One team is seemingly omnipotent, a Galactus that consumes opposing teams, a squad with massive numbers despite a light number of games played.
The other team has learned how to survive the gauntlet and reach the semifinal round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I State Championships despite key injuries.
It’s Punahou and Kahuku, and in a rare occasion, it will be the Red Raiders who are the underdog. No. 1-ranked Punahou (7-0) and No. 3 Kahuku (9-2) square off in the 7 p.m. semifinal at Aloha Stadium on Saturday.
"They’re good, no question about it. They’re ranked nationally on MaxPreps (No. 21) and we’re 400-something," Raiders coach Lee Leslie said. "We’re not taking them lightly, that’s for sure."
The Buffanblu were fairly loose, yet very focused at practice on Wednesday. They took turns kicking a soccer ball into a goal before the workout started, the whole team having a blast. Come Saturday, though, it’ll be a unique battle of cousin vs. cousin, neighbor vs. neighbor for some of the Buffanblu and Red Raiders.
"The kids are focused and understanding the opportunity we have before us. It’s a coach’s dream to have everybody focused and ready," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "They’ll be playing friends and family in some cases. I tell them, I love to beat my friends more than anybody. We all respect each other. It’s a great opportunity to compete and there’s quality kids all over the field. They’ve grown up together. There’s a lot of connections and pride, but there’s also a lot of sensitivity for both groups. It makes for a unique competition, but something that’s really prevalent in Hawaii. We always go hard, but we go hard with respect and sensitivity."
Ane’s team reached the state final last year, beating Mililani. His team has had more than enough time to digest what’s at stake.
"Kahuku is very physical and very proud of being physical. We expect them to run the ball and to be aggressive on defense. That’s the standard operating procedure they always do," he said. "They’ve got great athletes, so they can try different things."
Kahuku is dinged up after a long season. Tuli Wily-Matagi (concussion) has been missed at quarterback since getting hurt in the OIA final against Mililani. Running back Kesi Ah-Hoy has battled numerous nagging injuries over the course of the season. He, too, sat out last week in Kahuku’s 20-10 comeback victory over a tough Hilo squad.
Wily-Matagi’s arm strength is a major weapon. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior has no hesitation when it comes to launching bombs to Chance Maghanoy, Keala Santiago or Alohi Gilman. That threat alone can keep a defense honest, forever eliminating an eight-man box.
Kahuku countered Hilo’s stacked box with its double-tight end, three-back sets almost-exclusively after halftime with very positive results.
Salanoa-Alo Wily, a 6-1, 270-pound defensive tackle, got a season-high 18 carries at tailback. He rushed for 132 of his 136 yards in the second half, and his two TDs were the thrust of the rally against a Hilo defense built to stop the run.
Kahuku shifted Siotame Uluave, cousin of Punahou’s standout offensive lineman Semisi Uluave, from left tackle to center. That coincided with Kahuku’s success on the ground. Leslie has expressed reservations about overextending his two-way Ironmen, but is leaning toward more ground-and-pound football against the formidable Buffanblu defense.
"We’re going to punch them in the mouth, Kahuku style. Then we may spread it out," Leslie said. "If we could’ve gone power-I (formation) all year with Pena (Fitisemanu) and Salo, heck yeah. But I’m not willing to jeopardize anyone’s health for one football game. That’s why we rested Kesi."
Ah-Hoy has rushed for a modest 462 yards (4.7 per carry) and nine TDs as a sophomore. His ability to break free out of the backfield and on returns was an energizing, promising weapon early in the year before he got hurt. Ah-Hoy (6-1, 192) played hurt for most of the 10 games before last week. The latest injury (shoulder) is still an issue.
"He may play. It’ll be a game-time decision," Leslie said.
Punahou linebacker Kalama Chung is a signal-caller for an explosive defensive unit. Punahou already has a stout defensive line with Joseph Saula inside and highly recruited 6-7, 290-pound Canton Kaumatule at end.
The other huge challenge will be on Kahuku’s defense, going up against the most balanced and explosive offense in the ILH. Punahou quarterback Ephraim Tuliloa has thrown for 284.3 yards per game with 18 TDs and only two picks. He has an almost inhuman passer rating of 207.38. The junior has also run for 81 yards and a TD.
Running back Wayne Taulapapa and wide receiver Kanawai Noa have also been elite all season. Taulapapa has rushed for 846 yards (10.4 per carry) and 17 TDs along with 11 receptions for 88 yards. Noa has 44 catches of 963 yards and nine TDs. His ability to make big catches for first downs is key, but his deep-ball threat has been a constant. Noa has also run back two punts for touchdowns.
Taulapapa will face a Red Raiders defense than has permitted less than 2 rushing yards per carry this season.
Punahou’s hybrid offense is designed, it seems, to set up the big play downfield, though Tuliloa is quite patient about it. If Kahuku has to commit to stopping Taulapapa and his astounding 10-yards-per-carry production, that leaves Noa and Micah Ma’a (17 receptions, 337 yards, five TDs) in a lot of single-coverage situations.
With superb coverage defenders Santiago and Gilman in the secondary, that may be a risk Kahuku is willing to live with. The versatility of Malcolm Macatiag (6-0, 205), who can drop into coverage, and rangy Hirkley Latu (6-3, 200) are wild cards for the unit.
As of Wednesday, Punahou’s versatile slotback/running back, Heisman Hosoda, is iffy at best for the game. Hosoda (411 yards, five TDs from scrimmage) suffered ankle and knee injuries in the ILH playoff win over Saint Louis on Oct. 25.
