MILILANI, Hawaii — The future of the University of Hawaii defense was on display at Mililani High School on Friday night.
Sure, Saint Louis, a mainstay as a college football talent feeder, was on the field. But the attention this night was directed across the way, where national powerhouse Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas deployed its forces.
Three starting seniors — defensive lineman Aiden McComber, linebacker Jamih Otis and defensive back Elijah Palmer — are committed to UH. All were impactful in the 56-14 win for the No. 8 nationally ranked Gaels as the trio made life difficult for Crusaders quarterback Kekahi Graham at John Kauinana Stadium.
The 6-foot, 265-pound McComber had a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Otis, at 5-11 and 220, had two tackles for loss, including a sack. And the 5-9, 180-pound Palmer came down with an interception and broke up another pass that he had a chance of picking.
The three committed to UH on the same day in late June.
“Jamih Otis and Aiden McComber, those are my guys,” Palmer told Spectrum News after the game. “I mean, I’ll rock with them until the day I die. We committed here for a reason and they balled out today, did their thing.”
The three agreed that coming as a package in 2023 was a big selling point for each of them. UH is said to have roughly 20 more offers out to Bishop Gorman players in the next few recruiting classes.
“It makes the next step easier, because you’re going with some of your brothers,” McComber said. “We’re just trying to get more of our brothers here, so we’re trying to see what happens.”
With the exception of last week, a 24-21 loss to national No. 2 Mater Dei (Calif.), Bishop Gorman tends to have its way on the field. Saint Louis was held to 178 yards of total offense Friday, including minus-33 on the ground as Graham was sacked six times.
“The key on defense was just getting in the passing lanes,” Otis said. “They’re a good passing team, so I feel like we had to drop back more. I had to get out of my comfort zone, a little bit. Jump back into space. But other than that, just stick to the script and do what we go.”
Meanwhile, the Gorman offense operated like a machine. The Gaels scored touchdowns on their first five possessions and put the game into running clock territory by halftime leading 42-7. Apparently irked by Saint Louis succeeding on an onside kick attempt in the fourth quarter, the Gaels attempted to score one last touchdown as time wound down, which had the potential to tie the record for the most points ever against the storied Saints.
UH offensive coordinator Ian Shoemaker and linebackers coach Chris Brown were on hand to see the many prospects.
The Rainbow Warriors are said to be interested in the Gaels’ junior quarterback, junior Micah Alejado, of Ewa Beach. The 5-foot-10 lefty was 18-for-22 for 293 yards, five touchdown passes and no interceptions.
He is one of a dozen players from Hawaii on the Gorman roster.
That buildup is largely the doing of Brown, who was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator last year before accepting his first college coaching job with his old UH teammate Timmy Chang in January. In the past, he helped facilitate the UH acquisition of Gorman defensive backs Kalen Hicks and Ikem Okeke.
“Oh, he had a big role,” McComber said. “That was our (defensive coordinator) last year, so he was like our figure, our person to go to. Him recruiting us three and bringing us under his arms, under his wing, it feels great.”
Bishop Gorman had a chance to practice on the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex field on Thursday. For the commits, it doubled as a preview. McComber said it reminded him of Gorman.
Otis said his goal by the time he comes back to the islands for college is to have a quicker nose for the ball, while Palmer plans to cherish the remaining time with his high school teammates.
Gorman is scheduled to depart the islands on Sunday, meaning the Gaels could in theory take in Saturday’s UH contest against Western Kentucky at the Ching Complex. The Rainbow Warriors are 16.5-point underdogs after their 53-point home loss to Vanderbilt in their season opener.
Gaels coach Brent Browner has welcomed the growing connection between his program and the islands. After all, he said, Las Vegas is the Ninth Island.
“I always heard the Brotherhood, and (now), the Braddahhood,” Browner said. “That’s really instilled in our guys, too. The best thing I saw was that we have three guys who’ve signed to play with Hawaii. That’s because we have people that come from Hawaii that are with us. They’ve gotten that feeling (of the islands) already.”
In a dramatic turn, two former Saint Louis players were facing off against their old team. Receiver Trech Kekahuna, a Wisconsin commit, and linebacker Charles Correa held nothing back against their old teammates, but there seemed to be no hard feelings. Both players remained on the field afterward to catch up with their former teammates as a few hundred Gorman fans milled about.
Kekahuna had six catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Correa had an interception and a tackle for loss.
It was not the first time this season that receiver Titan Lacaden was the bright spot for Saint Louis in a lopsided loss. He hauled in five catches for 68 yards and both Crusaders touchdowns.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.