With its postseason hopes fading away in stunning fashion, Punahou linebacker Zachary Hernandez made sure Thursday night wasn’t his final high school game.

Hernandez returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown after Saint Louis scored 19 unanswered points to cut the lead to five as the sixth-ranked Buffanblu defeated No. 7 Saint Louis 31-19 in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Punahou (6-1, 9-2) finished in a first-place tie with Kamehameha and will play a one-game playoff next Thursday to determine the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s representative in the Division I state tournament beginning in two weeks.

"It didn’t end as well as wanted it, but we got back up and held it down for our team," said defensive end DeForest Buckner, whose sack and forced fumble and recovery ended Saint Louis’ final possession.