No team saw a mass exodus of senior talent quite like Punahou.

It is almost painful for Buffanblu fans. But for a team that is back at square one in some ways, it’s hard to feel sorry for the Sons of Oahu. Kale Ane, now in his 21st season as head coach, is always up for the challenge.

“Every year you’re going to lose great kids. It’s about putting that puzzle back together. These kids like having fun together. The starters will help the young ones,” Ane said.

They have building blocks like Solatoa Moeai, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound left tackle who has 13 scholarship offers. That’s a good place to start as Punahou seeks to surpass last season’s 7-3 mark (5-2 ILH).

“He’s what the (college) coaches want. He’s academically great. Long and mobile,” Ane said. “He’s a good pass protector, gets low on run blocks and moves his feet well. He has all the intangibles.”

Ane played at Michigan State, so he may be a bit partial.

“Toa is kind of a big deal. He’s got the full package. He’s a Big Ten kind of guy,” Ane said. “He will probably move to guard (at college).”

In addition to Moeai, Punahou has center Trent Nomura and guard Alema Moeava, also returning starters.

“Both are tenacious and they fight, and they’re very smart,” Ane said. “Our line communicates well. They work well together as a unit and they have each other’s backs.”

They will be blocking for one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the state, Hugh Brady. At 6-3, 200 pounds, Brady passed for 2,309 yards and 26 TDs with just nine picks in 10 games.

He is also deceptively effective when he tucks the ball in and heads for the first-down marker.

“He’s solid. He’s accurate and he makes quick decisions,” Ane said. “He’s got experience and he knows he can do it against great teams. The sky’s the limit for him.”

Offensively, there is balance to go with potential. The eight-game regular-season slate in the Open Division means ILH offenses have sometimes become more flexible and creative than they were in years past. Having Vince Terrell and his 10.6 time in the 100-yard dash means the onus isn’t solely on Brady’s passing.

“He knows how to set tacklers up,” Ane said of the senior running back. “He can block, too. He’ll put his head in there and get low.”

One of the x-factors will be Legend Matautia, the rock-solid 6-foot, 240-pound linebacker. Matautia will see snaps on offense as a fullback/H-back type of weapon. Ane said a comparison to former San Francisco 49ers fullback Tom Rathman is fair, but Punahou hasn’t used West-Coast offense concepts very often, not since Daryl Kan was offensive coordinator years ago.

“Legend has good hands. We’ll work with whatever is working,” he said.

The possibilities are alluring. Ane is prepared to be like water and let it flow. Maybe they use Matautia, an explosive, fast athlete, as a vanilla lead blocker for Terrell out of the I. Maybe he drifts in the backfield as an H-Back to set up myriad play-action opportunities. Maybe the bulldozing ’backer is utilized mostly as a decoy.

Perhaps the most tantalizing scenario is Matautia leaking into the flat for quick Chuck Foreman-style tosses from Brady, chewing up low-risk first-down yardage.

“He understands linebackers’ responsibilities well. We’ve worked on the entire offensive package,” Ane said.

The base offense remains four-wide with Brady slinging the football. Wide receiver Koa Eldredge had a mesmerizing junior season, received an offer from Navy, and will likely draw the close attention of every defense.

“He’s tough, fearless, physical. He fights for the ball,” Ane said.

Another returning starter in the aerial corps is Moku Dancil-Evans.

“He’s shifty and tough. He knows where to find the windows,” Ane noted.

Wide receiver Kanoa Kalahiki grew a couple of inches and is now 6-2. Chris Paige and Raydan Kiaaina-Caires are also in the mix. Eldredge, Paige and Kiaaina-Caires can bounce from WR to slot.

“If we can run the ball well, Hugh makes good decisions,” Ane said.

The challenge is upon the defensive line, a mix of veterans and pups.

“Our D-line, they’ve got heart. They never stop. They keep coming,” Moeai said.

Hiram deFries-Saronitman and Siupelimani Uluave lead the defensive line. DeFries-Saronitman, at 6-0, 235 pounds last season playing tackle and end, will have a more versatile role.

“He’s going to drop and play some linebacker, a little bit like (former Pittsburgh Steeler) James Harrison. He’s tough, knows how to get through the cracks and make things happen,” Ane said.

Uluave has added 15 pounds to his frame, Ane said.

“He’s lean and quick. He can stop the run, does a good job getting off blocks, quick on the pass rush,” Ane said.

Andrew Canonico, DJ Utu and Zander Manuel are also in the rotation.

Matautia is the strong-side linebacker, which means a little more when the Buffanblu play run-first foes from the OIA.

“We ask him to do a lot. We ask him to cover, blitz like a weak-side linebacker, attack the gaps,” Ane said of the state judo champion in the 220 weight class. “He’s a student of the game.”

LB Dillon Lundberg handles the inside, and Kahanu Kia is the other outside ‘backer.

Despite key losses, the secondary has a good amount of returners. Jarrin Sato started last season, and Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen has emerged as another starting DB. Jonah Henry (6-0, 170) rounds out the core with Notre Dame commit Alaka‘i Gilman.

“He’s excellent,” Ane said of Gilman. “Athlete, smart, takes calculated risks, physical. He’s the coach out there and makes sure everyone’s in the right place. He can play everywhere.”

Another x-factor is sophomore Teva Tafiti, who was a defensive end last year as a freshman. He moves into the rover role vacated by Marist Liufau, who is now at Notre Dame.

“Teva showed a lot of lateral speed and smarts this offseason. He’s a tremendous athlete who can run and drop into coverage. We can blitz him off the edge a lot, move him all over,” Ane said. “He’s 6-2 and almost 200 pounds, so he’s bigger than Marist was at this age.”

Quinn Maretzki inherits the kicking duties from Tim Horn, who is now at Washington.

PUNAHOU BUFFANBLU

>> Head coach: Kale Ane, 21st season, 144-65 (.689)

>> Last year: 7-3, 5-2 ILH Open

>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections returning: Koa Eldredge (second-team REC), Alaka’i Gilman (second-team safety), Solatoa Moeai (third-team OL), Hugh Brady (third-team QB)

>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections lost to graduation: Tamatoa Falatea (first-team REC), Duke Clemens (first-team OL), Marist Liufau (first-team UTL), Maninoa Tufono (second-team LB), Tim Horn (second-team P), Kaulana Makaula (second-team UTIL), Trent Shiraki (third-team LB), Kainalu Puu-Robinson (third-team CB)

SCHEDULE

Date / Opponent, Time

8/3 @Kailua, 6 p.m.

8/9 @Farrington, 7:30 p.m.

8/16 Kamehameha, 3:15 p.m.

8/24 @Kapolei, 6:30 p.m.

8/30 Long Beach Poly (Calif.),* 4 p.m.

9/14 Waianae,** 2 p.m.

9/20 Saint Louis,** 7:30 p.m.

9/28 @Campbell, 6 p.m.

10/5 Kahuku,** 7:30 p.m.

10/11 Mililani,** 7:45 p.m.

* — @Moorpark H.S.

** — @Aloha Stadium