The first game between Kamehameha and Punahou at Alexander Field in 88 years looked like it was played in 1931.
A defensive battle turned on two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from freshman John-Keawe Sagapolutele to senior Koa Eldredge in the second-ranked Buffanblu’s 15-5 victory over the sixth-ranked Warriors on Friday afternoon.
The 192nd meeting between the two schools, a national record, was a dogfight through three quarters, with Kamehameha leading 5-0 on a field goal and a safety.
Alaka’i Gilman’s blocked punt set up a 23-yard touchdown pass from Sagapolutele to Eldridge on the very next play to give Punahou (3-0, 2-0 ILH Open) its first lead.
Less than four minutes later, Sagapolutele found Eldredge in an identical spot for a 33-yard TD on third-and-10 for the final margin.
Punahou, which was held to 26 total yards in the first half, accounted for 56 of its 155 total yards in the game on those two plays.
“It was very challenging,” Punahou coach Kale Ane said. “You just have to grind it out and be patient and trust the process … it was a battle all the way and it was a very ugly win.”
Sagapolutele made his first start with senior Hugh Brady suffering a torn ACL in a win over Farrington last week.
He finished 9-for-23 for 122 yards but made the two big throws late to Eldredge, who hadn’t caught a touchdown pass yet this season.
“I was saying the whole game I had a one-on-one on the outside and I just wanted to take advantage of that,” said Eldredge, who has committed to Brigham Young to play both baseball and football. “I told John to throw it up and he did and I made a play.”
Punahou, which leads the all-time series with Kamehameha 96-90-6, has won 13 of the last 14 times they’ve played.
The Warriors (0-2, 0-2) opened the game with 37 yards on their first drive and got a 35-yard field goal by Preston Rezentes to take an early 3-0 lead.
The two teams combined for only 31 yards the rest of the half as both offenses struggled.
A bad snap on the first Punahou punt attempt of the game rolled out of the end zone for a safety for the only other points before the fourth quarter.
Kamehameha attempted four passes and rushed 21 times in the first half, while Punahou was more balanced, but struggled to get any consistency out of either its rushing offense or passing attack.
“They controlled the ball and the tempo in the first half,” Ane said. “We had to remind everybody it was 5-0, we were right in the game. It was a one-score game and our quarterback persevered and came back strong in the second half, which is good to see.”
Sagapolutele hit Moku Dancil-Evans down the middle for 37 yards on his first throw of the second half, but Punahou couldn’t score until a big play on special teams.
Gilman, who normally receives punts, came up with a punt block to give Punahou the ball at the Kamehameha 23, setting up the Buffanblu’s first score.
“Coach thought there was an opportunity for me to come off the edge and block it and we had some room to do that,” Gilman said. “I told him the punt before when I wasn’t in, I said, ‘Coach, I’m going to get that punt. Let me get out there and get that.’ ”
Kamehameha finished with 140 total yards. Junior quarterback Kiai Keone was 10-for-21 for 88 yards.
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No. 2 Punahou 15, No. 6 Kamehameha 5
At Alexander Field
>> Kamehameha (0-2, 0-2) 5 0 0 0 — 5
>> Punahou (3-0, 2-0) 0 0 0 15 — 15
Kamehameha — FG Preston Rezentes 35
Kamehameha — Safety, punt snapped out of end zone
Punahou — Koa Eldredge 23 pass from John-Keawe Sagapolutele (Christopher Paige pass from Sagapolutele)
Punahou — Eldredge 33 pass from Sagapolutele (Quinn Maretzki kick)
RUSHING — Kamehameha: Kawika Clemente 18-41, Kiai Keone 12-13, Andrew-Lee Smith 6-12, Skyler Ramos 1-(minus 4), team 1-(minus 10). Punahou: Vincent Terrell 15-72, Sagapolutele 1-(minus 7), team 2-(minus 32).
PASSING — Kamehameha: Keone 10-21-0—88, Jonah Yuen 0-1-0-0. Punahou: Sagapolutele 9-23-0—122.
RECEIVING — Kamehameha: Kahekili Pahio 3-56, Ramos 2-13, Kalanikuikahi Lorenzo 2-8, Smith 1-7, Edward Correa 1-4, Clemente 1-0. Punahou: Eldredge 4-69, Moku Dancil-Evans 2-34, Kanoa Kalahiki 2-16, Raydan Kiaaaina-Caires 1-3.
