The collective contributions of all three phases proved just enough to give Punahou a spot alone atop the ILH Division I standings.
The Buffanblu defense forced four fumbles, running back Steven Lakalaka powered the offense and a long field goal was the difference in a 17-14 win over Kamehameha on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
With the win, No. 4 Punahou (4-0 ILH, 7-1 overall) broke the tie at the top of the division by handing No. 5 Kamehameha (3-1, 4-3) its first league loss.
Punahou’s takeaways led to 10 points, as Lakalaka ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns and kicker Kaimi Fairbairn drilled a 50-yard field goal in the third quarter to give the Buffanblu the cushion they needed.
Kamehameha trailed throughout, but stayed close thanks in part to two interceptions by defensive lineman Kory Rasmussen. The Warriors had a final possession with 2:35 left in the game. But the Punahou defense, aided by a key holding penalty, stopped the Warriors to preserve the win.
"I’d be lying if I said I was very comfortable," Punahou coach Kale Ane said, "but I was very confident our defense could do the job.
"It was definitely a struggle and the score represented that."
Kamehameha lost fumbles on each of its first three possessions, with the last setting up Punahou’s first score of the game.
A 47-yard punt by Fairbairn pinned Kamehameha at its own 14 and the Buffanblu forced a fumble one play later, with linebacker Chase Sakai falling on the loose ball.
Lakalaka then took a handoff around the left side and broke free for a 14-yard touchdown run.
"(The fumbles) were huge. You can’t win against a great team like that; it’s just impossible," Kamehameha coach David Stant said. "You’re shooting yourselves in the foot. You get a good drive and fumble, hopefully we can clean that up by next week."
After Punahou forced a punt on Kamehameha’s next drive, the Buffanblu offense put together a 15-play, 80-yard drive and Lakalaka’s 12-yard run stretched the lead to 14-0.
Kamehameha answered in stunning fashion just before halftime. Facing fourth and 15 at the Punahou 42, quarterback Nephi Stevens launched a pass down the right side and Alika McGuire made an over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone with 23 seconds left in the half.
Sakai stunted Kamehameha’s momentum by forcing a fumble to open the third quarter and Fairbairn’s field goal gave the Buffanblu a 17-7 lead.
"We had to give our offense a chance to score points," Sakai said. "Both of our defenses are great, so we had to create opportunities."
Kamehameha closed again when Stevens connected with Raymond Pedrina deep over the middle for a 43-yard gain to set up Tyler Meditz’s 5-yard touchdown run with 9:02 left in the game.
On their next possession, the Warriors attempted a fake punt on fourth and 6 at their own 21, but came up 1 yard short.
The Buffanblu couldn’t capitalize, as a field-goal attempt sailed wide and Kamehameha took over with 2:35 left.
The Warriors moved to their 42 when a holding penalty wiped out a sizable gain and Kamehameha couldn’t generate another first down, allowing Punahou to run out the clock.
"We said, ‘stop them right here, this is the game right here,’ " Sakai said of the defense’s final stand. "A little bit nerve-racking but we love it, that’s what we play for."
At Aloha Stadium
| Kamehameha (3-1, 4-3) |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
— |
14 |
| Punahou (4-0, 7-1) |
7 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
— |
17 |
Pun–Steven Lakalaka 14 run (Kaimi Fairbairn kick)
Pun–Lakalaka 12 run (Fairbairn kick)
KS–Alika McGuire 42 pass from Nephi Stevens (Kanekoa Pawn-White kick)
Pun–FG Fairbairn 50
KS–Tyler Meditz 5 run (Pawn-White kick)
RUSHING–Kamehameha: Meditz 15-60, Stevens 5-28, Raymond Pedrina 2-7, Brandon Kahookele 5-5, Caelan Grugier-Hill 1-5, Bronson Barretto 1-0, Cid Camanse-Stevens 2-0, Team 1-(-22). Punahou: Lakalaka 21-147, Jacob Ioane 1-4, Larry Tuileta 7-(-9), Team 1-(-12).
PASSING–Kamehameha: Stevens 10-18-0-152, Camanse-Stevens 5-12-0-62. Punahou: Tuileta 7-21-2-63.
RECEIVING–Kamehameha: Pedrina 5-99, McGuire 3-66, Meditz 3-22, Jake Kealohi 2-9, Avery Amasiu 1-14, Kahookele 1-4. Punahou: Malik Johnson 3-21, Kale Dyas 2-40, Ioane 1-5, Lakalaka 1-(-3).
Pac-Five 34, Damien 13
Slotback Keoni Tom-Millare rushed for 228 yards and five touchdowns in the first half to power the Wolfpack to their first ILH win of the season.
Running counter plays out of a tightly bunched double tight-end alignment, Tom-Millare scored on runs of 26, 45 and 34 yards. He also had a 55-yarder that set up a 1-yard plunge for his fifth score with 1:17 left in the second quarter and finished the game with 238 yards.
The Pac-Five defense held Damien to 5 yards of total offense in the first half. Damien receiver Kealii Kaanapu accounted for both Monarchs touchdowns, a 15-yard reception from Syles Choy in the second quarter and a diving 19-yard catch in the fourth.
At Aloha Stadium
| Pac-Five (1-3, 4-3) |
28 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
— |
34 |
| Damien (0-4, 0-6) |
0 |
7 |
0 |
6 |
— |
13 |
Pac–Keoni Tom-Millare 26 run (kick failed)
Pac–Tom-Millare 2 run (Tom-Millare run)
Pac–Tom-Millare 45 run (Noah Oyler kick)
Pac–Tom-Millare 34 run (Oyler kick)
DM–Kealii Kaanapu 15 pass from Syles Choy (Lyle Alloy-Glover kick)
Pac–Tom-Millare 1 run (kick failed)
DM–Kaanapu 19 pass from Choy (kick failed)
RUSHING–Pac-Five: Tom-Millare 19-238, Drew Wilson 7-22, Justin Layco 4-17, Cyprus Fesili 3-13, Austin Ursua 1-5, Kynan Furtado 2-4, Carter Kauwenaole 1-2, Keola Brown 4-(-1), Walden Butay 1-(-2), Kekoa Blaisdell 1-(-6), Jack Foster 1-(-8).
Damien: Choy 10-9, Kolton Pugay 1-0, Leeland Lauti 2-0, Dylan Flores 2-0, Edwin Aumua 5-(-1), Trevor Caspillo 3-(-3).
PASSING–Pac-Five: Foster 1-4-0-34. Damien: Choy 10-29-1-67
RECEIVING–Pac-Five: Brown 1-34. Damien: Kaanapu 3-45, Lauti 2-8, Flores 2-5, Bryson Dalmacio 1-6, Aumua 1-5, Caspillo 1-(-2).
OIA RED WEST
Aiea 24, Radford 21
Isaiah Fonoti passed for 223 yards and three touchdowns as Na Alii rallied to beat the Rams.
Kamakana Apelu, Jarrel Chaviera and Hunter Vaa caught touchdown passes for Aiea, which trailed 21-0 in the second period.
At Aiea
| RADFORD (1-4, 1-6) |
14 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
— |
21 |
| AIEA (2-3, 3-4) |
0 |
14 |
0 |
10 |
— |
24 |
Rad–Krix Hugley 14 pass from Cody Lui-Yuen (Cayman Conley kick)
Rad–Andrew Togiailua 7 pass from Dorsey Norris (Conley kick)
Rad–Zach Rabellizsa 50 pass from Lui-Yuen (Conley kick)
Aiea–Kamakana Apelu 9 pass from Isaiah Fonoti (Jae Won Huh kick)
Aiea–Jarrel Chaviera 20 pass from Fonoti (Huh kick)
Aiea–FG Huh 30
Aiea–Hunter Vaa 5 pass from Fonoti (Huh kick)
RUSHING–Radford: Norris 2-36, Jordan Murao 9-16, Togiailua 1-13, Hugley 3-8, Rabellizsa 1-3, Lui-Yuen 6-(-18). Aiea: Cheston Ioapo 9-42, Trevaun Sparrow-Dennis 3-8, Samate Talia 3-1, Hunter Vaa 1-0, Fonoti 7-(-33).
PASSING–Radford: Lui-Yuen 15-32-2–167, Norris 1-1-0–7. Aiea: Fonoti 21-40-1–223.
RECEIVING–Radford: Romar Bacosa 3-25, Togiailua 3-20, Rabellizsa 2-62, Murao 2-21, Norris 2-16, Jay Mamea 2-15, Hugley 1-14, Mason Manuma 1-1. Aiea: Kamakana Apelu 5-51, Jarrel Chaviera 4-90, Lazarus Love 3-25, Jacob Routon 3-25, Michael Taliulu 2-13, Ioapo 2-(-1), Kalei Liilii 1-15, Vaa 1-5.
JV–Aiea 20, Radford 0
OIA White
Pearl City 13, Waipahu 8
Junior quarterback Kaimi Paredes tossed two first-half touchdown passes as the unbeaten Chargers slipped by the visiting Marauders.
Paredes was 13 of 22 for 162 yards, hitting David Laranol on a 35-yard play in the first quarter and Kelson Laboy on a 20-yarder in the second quarter.
Senior Gregorio Alip had 18 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown for Waipahu.
At Pearl City
| WAIPAHU (5-1, 5-2) |
6 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
— |
8 |
| PEARL CITY (6-0, 6-1) |
7 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
— |
13 |
Waip–Gregorio Alip 3 run (kick failed)
PC–David Laranol 35 pass from Kaimi Paredes (Laranol kick)
PC–Kelson Laboy 20 psss from Paredes (kick failed)
Waip–Safety, blocked punt out of end zone
RUSHING–Waipahu: Alip 18-66, Tydro Ate-Taito 1-6, Matapua Tulafale 3-2, Drake Yoshioka 9-(-5), Dylan Taii 1-(-10). Pearl City: Paredes 15-18, Noah Derby 5-14, Troy Barboza Scanlan 2-7, Shawn Lopez 5-2.
PASSING–Waipahu: Yoshioka 15-29-2-167. Pearl City: Paredes 13-22-0-162.
RECEIVING–Waipahu: Tulafale 7-69, Micah Luke 2-20, Taii 3-30, James Nunuha III 1-23, Ate-Taito 1-20, Mataio Fualema 1-5. Pearl City: Briscoe 4-60, Laboy 4-44, Laranol 3-42, Lopez 1-12, Daicorri Joe Hammond 1-4.
JV–Pearl City 36, Waipahu 0
McKinley 41, Kalani 10
Senior running back Fia Duarte rushed for 127 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Tigers over the Falcons.
Duarte scored from the 2, 7 and 29 as McKinley exploded for 27 second-quarter points after a scoreless first quarter.
Kalani scores came on a 24-yard field goal by junior Kazuto Moribe and a 40-yard fumble return by senior defensive lineman Feng Kuo.
At Kaiser
| MCKINLEY (3-3, 4-3) |
0 |
27 |
0 |
14 |
— |
41 |
| KALANI (2-4, 2-5) |
0 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
— |
10 |
Kaln–FG Kazuto Moribe 24
McK–Fia Duarte 2 run (Brandon Walker kick)
McK–Duarte 7 run (Walker kick)
McK–Jace Bolosan 14 pass from Alex Ironside (kick failed)
McK–Duarte 29 run (Walker kick)
McK–Ironside 46 run (Walker kick)
Kaln–Feng Kuo 40 fumble return (Moribe kick)
McK–Duarte 9 run (Walker kick)
RUSHING–McKinley: Duarte 13-127, Sunny Chuang 2-10, Jay Akala 7-70, Dylan Misiluti 4-39, Anthony Torres 3-12, Denzel Kalahiki Gasper 3-3, Ironside 1-46. Kalani: Genta Hammani 5-(-13), Shane Ra 5-(-22), Lorenzo Reeves 1-(-3), Gavin Kim 1-(-1), Dru Reaves 6-7.
PASSING–McKinley: Ironside 10-23-0-106, Kalahiki Gasper 1-1-0-13. Kalani: Ra 15-27-0-179, David Shishido 1-4-1-0.
RECEIVING–McKinley: Ray Monterde 2-18, Jordan Aikau 1-4, Tristan Ramones 1-10, Bolosan 3-33, Will Rollman 4-54. Kalani: Enrique Gruver 5-38, Trevor Yamashita 2-18, Kim 3-60, Reeves 4-66, Hammani 1-(-3), Talon Sismar 1-0.
JV–McKinley 39, Kalani 0
