Punahou will play for the first time in three weeks as it looks to reach the Division I state final for the third straight year. Can Farrington, which has been through so much emotionally this season, pull off a big-time upset to reach its first state final? Kickoff is set for right around 8 p.m.
Before we begin, let me just say that Punahou has played a whopping nine games this year and only five against non-Division II teams. What a waste. That ILH schedule format must be changed for next year.
Anyway, here we go with the kickoff. Punahou receives.
8:01 p.m.: Farrington DL Motu Heimuli sacks Punahou QB Larry Tuileta on the first play. Tuileta though goes 26 yards to tight end Dakota Torres, 29 yards to running back Wayne Taulapapa and 21 yards for a touchdown to Trent Sitar and just like that, it’s 6-0 Buffanblu after the extra point is blocked.
8:10 p.m.: Farrington QB Montana Liana completes a 16-yard pass to Jacob Baguio on third-and-10. Without RB Sanele Lavatai (shoulder) in the game, the Govs throw the ball six straight times before punting.
8:13 p.m.: Lavatai is on the Farrington sideline without pads on, so he’s definitely out. Tuileta makes a great throw on the run as he avoids the Farrington rush, hitting Dylan Combs for 13 yards and a first down. Buffanblu march right down the field as Wayne Taulapapa scores from a a yard out. 12-0 as the extra point is missed.
Tuileta is 8-for-10 for 138 yards and a touchdown less than seven minutes in.
8:22 p.m.: Sophomore Andrew Aneki gets the first carry for Farrington. I’m not sure if he’s carried the ball once this season. Farrington has to punt after Liana is sacked by Ronley Lakalaka on third-and-2.
8:28 p.m.: Nice win for the Farrington defense as DB Jacob McEnroe makes a great play breaking up a deep ball from Tuileta to Kanawai Noa. Tuileta to Sitar goes for only 6 yards on third-and-10 and Punahou punts for the first time tonight.
8:34 p.m.: Punahou with 12 guys on the field to start the second quarter and Farrington gets a free 15 yards and a first down. Liana escapes pressure and throws up a deep ball but Randon Oda intercepts it for Punahou. Receiver could have helped out QB by making a play on the ball there. Punahou takes over on its 25.
8:38 p.m.: Tuileta goes 14 yards to Torres but them fumbles the exchange with Taulapapa on the next play and Farrington’s Aaron Kesi recovers it.
8:40 p.m.: Farrington runs two plays for negative yards, has a penalty, and then Liana is incomplete on third-and-17. Breiden Fehoko pins the Buffanblu on their own 5 after a nice punt.
8:45 p.m.: Give the Govs defense credit. They are having in there, forcing a Punahou punt after a three-and-out. Buffanblu got TDs on first two drives but have been stuffed on each of the last three.
8:47 p.m.: Liana with a nice throw on the run to DJ Chaffin for 12 yards on third down to move the chains. Farrington into Punahou territory. That doesn’t last long as two false starts move the ball to the other side of the 50. Liana tackled after a 1-yard gain and Farrington punts it back to Punahou with 4:12 left in the first half.
9:01 p.m.: Both offenses stuck in neutral. Punahou punted it back to Farrington. Buffanblu send Kalama Chung on a blitz and Chung gets the sack of Liana. Another big punt for Fehoko, 42 yards. Punahou will take over first-and-10 on its 23 with 1:15 left in the first half.
9:03 p.m.: And just like that, Tuileta to Noa for 77 yards. Looked like they put Noa in the slot to get McEnroe off him and the safety bit and took a bad angle leaving Noa wide open. Tuileta to Torres for the 2-point conversion and it’s 20-0 with 1:02 left.
9:12 p.m.: Punahou calls timeout to try and get the ball back but jumps offsides on the punt, giving Farrington a first down at its 32. Liana sacked by a blitzing linebacker and we go to the half with Punahou leading 20-0.
Touching moment at halftime as they play a tribute slide show on the screen for Farrington’s Dayne Ortiz.
Larry Tuileta is 14-for-20 for 250 yards and 2 TDs at the half. Noa’s 77-yard TD was his only catch. Farrington with 42 total yards and four first downs.
9:30 p.m.: Farrington receives the second-half kickoff but is three-and-out as Canton Kaumatule comes up with a third-down sack.
9:36 p.m.: Buffanblu poised to end this quickly. Tuileta to Noa for 34 yards and then Tuileta to Kotoni Sekona for a 14-yard TD. 27-0 Buffanblu.
9:44 p.m.: Govs get the ball back down 27 and pick up a first down on a Manu Masalosalo run. Liana to CJ Chaffin for 10 yards on third-and-11. Govs for it on fourth-and-1 from the 49 but are stuffed. Punahou takes over.
9:50 p.m.: Farrington comes up with another stop on defense and the offense finally takes advantage. Liana hits Baguio for a 69-yard touchdown and it’s 27-6 with 4:40 left in the third quarter. The Govs might have had more yards on that play than they had all game to that point.
9:56 p.m.: Farrington sends a blitz on third-and-6 from the 50 but Tuileta just beats it, hitting Sitar for 17 yards. Tuileta is sacked by Aaron Kesi on the next play as Kesi made a great play off the edge, but has to hobble off.
9:58 p.m.: Titus Lave gets an interception off the deflection by a Punahou receiver and Farrington has the ball on the Punahou 45.
10:01 p.m.: Farrington tries a fake punt on fourth-and-11. Great call but they can’t execute as Sitaleki Hufanga overthrows Lave, who was open. Punahou takes over. Love the call though.
10:03 p.m.: Tuileta with one of those D-1 throws, a perfect 34-yard pass down the sideline to Luke Morris. Taulapapa takes a screen pass and breaks about four tackles before going into the end zone from 21 yards out. Punahou makes Farrington pay for the fake punt try and takes a 34-6 lead with 1:15 left Q3.
10:07 p.m.: Farrington’s Chaffin shaken up on the kickoff return but walks off under his own power. Farrington will have to punt as we go to the fourth quarter.
10:13 p.m.: Tuileta to Torres for a 38-yard touchdown to make it running clock at 41-6. Tuileta with 430 yards and five touchdowns. Only Leilehua’s Kenan Sadanaga (474 vs. Baldwin, 2010) has thrown for more yards in a state-tournament game. Tuileta breaks the school record of 426 yards, which has stood for 20 years. Makaena Puli threw for 426 yards in a win over Damien on Oct. 16, 1993.
10:24 p.m.: Working on filing for deadline, but Kotoni Sekona with a 16-yard TD run makes it 48-6 with 4:52 left, Q4.
That’s the ballgame. 10-0 Punahou vs. 11-1 Mililani for the state title next Saturday night. Buffanblu won an interleague game between the two back in August, 24-14.
Punahou got more Polys than Farrington. The names seem like Kahuku students are playing for the Buff and Blue.
The Govs need a complete change of coaches. Offense has been one dimensional year after year. Offense needs to be creative but that is asking too much from the coaching staff. Oh well, at least they made it to the semi’s.