Punahou will play Long Beach Poly in football this fall, according to Buffanblu coach Kale Ane.
The game is scheduled for Aug. 31 at a site to be determined in Southern California.
“We asked if they had an opening weekend and it turns out they had an opening date but had to switch their schedule around a bit to make it work,” Ane said.
Both teams finished 8-3 last season. This will be the season debut for the Jackrabbits, who lost in the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs to JSerra, 42-9, to end last season.
According to Ane, one possible site for the game is Moorpark, Calif., which is about 70 miles from Long Beach.
“They’re a really good team,” Ane said. “The Jackrabbits are pretty well known and should be a pretty good opponent for us.”
In 2002, Long Beach Poly defeated Kahuku 42-16 at Aloha Stadium as part of a doubleheader that also included a 31-21 win by De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) over Saint Louis.
Ane attended that doubleheader and recalls Long Beach Poly being a “tremendous” team.
On their most recent mainland trips, Punahou defeated Serra (Gardena, Calf.) 56-42 in 2017, Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.) 22-15 in 2015, and Helix (La Mesa, Calif.) 10-6 in 2013.
“We try to travel every two years,” Ane said. “It’s great for the program and the families get a chance to visit schools and meet the coaches and players. And we try to schedule visits to colleges and watch their practices and the kids get see what that’s like. It’s an eye-opener for them.”
NFL alums from Long Beach Poly include Willie McGinest, who won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, wide receiver DeSean Jackson and safety Mark Carrier, the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1990.
HAWAII TEAMS VS. MAINLAND, 2019
Subject to change
Friday, Aug. 30
Aloha Football Classic
>> Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) vs. Saint Louis, at Aloha Stadium, 7 p.m.
>> Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) at Mililani, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 31
>> Punahou vs. Long Beach Poly, site in Southern California TBA, 4 p.m. Hawaii time
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