On Oct. 25, the MHS JV football team competed against Kahuku High School in their final game for this year’s Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) season. Winning the game with a score of 14-13, the team became OIA champions, and were undefeated as well.

     “It was an indescribable feeling when you feel so joyful and happy. But at the same time, you’ve got to be humble,” said running back Sophomore Nehemiah Timoteo.

     There wasn’t a lot of stress throughout the season, but one issue the team faced was coming together as a single team. They made sure to participate in team bonding to ensure that every player was on the same page. “The only problems we had were connecting. Once we connected as a team, nobody could stop us. The only people who could stop us was ourselves,” said slotback Sophomore John Herold-Namu. 

     The team primarily focused on individual games rather than the season as a whole. With each game, they gained new lessons to help improve their skills. “As each week went by, once we got to the championship game, we looked back at the season and it went by so fast. We were only focusing week by week and then the next thing you know, it was all gone,” said Herold-Namu. Timoteo added, “Being on the football team helps with life too. It teaches you responsibility. You can’t complain, you just gotta work hard.”

     Winning the championship was one of the team’s golden moments. Some of their other favorite moments of being on the team revolved around making memories with every member. “(I enjoy) playing the sport I love (and) having friends that might just last a lifetime,” said Timoteo. Herold-Namu added, “I just love playing with the people next to me and I couldn’t ask for a better team.”

     Though the season is over, the team isn’t planning on stopping. They’re going to stick together and continue training as a team for upcoming events and next year’s season. “I can say that I’m not going to stop. One championship is good, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to stop there. I know me and my brothers are going to keep working,” said Herold-Namu.

     In the near future, some of the members will participate in Hawai’i Pylon, a seven on seven football skills tournament.