In a display of dominance that reshapes the high school football hierarchy in Hawaii, the Campbell Sabers, led by the arm of their standout quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, have delivered a message loud and clear: they are not to be underestimated. With a 41-20 thrashing of Mililani this past Saturday, Campbell not only asserted their number one ranking but also ended a 16-game skid against their rivals - a vexing streak that had lingered since 2011. According to KHON2, the victory was punctuated with literal fireworks courtesy of the Ewa Beach supporters, a celebration seemingly befitting the moment's significance.
During the game, Campbell's QB Sagapolutele racked up six touchdown passes to four different receivers, a performance that tied his career best. With such a staggered performance, Sagapolutele's trajectory looks to break the Hawaii high school passing yardage record owned by Mililani alumnus Dillon Gabriel, provided he keeps up the pace. As reported by Spectrum News, Sagapolutele commented post-game on the long-awaited use of fireworks: "I think we’ve been holding those fireworks for a while," he shared. "So it’s finally good to finally be able to pop it for once."
The Sabers' newfound supremacy stretches beyond the scoreboard. This marks the first time in program history, dating back to 1963, that Campbell has kicked off the season at a pristine 6-0, according to records from Hawaii Prep World. Crucially, this win tightly grips their control in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Open Division regular season race. However, in a statement of moderate celebration, Sagapolutele acknowledged the road ahead, hinting at potential rematches against Mililani and encounters with other top contenders like the defending state champ Kahuku, potentially shaping the playoff landscape, as per KHON2.
Next on Campbell's calendar is a matchup against the defending state Division I champion Waipahu, which advanced to the Open Division this year. As Campbell maneuvers through this pivotal season with Sagapolutele at the helm, the team's synergy appears to have reached its zenith, particularly between quarterback and receivers. After scoring his 100th varsity passing touchdown, Sagapolutele told Spectrum News OC16’s Jimmy Bender, "Sundays we always throw ball," he said. "Me, Jaron, Rusten, all the boys, all the receivers. We always get that connection."
On the other side of the field, Mililani continued to play without their injured starting quarterback, the Washington commit Kini McMillan. Despite the defeat, the Trojans are expected to bounce back with McMillan potentially being back for the playoffs. For now, the Trojans gear up to face Farrington at Skippa Diaz Stadium this Friday. With their sights firmly set on the top, Campbell's showing against Mililani has certainly stirred the competitive pot in Hawaii's high school football scene, setting up an electrifying run towards the state championships.
