wednesday, there was volunteer work with a local food bank. On Friday, it's game day against a program ranked No. 2 in Texas Southwest 3A by MaxPreps. The Monarchs opened nonconference play with a 39-31 loss to OIA Division I title contender Aiea. A slew of injuries kept Damien short-handed in a 56-6 loss to Capistrano Valley. "That was our toughest part. When our offensive linemen went down, we really couldn't do much on offense," Tuitele said. That O-line is relatively healthy now after a bye week. Hezekiah Keolanui-Nault and David Tai V lead the O-line, while middle linebacker Jay-Sean Aquino sparks the defense. A veteran core in the secondary includes Maika Maiava, Alex Lazari and Braxten Tomisa. Speedy, two-way playmaker Wyatt Ho-Williams is a potential game changer. "To me, he's the most underrated guy," Tuitele said. Sophomore Tonga Tuifua is at the reins of the offense, taking over at QB with the graduation of his older brother, AJ Tuifua. Tonga Tuifua (5-11, 170) grew up in the system, playing intermediate football for the Monarchs. "I tell him, just be yourself. They are two different people. This kid has the mentality, the competitive nature and edge. Once he starts going, he has that mindset," Tuitele said. After they return from Texas, matchups with Farrington and Kailua are next. Kamehameha-Maui at Lahainaluna Saturday, 7 p.m. Kamehameha-Maui is chasing a third consecutive Division II football after winning state titles in 2024 and '25. In the offseason, two players left to join the mother ship, Kamehameha of the ILH, and play Open Division football. Did they leave because Kamehameha-Maui was in D-II? Or did Kamehameha-Maui abandon thoughts of moving up to D-I after the transfers? It didn't matter last week. The Warriors (1-0) overwhelmed the new kid on the block, Kulanihakoi, 63-0. Running backs Xander Pagan and Kaikea Hu'eu rushed for two TDs apiece. Coach Ulima Afoa's defense dominated; Kulanihakoi finished with minus-38 yards of total offense. The Lunas (0-1) won four in a row as D-II state champion from 2016 to 2019. After moving into D-I in 2020, their winning tradition continued within MIL play. However, the struggle has been too real since the devastation of the Lahaina fire in August of 2023. Kamehameha-Maui's disciplined, talented teams began to peak that year, finishing second in the D-II state tournament, then winning the title in '24 and '25 before moving up to D-I this year. Lahainaluna opened MIL play last week with a 14-12 loss to Maui. No. 5 Punahou at No. 2 Kahuku Saturday, 7 p.m. The road from Kahuku (2-0) to Punahou (1-0-1) is well documented over the years. Laie's Manti Te'o, the future Notre Dame star and NFL linebacker, did his part by leading the Buffanblu to a football state title in 2008. He also helped Punahou's basketball squad win a state crown in the previous winter season. At heart, just about every young football player in Kahuku, Laie and Hauula imagines playing football in the heartland, wearing the red and white of Kahuku High School. Kahuku's three-peat run (2021-23) was an era of dominance as then-coach Sterling Carvalho and staff implemented four-wide concepts to the offense via consistent off-season reps and Pylon national tournaments. That run came to an end with a 17-10 loss to Saint Louis in 2024. The mechanism of a potential revitalization in Saint Louis dominance was altered in '25 when the Crusaders had some struggles at QB and opted to go run-heavy. That worked in '24 with Titan Lacaden's explosive production at RB. In '25, Kamehameha emerged as ILH champion, then lost in the state final to Campbell, 26-23. Campbell lost its opener this fall at Waipahu, and the window of opportunity is wide open. Punahou and Kahuku may not be stoked at this point, but the arrows are pointing up. Punahou's 14-all tie with Kapaa over the weekend surprised pro-ILH fans, but it is a positive sign for the Buffanblu defense. Consolidation is real on every island, and Kapaa has fielded many of the best two-way athletes in the KIF for more than a decade. Kahuku's defense has permitted just 17 points in two battles with Top-5 opponents. A defensive unit mentored by longtime coaches Sola Soliai and Nihoa Pule is finding its identity. Relying on defense and special teams eases the pressure for an offense that is a work in progress. Kahuku overcame two interceptions thrown by QB Lucky Suguturaga against Kamehameha. Teave Crawford, Johnny Ah You, Kellance Memea, Siale Reid, Emmitt-Jay Harrison, Aliimalu Tan and on and on. There aren't a lot of football towns that revere great defense the way Kahuku does. No. 4 Kamehameha at No. 3 Kapolei Saturday, 6:30 p.m. The Warriors (1-1) knew it would be rough, but there is no other way. Defense? Stellar. Special teams? Solid. Offense? Sophomore QB Loea Keopuhiwa has the tools to become a champion and all-time great. Withstanding the ups and downs of a wicked schedule — Orem and Kahuku play some of the best defense west of the Rockies — makes the process all about psychology and time. As the offense matures, Kamehameha has stonewalling stoppers in Niamiah Samia, Moose Wailehua, Linkin Apana, Iraia Manumaleuna, Lennox Chee-Anderson, Esaiah Wong, Tau Purcell, Evan Cazimero and more. This may not be the hard-knocks era of 1970s football, but this unit would certainly fit. They will also be tested by a Kapolei (1-0) offensive line that is simultaneously talented and young. RB Chazz-Michael "Mikey" Kapahu rumbled for 225 yards and three TDs on just 18 carries in Kapolei's 50-15 win over Waipahu. He was still moving piles five, 10 yards downfield late in the game, breaking the school record as coach Darren Hernandez applauded, the subbed the senior out of the game for good. "They do an amazing job," Kapahu said of his trench men. "They put the gaps up and I just hit it." He credited the entire rotation of starters, reserves and fullbacks (H-backs) in Kapolei's bone-crunching ground attack. Up front: LT Shyzen Akiona (6-3, 290), LG Angel Watson-Amaral (6-2, 280), center Trytin Ellis-Navares (6-0, 330), RG Josiah Pule (5-10, 315), RT Kalalau Puulei-Sene (6-5, 310). At some point, defenses will gamble with extra bodies in the box. That could open up downfield action for QB Jacob Ballesteros, WR Nikko Smith and the rest of a talented receiving corps. Kamehameha's defense will put the Hurricanes to the test. Hawaii Prep World For high school sports record books, visit .
