Catch me if you can

Piling up catches and yards is usually high on the list of things to do for a wide receiver, and Punahou senior Kanawai Noa does it with an uncommon flair and humility.

The third-year starting wideout for the Buffanblu has a chance to make history this season. With another big campaign, the 6-foot-1 Noa can become the state’s all-time receiving yards leader.

Right now, after two brilliant seasons, Noa stands in fourth place on the list, 1,093 yards behind Gerald Welch, who starred for Saint Louis from 1997 to ’99.

Welch accumulated his 3,490 yards in 37 games (94.3 yards per game). Noa has 2,397 yards in 19 games (126.1 ypg) and is coming off two 1,000-yard-plus seasons.

Noa can get there, but it will be difficult. Punahou’s only nonconference game, at Leilehua, was canceled due to Hurricane Iselle, leaving the top-ranked Buffanblu with only six regular-season games. The defending state champs will also get at least one game in the ILH playoffs and could also get to the states.

None of this yardage stuff fazes Noa, however.

"I didn’t even know (about the record) and am not really paying attention to it," he said. "Definitely, it would mean something if it happened, but I’m just trying to stay humble and am just expecting more from myself."

There’s no question that Noa carries a businesslike attitude when working on his craft.

His coaches, including head man Kale Ane, talk about how he is constantly trying to get better at what he does.

"He’s very intense," Ane said at practice Wednesday. "He’s very much a competitor. The better the opponent, the better he plays. He’s very physical as well. He doesn’t back down and he’s tremendously hard (for other teams) to prepare for.

"When he goes up for a ball, in a game, in a practice, whenever, he expects to catch that ball. He’s had a great two years."

Former Buffanblu star Miah Ostrowski (2004-06) and Pac-Five’s London Amorin (2008-09) stand between Noa and Welch.

Welch is pulling for Noa to pass him.

"I know his family and I played with his brother (Kilinahe) at UH," Welch said over the phone Sunday night. "I remember when he was a young boy when I was hanging with his brother. If he gets the record, it will be good for high school football. I’m glad it’s someone like him. He’s coachable. I hope he does it."

Ane puts Noa in the same category as other Punahou standout wideouts like Ostrowski, Donny Utu, Robby Toma and Tafiti Uso, among others.

"He’s impressed all of the guys who played before him with his desire, emotion and passion," Ane said. "He volunteers to play special teams. He plays hurt."

College football recruiters from USC, UCLA, Stanford, Hawaii and Utah State have shown interest.

For the past two years, Tui Tuileta was the one throwing darts to Noa. This year, Ephraim Tuliloa will get the call at quarterback when Punahou opens the season Aug. 29 against Saint Louis at Aloha Stadium.

Noa, a deep threat who can cut on a dime and make tacklers miss, doesn’t see much difference in the team between this year and last.

"I want to be more of a playmaker this year," Noa said. "Ephraim is a left-handed quarterback, so it’s a bit of an adjustment because the ball comes in spinning the opposite way, but so far every ball at practice has been perfect.

"(As a team) we’ve had the same practices and nothing has really changed —the whole defense and the whole O-line are the same except for one or two players. We want another state championship and we want to be known as the hardest-hitting team. It’s going to be a challenge. There are a lot of doubters out there and we want to prove them wrong and repeat."

He is the son of Keolani and Henry Noa. Henry played football at Saint Louis and UH.

Another of Noa’s six brothers, Kumoku, is a junior wide receiver for Kamehameha.

In the long run, receiving record or not, Noa wants to take his disciplined approach as far as he can.

"I am a boy from Kuliouou who is trying to make a name for himself," he said. "I want to represent Hawaii and do it with a sense of pride."

HONOR ROLL

FOOTBALL
» Kesi Ah-Hoy, Kahuku: rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown, and returned a kick 94 yards for another score against Kapolei
» Tsubasa Brennan, Pac-Five: 19 receptions for 292 yards, four TDs against King Kekaulike
» Tyler Ching, Kalani: passed for 250 yards, four TDs against Waialua
» Allen Cui, Saint Louis: 10 catches for 112 yards, two touchdowns against Mililani
» Kainoa Ferreira, Pac-Five: passed for 515 yards, six TDs in a 54-37 win over King Kekaulike. He was 34-for-64.
» Makaila Haina-Horswill, Nanakuli: rushed for 160 yards, two TDs against Kalaheo
» Kawika Homalon, King Kekaulike: rushed for 129 yards and three touchdowns, and passed for 98 yards and two more TDs against Pac-Five
» Kalawai Judd, Kaiser: passed for 160 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 86 yards against Aiea
» Vavae Malepeai, Mililani: rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns against Saint Louis
» Ranan Mamiya, Farrington: rushed for 124 yards, including touchdown runs of 25, 61 and 31 yards, against Waipahu
» Blaise Manabe, Kalani: caught touchdown passes of 55, 70 and 32 yards against Waialua
» Jensen McDaniel, Kaiser: rushed for 162 yards and four touchdowns against Aiea
» K.J. Pascua, ‘Iolani: rushed for 120 yards and two TDs against Mino Jiyu (Japan)
» Kalanimoku Pauole, Leilehua: passed for 326 yards and three touchdowns against Kailua
» Ikaika Piceno, Leilehua: rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns against Kailua
» Leighton Rosa, St. Francis: rushed for 116 yards and a TD against Keaau
» Toma Savea, Leilehua: five receptions, 175 yards, TD vs. Kailua
» Jason Sharsh, Moanalua: five catches, 89 yards, two TDs in an upset win over then-No. 8 Waianae
» Keanu Souza, Saint Louis: seven receptions for 107 yards, two TDs against Mililani
» Tua Tagovailoa, Saint Louis: passed for 188 yards and six TDS, and rushed for 73 yards against Mililani
» Kalakaua Timoteo, Mililani: caught nine passes for 167 yards, one TD against Saint Louis
» Kainoa Wilson, Mililani: eight catches for 161 yards and two scores versus Saint Louis

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
» McKenna Granato, Punahou: nine kills against Mira Costa (Calif.)
» Jojo Kruze, Moanalua: nine kills against Punahou
» Carey Williams, Kahuku: 11 kills against HBA

POLLS

FOOTBALL TOP 10
The Top 10 football teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

» Also receiving votes: Moanalua 20, Waianae 12, ‘Iolani 9, Lahainaluna 7, Hilo 5, Baldwin 2, Maui 2.

VOLLEYBALL TOP 10
The Top 10 volleyball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

» Also receiving votes: University 13, Farrington 8, St. Francis 7, Hawaii Baptist 6, Kaiser 5, King Kekaulike 4, Kalaheo 2, Waiakea 1, Kailua 1, Le Jardin 1.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

BOYS
McKenzie Milton
Mililani junior
Passed for 369 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns, including runs of 53 and 47 yards, in a 63-47 win over No. 3 Saint Louis.

GIRLS
Hana Lishman
Punahou junior
She drilled eight kills against Kingwood (Texas) and had eight kills in the Ann Kang Invitational final against Mira Costa (Calif.). The Buffanblu won the tourney and Lishman was named most valuable player.

INJURY UPDATE

Waipahu defensive back Russell is OK

Waipahu’s Kobie Russell, the defensive back who went to the hospital in an ambulance on Saturday night due to an injury suffered in a 35-0 loss to Farrington, is well on his way to recovery.

"He’s doing fine," Waipahu coach Eric Keola confirmed Monday afternoon.

Tests on Russell’s spleen and other internal organs were negative, according to Keola, who added that Russell will see his family doctor and can return to practice when he gets clearance. He will be examined further for possible rib injuries. Russell, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound sophomore, was hit by 252-pound Governors running back Freedom Alualu while stepping out of bounds after he intercepted a pass in the second period. After a long delay while trainers tended to Russell and waited for an ambulance, the game ended due to safety reasons at the request of Keola.