Haleiwa, HI
From the opening game of the season to the final game of August, Bless Cabrera-Hopkins continued to make his presence felt every time he stepped onto the field. Whether it was making a big catch downfield, finding the end zone, or making the kind of play that shifted momentum, the Mililani Senior became one of the biggest difference-makers for a Trojan team that rolled through August undefeated.
Bless Cabrera-Hopkins’ impact throughout the month earned him the honor of being named NorthVue August 2026 Cover Athlete of the Month presented by Matsumoto Shave Ice. A key piece of the Mililani offense, Bless continued to show his ability to make big plays when his team needed them most. His production throughout August played a major role in helping the Trojans remain undefeated as they continued their strong start to the season.
Mililani opened the season against Liberty of Nevada, and it did not take long for Cabrera-Hopkins to make his presence known. In the 31-24 comeback victory, Bless put together a career night, catching eight passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. His two touchdown receptions came on plays of 22 and 35 yards, giving the Trojans a major boost in a game where they had to battle back and find a way to secure the win.
The following week brought another major matchup as Mililani faced Saint Louis. Once again, Cabrera-Hopkins delivered when his team needed him. The Trojans dominated the Crusaders 42-0, and Bless finished the night with six catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Both of his scoring receptions came on plays of 23 yards as he continued to give the Mililani offense another explosive option downfield.
With two games and four touchdowns already in the month, Cabrera-Hopkins closed out August with another big performance against McClymonds from California. In a 50-0 victory, he caught three passes for 103 yards and another touchdown, including an explosive 88-yard touchdown reception. He also added a two-point conversion, giving him another way to contribute to the Trojans' dominant performance.
By the end of August, Cabrera-Hopkins had put together a month that was hard to overlook. Across Mililani’s three games, he finished with 17 receptions for 381 yards and five receiving touchdowns. Those numbers came while helping the Trojans win all three of their August games and continue an undefeated start to the 2026 season.
What makes Cabrera-Hopkins stand out even more is that his value to Mililani goes beyond his production at receiver. He has also played an important role on special teams as the Trojans’ holder, showing the trust the program has in him in different situations. Whether it is making a big play downfield or stepping up when the game calls for it, Bless has continued to find ways to make an impact for Mililani.
August showed just how much of a difference Cabrera-Hopkins can make when he gets rolling. Three straight strong performances gave Mililani a consistent playmaker who defenses have to account for every time he lines up. As the competition gets tougher and the stakes continue to rise, the Trojans will continue to lean on players like Bless who have already shown they can make an impact in big moments.
As the season moves forward, Cabrera-Hopkins and the Trojans will look to carry that momentum into OIA play and continue their undefeated run. With the kind of August he put together, Bless has already made his mark on the early part of the 2026 season and established himself as one of Mililani most important playmakers.
As August comes to an end, the search for the next Cover Athlete of the Month begins. Who will take home the award for September? Only time will tell, as we announce the next winner next month.
Congratulations to Bless Cabrera-Hopkins on being named NorthVue's August 2026 Cover Athlete of the Month Presented by Matsumoto Shave Ice!
Mahalo to our sponsor, Matsumoto Shave Ice, for their continued support of student-athletes across the State of Hawai'i.
Pictures taken by: Kennedy Velasco - @kennnchapo
2026 August Cover Athlete of the Month
Bless Cabrera-hopkins
video by: Logan Pactol - @_lowgxn
