Defending state champion and top-ranked Punahou started slowly, then erupted for 41 unanswered first-half points in a 55-7 win over No. 7 Saint Louis on Friday night at Aloha Stadium. 

Two-time All-State wide receiver Kanawai Noa looked the part of the state’s top pass-catcher. After last season’s string of injuries, he’s at full health and had seven receptions for 242 yards and three touchdowns. That effort passed Donny Utu’s school Prep Bowl-era record of 240 in 1993.  

The Buffanblu got a sterling performance from junior quarterback Ephraim Tuliloa in his debut as the starter. The southpaw passed for 441 yards and six touchdowns — five in the first half — and had complete mastery of Punahou’s complex, hybrid packages. He completed 22 of 35 attempts without a turnover. 

Wayne Taulapapa had a fairly light load with 15 carries for 161 yards. In all, the Buffanblu amassed 648 total yards in their first game of the season. 

Punahou’s swarming defense, powered up front by Canton Kaumatule, limited the Crusaders to 244 total yards. 

At the start, though, it looked like the making of another ILH gridiron classic. For a few possessions, neither offense could score. Once Tuliloa found Noa deep, the Buffanblu scored on five possessions in a row, all ending with touchdown passes by Tuliloa. 

He found Noa in single coverage for the first three bombs of 45, 43 and 80 yards before hitting Micah Ma’a high in the air for an 11-yard strike in the end zone.

Ma’a, a volleyball standout, hung in the air and rode on top of a defender before landing safely. 

Tuliloa also beat a safety blitz and found Heisman Hosoda on a post route for a 23-yard touchdown for a 

34-0 lead with 3:29 to go in the first half. 

Three plays later, a pass by Saint Louis sophomore Tua Tagovailoa ricocheted off a receiver and into the hands of cornerback Randon Oda, who raced 44 yards for the score. 

The only downside of an otherwise perfect first half for Punahou: nine penalties for 98 yards.  

Saint Louis finally ended its scoreless drought on Tagovailoa’s 10-yard strike to Jimmy Nunuha. Moments later, Tuliloa answered with his sixth touchdown pass of the night, a 44-yard rainbow to Kali’i Santos for a 48-7 lead.

Pun–Kanawai Noa 45 pass from Ephraim Tuliloa (John Toner kick)

Pun–Noa 43 pass from Tuliloa (kick failed)

Pun–Noa 80 pass from Tuliloa (Toner kick)

Pun–Micah Ma’a 11 pass from Tuliloa (Toner kick)

Pun–Heisman Hosoda 23 pass from Tuliloa (Toner kick)

Pun–Randon Oda 44 interception return (Toner kick)

StL–Jimmy Nunuha 10 pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Noah Alejado kick)

Pun–Kala’i Santos 44 pass from Tuliloa (Toner kick)

Pun–Hosoda 10 run (Toner kick)

RUSHING–Saint Louis: Raymond Caayon 12-75, Jonathon Manalo 2-21, Allan Cui 1-8, Tua Tagovailoa 7-8. Punahou: Wayne Taulapapa 15-161, Hosoda 5-28, Noa Kamana 1-5, Nicholas Kapule 1-4, Loi Chang-Stroman 2-3, Ronley Lakalaka 1-2, Tuliloa 2-(minus-4). 

PASSING–Saint Louis: Tagovailoa 15-31-1-132, Ryder Kuhns 0-1-0-0. Punahou: Tuliloa 22-35-0-441, Kapule 1-1-0-8. 

RECEIVING–Saint Louis: Riccardo Sallas II 4-27, Cui 3-30, Jimmy Nunuha 3-30, Iosefo Noga 2-21, Cash Searle 2-20, Keanu Souza 1-4. Punahou: Noa 7-242, Ma’a 5-66, Hosoda 3-56, Taulapapa 3-21, Santos 1-44, Kamana Hobbs 1-8, Raymond Vara 1-8, Cole Obana 1-4, Brandon Yahiro 1-0. 

Kamehameha 25, Del Oro (Calif.) 17

The Warriors scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rally past the Golden Eagles in the season opener for both teams in Loomis, Calif.

Kamehameha jumped out to a 13-0 lead before Del Oro scored 17 unanswered points.

The Warriors scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard plunge by Kaysan Nakatsu.

Kamehameha added a defensive touchdown on a strip sack a minute later.