The fourth-ranked Punahou football team is in Southern California preparing for its game against Junipero Serra on Saturday in the Honor Bowl in San Diego.
“We got in a couple of good practices and are looking forward to it,” Buffanblu coach Kale Ane said Thursday.
On Wednesday, Punahou visited the UCLA football facilities and then on Thursday took a tour of the San Diego State football facilities.
“The kids got to see (former Buffanblu stars) Ronley Lakalaka and Seyddrick Lakalaka, and Andrew Aleki of Kamehameha at the San Diego State practice, so that was really nice for all the kids to see them,” Ane said. “It was all very impressive and gives the kids an idea of what it’s like to be part of college football. And the field and facilities of where we will be playing (Cathedral Catholic) Saturday are quite exceptional, too.”
Today, the Buffanblu (2-0) planned to visit Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as part of an Honor Bowl function.
Ane said a player on the Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.) Cavaliers (0-1) team has a Hawaii connection — 6-foot-5, junior quarterback Blaze McKibbin. His father is the brother of Punahou physical education teacher Diane McInerney.
“It’s a volleyball family, but he plays quarterback,” Ane said about McKibbin. “He is a tough kid and has a lot of speed. We’re looking forward to the challenge of competing against this team.”
Junipero Serra’s loss was to the Narbonne Gauchos (1-0) of Los Angeles last Friday. The Gauchos trailed 14-0 in that game before rallying for the win.
No. 1 Saint Louis (3-0), Punahou’s Interscholastic League of Honolulu rival, plays Narbonne at Aloha Stadium on Sept. 23.
There were civil disturbances at that Aug. 25 game, according to this excerpt from the Los Angeles Times:
Fights were breaking out in the Narbonne stands throughout the fourth quarter. Then came a call, “Officer needs help,” according to Sgt. Doug Campbell of the Los Angeles Unified School Police. There was robust response from LAPD and school police, with sirens blaring and lights flashing from arriving police cars and a helicopter circling above. By the end of the game, there were 20 school police cars at Narbonne to help disperse fans, Campbell said.
Download the Fox Sports Go app and click here to watch Saturday’s Junipero Serra vs. Punahou game at 1 p.m. Hawaii time on Fox Sports’ Prep Zone.
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