Newport Harbor huddles up after beating Nanakuli 41-0 in their opening game in Oahu. (Photo courtesy of JP West Media) 
The Newport Harbor football team poses for a photo during their trip to Pearl Harbor before their game against Nanakuli in Oahu. (Photo courtesy of JP West Media) 
Newport wide receiver Shane McKibbin led the Sailors with seven catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns against Nanakuli in their opening game in Oahu. (Photo courtesy of JP West Media) 
Newport linebackers Jett Blauwkamp (No. 3) and Cameron Hatfield (No. 33) combine for a tackle against Nanakuli in their opening game in Oahu. (Photo courtesy of JP West Media)
Quick look: Newport Harbor and Capistrano Valley high schools were two of six teams to open their football seasons in Hawaii with victories.
Six Orange County high schools kicked off their football seasons in Hawaii, giving their student-athletes an experience they’ll likely never forget.
Edison, Newport Harbor, Capistrano Valley, San Juan Hills, Villa Park and San Clemente high schools each returned home with a victory, sweeping their Hawaiian opponents 6-0. While the teams shared similar success on the field, some took different approaches to the days leading up to kickoff.
Newport Harbor arrived on Oahu a full week before its game against Nanakuli, giving the Sailors plenty of time to adjust to the time difference and experience the island. Amid the excitement of being in Hawaii with teammates and friends, it could have been easy for the team to lose focus. Head Coach Matt Burns, however, said his players came prepared.
“The biggest challenge was making sure our players understood that while this was an incredible experience, we were also there to compete and win a football game,” Burns said. “I was really proud of how they handled that balance. They enjoyed Hawaii, but when it was time for football, they were dialed in and played physical, disciplined football.”
The experience included a luau with the opposing players and coaches before the game. According to Burns, players from both teams had to interact with one another before they were allowed to get their food.
“They were incredibly gracious and hospitable, and our players had the opportunity to experience their culture firsthand,” Burns said. “That’s something they’ll remember long after the final score.”
Despite the pregame bonding, there was no love lost once the teams took the field. The Sailors dominated Nanakuli in a 41-0 shutout. Senior quarterback Jordan Spigarelli threw for 253 yards and four touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Shane McKibbin hauled in 143 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Explosive offense and shutdown defense were similarly the themes for Capistrano Valley, which defeated Damien Memorial High School in Honolulu 55-6. The Cougars, however, took a more businesslike approach to the trip.
Having played in Hawaii in 2024, Head Coach Sean Curtis knew what to expect and was prepared for potential challenges. The Cougars followed a travel schedule similar to those used by NFL teams, flying in just two days before kickoff to maximize practice time at home earlier in the week and minimize opportunities for distractions.
“I think a trip like this challenges the players to hold themselves accountable,” Curtis said. “‘Locking in’ isn’t as hard as some people might think. It’s a lot of buildup, and everyone wants to come home with a win.”
That desire to win gave Curtis confidence in his team’s mental preparation, saying his players’ ability to be ready for the game was never in doubt.
The team still made time to enjoy the trip, visiting Pearl Harbor, spending time at the beach and going to the mall. According to Curtis, that kind of team bonding is “hard to replicate” at home.
Even when Hurricane Lala delayed the team’s return flight by 12 hours, the players chose to look on the bright side. One player summed up the team’s attitude by saying, “We are stuck in Hawaii with all our best friends. It could be a lot worse.”
“Everyone left feeling grateful for their teammates,” Curtis said of the experience. “We saw our players have an even bigger sense of pride to play for Capo and represent California.”
Edison, San Juan Hills, Villa Park and San Clemente also defeated their Hawaiian opponents, giving California teams a perfect 6-0 record across the matchups.