Kamehameha needed a near-perfect performance.
Punahou wouldn’t let that happen, turning four Warrior turnovers into a 21-point lead in the first quarter en route to a 35-0 playoff victory on Friday night at Aloha Stadium.
No. 2 Punahou (7-2, 6-2) will meet first-place Saint Louis for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Open Division title next week. No. 8 Kamehameha completed the season 4-6 overall (3-5 ILH Open).
Trent Shiraki highlighted the string of takeaways, returning an interception 48 yards to paydirt. That gave Punahou a 21-0 lead with 2:40 left in the opening quarter.
“First, it was trips (formation) and my job is to secure the flat, the way inside slot. I saw 3 hook up and my eyes went straight to 2, and I saw the quarterback release and I just went for it,” Shiraki said. “I dropped one against Saint Louis, but I think I made up for it.”
Punahou limited Kamehameha to 157 yards of total offense. The Buffanblu finished with 279 total yards.
“The score doesn’t show it, but all these guys who were sophomores on my first team, they put in the hard work and moved the program in the right direction,” Kamehameha coach Abu Ma‘afala said.
In their previous meeting with Punahou, Kamehameha was locked in a 14-all tie at halftime. On Friday, the Warriors went with a quick tempo, hurry-up offense, but the giveaways allowed Punahou to begin its first two series at the Kamehameha 25- and 11-yard lines.
On its first snap from scrimmage, Kamehameha fumbled the handoff exchange and Punahou defensive back Alaka‘i Gilman, who scored on two returns against Waianae last week, recovered the ball.
Five plays later, Hugh Brady found Koa Eldredge, who tip-toed on the right side of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.
Kamehameha’s defense forced a Punahou punt, but the ball was muffed by Noah Feato and recovered by Kainalu Pu‘u-Robinson. Two plays later, Brady connected with Eldredge again, this time on a slant route for a 12-yard TD.
Then came Shiraki’s pick-6 play to open the lead to three touchdowns.
Kamehameha also fumbled away its next possession, but Punahou came up empty after Kalani Kamakawiwo‘ole sacked Brady, one of eight sacks by the Warriors.
Their defense stood firm, but Punahou got a 20-yard TD pass from reserve quarterback Kobe Muasau to Kanoa Kalahiki with 26 seconds to go in the first half.
Brady was sacked five times in the third quarter, but Muasau then finished a drive with a 40-yard strike to Eldredge, then found Tamatoa Falatea on a slant for a 5-yard TD and a 35-0 lead with 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
GAME SUMMARY
No. 2 Punahou 35, No. 8 Kamehameha 0
At Aloha Stadium
>> Kamehameha (4-6, 3-5) 0 0 0 0 — 0
>> Punahou (7-2, 6-2) 21 7 7 0 — 35
Punahou — Koa Eldredge 7 pass from Hugh Brady (Tim Horn kick)
Punahou — Eldredge 12 pass from Brady (Horn kick)
Punahou — Trent Shiraki 48 interception return (Horn kick)
Punahou — Kanoa Kalahiki 20 pass from Kobe Muasau (Horn kick)
Punahou — Tamatoa Falatea 5 pass from Muasau (Horn kick)
RUSHING — Kamehameha: Christmas Togiai 11-45, Reino Bush 8-21, Braden Akima 3-20, Alec Serrao 1-1. Punahou: Vincent Terrell 7-29, Sitiveni Kaufusi 6-23, Brady 11-2, No. 30 1-4, Gunnar Locke 1-3.
PASSING — Kamehameha: Togiai 10-24-1-66. Punahou: Brady 14-19-0-130, Muasau 7-10-0-92.
RECEIVING — Kamehameha: Edward Correa 4-29, Akima 3-17, Kahakili Pahio 1-11, Brock Ai 1-5, Bush 1-4. Punahou: Tamatoa Falatea 7-53, Eldredge 6-106, Moku Dancil-Evans 3-32, Terrell 3-9, Kalahiki 1-20, Matagi Thompson 1-2.
