Punahou quarterback Larry Tuileta hasn’t had to carry the load himself, thanks to a strong supporting cast.
With the ILH Division I title on the line, the third-year senior showed he could, when needed.
Tuileta posted his first 300-yard passing game of the season, throwing for 394 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-12 win over Kamehameha on Friday night at Aloha Stadium.
The No. 1-ranked Buffanblu (9-0) clinched their third consecutive Division I ILH
title, becoming the first ILH Division I team to three-peat since Saint Louis’ long reign ended in 2003.
Tuileta has quarterbacked the Buffanblu to all three of those championships. Now, the University of Hawaii commit can focus on winning that elusive state championship.
Tuileta and the Buffanblu have lost to Kahuku in the state final in each of the past two years.
"Everybody is obviously happy about the three-peat," said Tuileta, who is 27-5 as a starter. "We have the opportunity (to play) in states. That’s all we wanted."
He can enjoy this victory for a little while, as the Buffanblu will receive a first-round bye in the state tournament. They won’t play again for three weeks.
Kamehameha, which is ranked No. 3 in the state, finishes its first season under coach Doug Cosbie at 9-2.
Both of those losses came against Punahou.
"That’s a tough team," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "We were grateful to have a week off. That really helped us recover and made a big difference. It was a huge advantage."
The Buffanblu finished with 515 total yards, while the Warriors managed only 67 yards and five first downs.
Junior Canton Kaumatule, who has battled an injury all year, led the Buffanblu defensive line, which hounded Kamehameha quarterback Noah Sua-Godinet.
Sua-Godinet was 4-for-14 passing for 16 yards. Senior running back Kainoa Simao was held to 54 yards on 20 carries with Brandon Kahookele out with injury.
"We trust in our schemes," said junior linebacker Rodney Lakalaka, who had three sacks. Punahou finished with 121 rushing yards on 30 carries, but most of those came in the fourth quarter with the outcome in hand.
Kamehameha made it impossible for Punahou to run the ball, forcing Tuileta to go to work through the air.
He completed 27 of his 43 attempts to finish with the second-most passing yards of his career. He threw for 420 against Mililani last season in the state semifinals.
"If the running game wasn’t there, the O-line has to contribute and the receivers have to contribute and that’s what they did today," Tuileta said. "I am just throwing it out there. Everyone else is making the plays."
Junior Kanawai Noa, who played with a cast on his hand after injuring it against Saint Louis three weeks ago, posted his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season with 11 catches for 147 and a touchdown.
Tuileta also threw touchdown passes of 22 and 25 yards to running back Wayne Taulapapa and hit Kotoni Sekona for a 17-yard score on his final throw of the game.
At Aloha Stadium
| Kamehameha (9-2) |
0 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
— |
12 |
| Punahou (9-0) |
14 |
7 |
10 |
7 |
— |
38 |
Pun–Kanawai Noa 39 pass from Larry Tuileta (Charles McDonald kick)
Pun–Wayne Taulapapa 2 run (McDonald kick)
KS–Caleb Chow recovers fumble in end zone (Tyler Fitzsimmons kick)
KS–Safety, ball snapped out of the end zone
KS–FG Fitzsimmons 24
Pun–Taulapapa 22 pass from Tuileta (McDonald kick)
Pun–FG McDonald 24
Pun–Taulapapa 25 pass from Tuileta (McDonald kick)
Pun–Kotoni Sekona 17 pass from Tuileta (McDonald kick)
RUSHING–Kamehameha: Kainoa Simao 20-54, Noah Sua-Godinet 5-(minus 15), Mahonri Latu 2-(minus 16), team 2-(minus 19). Punahou: Heisman Hosoda 6-45, Taulapapa 14-43, Ephraim Tuliloa 2-21, Tuileta 7-14, team 1-(minus 2).
PASSING–Kamehameha: Latu 2-3-0-47, Sua-Godinet 4-14-0-16. Punahou: Tuileta 27-43-0-394, Luke Morris 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING–Kamehameha: Kaulana Werner 2-28, Simao 2-11, Kayson Smith-Bejgrowicz 1-24, Alika Kahaulelio 1-0. Punahou: Noa 11-147, Morris 5-67, Dakota Torres 4-60, Taulapapa 2-47, Dylan Combs 2-23, Trent Sitar 1-25, Sekona 1-17, Micah Ma’a 1-8.
