Defensive back Alaka‘i Gilman scored touchdowns on a fumble return and an interception return in the span of 18 seconds as No. 2 Punahou rolled to a 52-0 victory over Waianae on Friday night at Raymond Torii Field.
The Buffanblu closed the regular season at 5-2 in ILH Open play (6-2 overall). The loss didn’t count against Waianae’s league record (1-3 OIA Open, 1-7 overall). Punahou overcame a sturdy front seven, as well as a turnover on its opening drive. Waianae’s Nainoa Machado came up with an interception to stymie Punahou’s opening series. Defensive linemen Zefften Thompson-Avilla and Kalena Sione combined for a sack later in the first quarter, keeping the home team in the game.
However, Punahou’s defense limited Waianae to 18 yards of total offense and no first downs in the first half.
“I don’t know if we’re ever satisfied, but we’re happy with the way our kids played. Getting through the season, and now looking forward to the playoffs,” Punahou coach Kale Ane said. “It’s hard playing the wing-T, an offense that’s different. The kids really paid attention to detail and made tackles. It was really a nice job.”
Hugh Brady passed for 164 yards and three TDs before taking a seat at halftime. He threw scoring tosses of 30 yards to Moku Dancil-Evans, 25 yards on a crossing route to Koa Eldredge and 40 yards on a go route to Tamatoa Falatea.
Gilman’s big plays came after Punahou had a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. He scooped up a fumble by Waianae and raced 25 yards to paydirt with 9:47 left in the second quarter.
“At first, I was aligned wrong because I saw something different from the other safety, but I got to where I was supposed to be,” Gilman said. “Trent Shiraki actually made the hit and I was in perfect position. The ball bounced into my hands and I was able to make the play.”
On Waianae’s next snap from scrimmage, he snagged a pass by Kevin Poepoe in the right flat and raced 30 yards to the pylon, giving the visitors a 28-0 lead with 9:29 to go in the first half.
“I was just reading the quarterback at first and I noticed he didn’t take a drop,” Gilman said. “So I knew the ball was coming out right away. I read his eyes and I went straight to the ball. It was kind of behind me, but I was able to make the play.”
The Seariders did not start Shaydon Lopes at quarterback, but he took the reins after Poepoe suffered an ankle injury late in the first half. They moved the ball with more consistency after that, driving to the Punahou 6-yard line on their first drive of the second half. On fourth-and-goal, a host of Buffanblu sacked Lopes to end the threat.
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GAME SUMMARY
No. 2 Punahou 52, Waianae 0
At Waianae
>> Punahou (6-2, 5-2) 7 35 0 10 — 52
>> Waianae (1-7, 1-3) 0 0 0 0 — 0
Punahou — Moku Dancil-Evans 30 pass from Hugh Brady (Tim Horn kick)
Punahou — Koa Eldredge 25 pass from Brady (Horn kick)
Punahou — Alaka‘i Gilman 25 fumble return (Horn kick)
Punahou — Gilman 30 interception return (Horn kick)
Punahou — Tamatoa Falatea 40 pass from Brady (Quinn Maretzki kick)
Punahou — Sitiveni Kaufusi 20 pass from Kobe Muasau (Maretzki kick)
Punahou — FG Horn 32
Punahou — Theo Chun 1 run (Maretzki kick)
RUSHING — Punahou: Chun 4-20, Kaufusi 5-11, Malcolm Liufau 1-6, Muasau 1-6, Gunnar Locke 2-3, Brady 1-(minus-3), Terrell 1-(minus-6). Waianae: Jesse Kuehu 7-23, Seanuinui Madeira 2-5, Shaydon Lopes 2-5, Malik Brown 3-(minus-1), Joshua Nahulu 4-(minus-1) Kevin Poepoe 7-(minus-4).
PASSING — Punahou: Muasau 11-24-0-158, Brady 10-16-1-164. Waianae: Shaydon Lopes 3-9-0-76, Poepoe 0-7-1-0.
RECEIVING — Punahou: Falatea 4-80, Dancil-Evans 4-65, Alex Thompson 3-36, Koa Eldredge 2-30, Treyden Buder-Nakasone 1-23, Matagi Thompson 1-23, Terrell 2-21, Kaufusi 1-20, Raydan Kiaaina-Caires 1-15, Zachary Johnson 1-11, Yoshi Kobayashi 1-(minus-2). Waianae: Brown 1-38, Adonnis Puou 1-27, Chad Pule 1-11.
