No. 3 Punahou gets back on the football field for the first time in 21 days. The Buffanblu welcome Torrey Pines from San Diego, Calif.
PUNAHOU BUFFANBLU 1-0
Head coach: Kale Ane
2017 Punahou roster
VS.
TORREY PINES FALCONS (0-0)
Head coach: Ron Gladnick
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NOTES: Kale Ane is 6-1 all time against mainland foes and has won six in a row after losing his first, in 1999 against Edieson. That six in a row is by far the longest active streak and is three away from matching Cal Lee‘s all-time streak of nine in a row from 1991-2014.
Punahou has played Torrey Pines twice before but never won, falling 31-14 in 1996 and 32-31 in 1993. Torrey Pines also beat Campbell 40-9 in 1998, making the Falcons 3-0 against Hawaii foes.
Punahou passing vs. mainland: Kimo Makaula with 315 vs. vs. Central Kitsap in 2008.
Punahou rushing vs. mainland: Wayne Taulapapa with 181 vs. Del Oro in 2015.
Punahou receiving vs. mainland: Kanawai Noa with 210 vs. Helix in 2013.
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No. 3 Punahou 23, No. 8 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) 7, FINAL
Boxscore
At Aloha Stadium
Torrey Pines (0-0) 0 0 7 0 — 7
Punahou (1-0) 0 7 7 9 — 23
PUN—Solatoa Moea‘i 15 pass from Stephen Barber (Hunter Hosoda kick)
PUN—Koa Eldredge 12 pass from Barber (Hosoda kick)
TP—Sully O’Brien 5 run (Justin Kaplan kick)
PUN—Antonio Cortez Feria 1 run (Hosoda kick)
PUN—Safety, Beau Morgans tackled in end zone
RUSHING—TP:
#9 Mac Bingham 19-91,
#11 O’Brien 16-95,
#4 Jason Heine 8-46,
#33 Grant Anderson 1-4,
Luke Mikolajewski 1-(-3).
Pun:
#2 Barber 17-91,
#4 Sitiveni Kaufusi 7-35,
#19 Vincent Terrell 9-64,
#24 Feria 3-11.
PASSING—TP:
Heine 6-16-1-65.
Pun:
Barber 20-25-1-244.
RECEIVING—TP:
O’Brien 2-11,
Bingham 1-3,
Mikolajewski 1-32,
Peter Nelson 1-10,
Louis Bickett 1-9.
Pun:
#3 Hosoda 4-37,
#95 Moea‘i 2-47,
#10 Tamatoa Falatea 7-88,
#22 Koa Eldredge 5-64,
#4 Kaufusi 1-5,
#19 Terrell 1-3.
No. 3 Punahou 23, No. 8 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) 7, 9:28, fourth quarter
Falcons ball at their 6, they try a reverse to Beau Morgans, but he is tackled in the end zone by Trent Shiraki for a safety.
Tanner Ono with a pick and 33-yard to the 17, but the next play, Barber’s pass is picked by LB Louis Bickett on an unbelievable dive.
No. 3 Punahou 21, No. 8 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) 7, 11:07, fourth quarter
Punahou marches downfield without much resistance. Four injuries already for the Falcons, at least one possibly due to the humidity even on a windy night at Aloha Stadium. Barber picking his spots to run, hurls a 35-yard strike to Andrei Iosivas. Two plays later, Antonio Cortez Feria scores on a 1-yard TD.
No. 3 Punahou 14, No. 8 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) 7, 2:22, third quarter
Impressive drive by the Falcons, 80 yards in just six plays, aided by a facemask call on Punahou. Luke Mikolajewski hauls in a big 32-yard pass from Heine, and O’Brien pummels forward for a 5-yard TD run to bring the Falcons within a TD.
No. 3 Punahou 14, No. 8 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) 0, 4:36, third quarter
Punahou scores first. Barber’s pass to the goal line is almost picked by Torrey Pines’ LB Jackie Plashkes, then ricochets to the middle of the end zone to TE #95, who isn’t listed on the roster, but it’s a touchdown for Punahou. Falcons recover at their 16.
Punahou’s first series of the second half includes a third-and-1 keeper by Barber for a first down. He’s their most effective weapon right now as a ballcarrier, combination of power and finesse. Two injuries for Torrey Pines on this drive on consecutive plays near midfield. One looks like leg cramps. Barber speeds up the tempo for the no-huddle, picks up a tough first down on the ground, and then Vincent Terrell blasts up the middle for a 21-yard gain to the 12. Lots of time in the pocket, Barber to a diving Koa Eldredge for a 12-yard TD pass. Punahou needed this cushion against a scrappy Falcons squad.
Torrey Pines opens the second half with a drive that enters Punahou territory following a touchback kickoff by Hosoda. But on fourth and 1 at the 40, illegal procedure. Punt, fair catch at the Punahou 26.
No. 3 Punahou 7, No. 8 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) 0, HALF
At Aloha Stadium
Torrey Pines (0-0) 0 0 — 0
Punahou (1-0) 0 7 — 7
PUN—Solatoa Moea‘i 15 pass from Stephen Barber (Hunter Hosoda kick)
RUSHING—TP:
#9 Mac Bingham 11-43,
#11 Sully O’Brien 8-46,
#4 Jason Heine 3-20,
#33 Grant Anderson 1-4,
Pun:
#2 Barber 6-47,
#4 Sitiveni Kaufusi 6-33,
#19 Vincent Terrell 5-27,
PASSING—TP:
Heine 3-7-0-14
Pun:
Barber 8-10-0-118,
RECEIVING—TP:
O’Brien 2-11, Bingham 1-3.
Pun:
#3 Hosoda 2-11,
#95 Moea‘i 2-47,
#10 Tamatoa Falatea 3-49,
#22 Koa Eldredge 1-12,
I found the name of the TE who caught the TD for Punahou: Solatoa Moea‘i. He’s listed as 55 and 95 on the roster, I just didn’t see it thinking that he wears just one number like most footballers. I hope he’s getting double the fun being a two-way guy.
The Falcons have 137 yards of total offense and haven’t been in the red zone yet, but they’ve forced two turnovers while committing none of their own, and that 49-yard punt that pinned Punahou at its 2 didn’t hurt either. Dick Tomey would be proud. They’re hanging in this game on sheer smarts, eating clock with their wing-T offense, and playing good defense.
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The Falcons run out the clock to end the first half, trailing by just one TD. Punahou has dominated in total yardage, but the Buffanblu possessions have been punt, TD, fumble, fumble. It’s a low-possession game, exactly what the visitors from Del Mar wanted.
Punahou ball at its 39, driving effectively, but another turnover. This time it’s Barber who loses the ball as he picks up a first down, and it’s Raser who recovers again. Torrey Pines ball at its 16 with 58 seconds left in the first half.
Falcons can do little now offensively. Fourth and 5, Heine’s post pass overthrown. Had a receiver wide open on the sideline.
Barber connects with Falatea for a 19-yard pass, but safety Jack Raser strips the ball free and recovers at the Punahou 44. Great play.
The Falcons have a wide open man downfield, but Heine misses Mac Bingham, who would’ve scored. Punt. Great bounce, downed at the Punahou 2, 6:50.
No. 3 Punahou 7, No. 8 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) 0, 11:24, second quarter
Punahou scores first. Barber’s pass to the goal line is almost picked by Torrey Pines’ LB Jackie Plashkes, then ricochets to the middle of the end zone to TE #95, who isn’t listed on the roster, but it’s a touchdown for Punahou. Falcons recover at their 16.
No. 3 Punahou 0, No. 8 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) 0
Punahou in the pistol against cover-1 with the corners way back, maybe 10 yards. Pounding ahead, and then an 18-yard pass from Stephen Barber to Tamatoa Falatea. The first quarter ends quickly, just 23 minutes after kickoff. There were two pass attempts by Torrey Pines and just four by Punahou. Buffanblu ball at the 15 as the quarter ends.
As expected, the Falcons are deliberate and smart, QB Jason Heine eludes the pass rush and dashes 9 yards for a first down. Then they are facing second and 17, pound into the line twice for the first down. Coach said this is their biggest roster in some time, and they’re smashing up front. Drive stalls at the 23, Punahou ball on downs.
Punahou with a couple of big gains on the opening series, but penalties stunt the drive. Punt, touchback.
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