A winning blueprint

There’s more than one way to draw up a buff-and-blueprint. They’re the top Division I seed in the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA State Football Championships. They’ve been ranked No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Top 10 since August. They’ve beaten teams near and far.

The Punahou Buffanblu have never seemed to hesitate when it comes to finding production. Defensively, when fully healthy, the Buffanblu are tenacious, disciplined and championship-quality. Agenhart Ellis found ways for his unit to do the job even with standout linemen Canton Kaumatule and Ruairi Brady out with injuries for much of the season.

On the other side of the ball, it’s been a challenge that offensive coordinator Teetai Ane has embraced. Punahou entered the season with key losses on the line, and productive running back Ryan Tuiasoa graduated, as well.

"In our sophomore year, we knew we had a great running back in Steven Lakalaka," offensive lineman Davis Miyashiro-Saipa‘ia said. "And we knew from JV that Tui was a leader. He actually played linebacker and quarterback. You see him push the pile."

Tui, as in Larry Tuileta, stepped in and didn’t miss a beat. By his junior year, he was nearly unstoppable and untouchable. He passed for 2,592 yards and 29 touchdowns with just four picks, compiling a 10.6 yards-per-attempt average and 64 percent completion rate. All that was missing? The Buffanblu lost to Kahuku in the state title game as Tuileta was hurried in a three-pick performance.

The pain of that defeat could be why this year’s tweaks aren’t entirely unexpected. They had left tackle Semisi Uluave, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound junior, and left guard Miyashiro-Saipa‘ia swap positions. That gave Uluave, an All-State lineman, a chance to utilize his power and burst inside, while the more agile Miyashiro-Saipa‘ia (6-2, 280) could neutralize smaller, quicker pass rushers on the edge.

"We think it’s a good switch. It was a little bit hard at the beginning, learning a new position," Miyashiro-Saipa‘ia said. "At guard, it’s bang-bang, contact comes faster. Semisi has adjusted really well to that. I’ve had to be real patient. It’s not as much going after the defense."

The O-line found itself during those first few weeks with Kainoa McCauley (6-1, 215) at center, sophomore Julius-Pedro Muasau (5-10, 285) at right guard and Jared Caputy (6-2, 250) at right tackle.

"J.P. moved from defense to offense. Jared does a great job. Kainoa makes the right call on every call. Semisi is a beast and my job is to protect Tui on the blind side," Miyashiro-Saipa‘ia said. "Kainoa and I are better at seeing the field now, so the OC trusts us to make adjustments on the line. If we see it during film, since we watch film a lot, then someone will (later) make a call. We can make those adjustments on the sideline, too."

Pass protection, which was superior last year, was a work in progress early this fall.

"It takes time to get used to working together as a unit," Miyashiro-Saipa‘ia said. "As time wore on, we started to be a team. Our second-team offensive line pushes us when they line up as a defensive line scout team."

Punahou was still unbeaten after a 10-6 win over Helix (Calif.), but it wasn’t enough. It was a rough offensive performance for the line; Tuileta tied his career high with three picks.

"After we came back from the San Diego trip, me and Kainoa and the seniors on the line called a meeting and stressed to them that Tui is our guy — even if we don’t give him as much time, he makes plays," Miyashiro-Saipa‘ia said. "He’s our guy, but the mind-set needs to be we really need to block for him, just keep him safe."

The other big tweak was more schematic. Ane brought in a third running back to the pistol set. Sometimes it was 260-pound fullback Repuena Fitisemanu. Other times it was Miyashiro-Saiapa‘ia. But as the season progressed, they began to use Uluave as a fullback. It was a commitment to sledgehammer, smashmouth football at its purest. When they opt to stay on the ground for long stretches — Punahou did it against Mililani in week 1 — the linemen get into a groove.

"That ground-and-pound attitude that we were stressing all summer, we got to really go at ’em," Miyashiro-Saipa‘ia said.

In a key matchup with Saint Louis, Punahou took it to the next level. Tuileta (1,952 passing yards, 20 TDs) could give to Wayne Taulapapa up the middle (911 rushing yards, 12 TDs) with a lead blocker. He could fake to No. 34 and keep the ball around left or right end. Or he could bait the defensive end — if there was still one around — and pitch to Luke Morris.

Punahou uses its triple-option as a trump card. It turned out to be essential in that close 35-32 win over Saint Louis. Two weeks later, when the Buffanblu lined up against Kamehameha — arguably the best defensive unit in the state at that point — the Warriors were well-prepared for the triple-option.

Ane was already one step ahead. After one series, Kamehameha stuffed Punahou’s offset-I game, so the Buffanblu went back to their wide-open, four-wide set and Tuileta had his biggest passing numbers of the season.

With two weeks to prepare, another trump card might be in the making.