Ane not satisfied after Punahou’s 70-9 win over Leilehua

Kale Ane says the Punahou Buffanblu have a ways to go.

That would be a scary thought for most foes in the ILH and elsewhere. Quarterbacks Stephen Barber and Nick Kapule combined for 366 passing yards and six touchdowns as No. 3 Punahou overpowered Leilehua 70-9 on Friday night at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

“I have mixed feelings,” said Ane, Punahou’s longtime coach. “I’m proud of our kids, but I’ve been there before. Nobody wants to be there and I feel for them and their kids. Of course, I’m not satisfied, but our problem is we don’t have another preseason game. We don’t play until ILH (in September).

It was domination by the visiting Buffanblu from the start. Kapule got the nod at quarterback, but he and Barber alternated possessions most of the first half. Kapule’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Takeyama (five receptions, 82 yards by intermission) set the tone.

Aaron Woo’s interception of a pass by Leilehua’s Kona Andres set up the second TD for the Buffanblu. Barber’s four passes set up a 1-yard plunge into the end zone by Cortez Feria. From there, Leilehua managed a 24-yard field goal by Akoni Tom Makue to get on the scoreboard. The no-huddle, hurry-up offense of Punahou put on a show.

By halftime, Barber was 11-for-18 with 229 yards passing and three TDs. Kapule was 5-for-5 with 137 yards and three TDs. Cole Arceneaux, a standout basketball player, hauled in three passes for 118 yards and two scores.

“We wanted to make sure they both got opportunities,” Ane said of his passers. “Our receivers ran good routes. We need to focus more on our running game.”

Enoch Nawahine made up for a first-half fumble by breaking loose for an 83-yard TD run in the second half as the 35-point mercy rule was in effect.

Kapule was highly efficient with five completions in five attempts for three TDs.

“We have the deepest, most talented receiving corps and our O-line is great,” he said.

Leilehua got its lone TD on a 5-yard blast by 5-foot-7, 250-pound Kalika Anderson Seumanutafa Bryant in the final minutes.