Prep football: No. 6 Kamehameha visits No. 2 Punahou in rare game at Alexander Field

Every game matters for football teams in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

So does every player. On the first snap from scrimmage against Kahuku last week, Kamehameha saw running back — and state hurdles champion — Tanner Moku suffer a knee injury. Moku’s tag-team partner in the backfield, Kawika Clemente, stepped up with a two-touchdown performance, but the loss of one of Kamehameha’s game-breaker athletes is immeasurable.

Just one night earlier, Punahou was in command in the second quarter at Farrington when senior quarterback Hugh Brady went down with a knee injury. It was one of several stoppages that evening for Punahou injuries, but Brady’s ACL was torn on the play, and he is done for the season.

Brady entered the year as one of the state’s top returning QBs and was at the top of his game in just one-plus quarters. His replacement, on the fly, was wide receiver Koa Eldredge. Once backup QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele was warmed up, he showed no hesitation. The freshman’s first play was an 82-yard touchdown pass as Punahou ground out a 31-0 win.

When No. 6 Kamehameha and No. 2 Punahou square off on Friday afternoon at Alexander Field, it will be a rare meeting as well as a crucial one in the ILH standings.

This will be the first meeting between the teams at Alexander Field since 1931.

As far as the standings, the league counts all games in Open Division play against OIA and ILH foes alike. The difference this fall is that only two of the three teams will qualify for the playoffs. With the 21-13 loss at Kahuku, Kamehameha is 0-1.

“This game will be a measuring stick,” Warriors coach Abu Ma‘afala said.

Punahou, 2-0 overall and 1-0 in Open Division play, got tremendous consistency on defense in games one and two. Posting shutouts against Kailua and Farrington means this is the first time since 1938 that the Buffanblu have done so, according to archivist and editor Jerry Campany. Can the Buffanblu contain a Kamehameha offense with speedy playmakers like Clemente and slotback/returner Skyler Ramos? Coach Kale Ane and staff have analyzed what they saw in the Kamehameha-Kahuku game.

“Kamehameha is big and physical. Abu does a great job. I like Ramos’ speed and quickness. (Clemente) did a good job. He’s got good burst and outran people,” Ane said. “They want to run. Kamehameha hung in and never quit. There was a lot of resilience by their kids and coaches. It starts with their line.”

Meanwhile, Brady is at every practice, every video session, helping his teammates. He won’t have surgery for another two weeks or so, and will rehab every chance he gets. Penn is recruiting him as heavily as it did before the injury. Brady’s final stats for 2019: 22 completions in 34 attempts (64.7 percent), 353 yards, five TDs, no interceptions. Passer rating: 200.45.

The Buffanblu won’t expect those preposterous numbers from the freshman. Sagapolutele’s talent level as a ninth-grader — it was just three years ago when the ILH still had a rule prohibiting freshmen in varsity football — is off the charts. Ane and staff will expect execution, but the risk will be tempered as they probably rely more on running back Vince Terrell.

The senior was persistent in the battle against Farrington’s solid front seven. The explosive Terrell finished with 58 yards, scoring on runs of 8 and 15 yards. He also offers the Punahou offense a dangerous weapon in the passing game, essentially becoming a fifth receiver if he’s not in pass protection.

The Buffanblu offense already has standout returnees in Eldredge (11 receptions, 116 yards) and Moku Dancil-Evans (five, 157, three TDs). Rayden Kiaaina-Caires has emerged as a speedy playmaker — he hauled in the long TD pass from Sagapolutele — and already has 208 receiving yards and two TDs (six catches).

Kamehameha’s defense held its own against Kahuku despite being worn down by the Red Raiders’ time-of-possession dominance in the first half.

The Warriors’ four-wide sets on offense had some success, but it was the sprint draw handoffs to Clemente that turned the game’s momentum, along with a key fumble recovery. QB Kiai Keone overcame early struggles — five interceptions — and guided the offense into position to possibly tie the game in the final minute.

Keone’s ability to one snap and clear, to forget mistakes, was a big plus by game’s end.

NO. 6 KAMEHAMEHA (0-1, 0-1) AT NO. 2 PUNAHOU (2-0, 1-0)

Friday, 3:15 p.m., Alexander Field

>> Series history: Punahou leads 95-90-6

>> Streak: Buffanblu have won 12 of the last 13

>> First matchup: 10/31/1903, Kamehameha 6, Punahou 0

>> Most recent meeting: 10/19/2018, Punahou 35, Kamehameha 0