Six days after its impressive come-from-behind victory over Del Oro in California, the Punahou Buffanblu are back home to kick off the 2015 ILH season.
The four-time defending league champions head down the road to face ‘Iolani, which makes its Division I debut after dominating in Division II for over a decade.
The Buffanblu have won 14 of the last 16 meetings and have scored at least 56 points in each of the last three games against the Raiders.
Field conditions are a bit soggy but the game is still expected to kick at 3:15 p.m.
Taulapapa with a 26-yard run on the first play of the game but Punahou is called for a hold and then goes three-and-out as Ephraim Tuliloa scrambles for 13 yards on third-and-18.
Tai-John Mizutani gets the start at QB for ‘Iolani but is sacked on third down after a second-down drop by the receiver and ‘Iolani is three-and-out.
The Buffanblu convert on fourth-and-5 as Tuliloa hits Ethan Takeyama over the middle for a quick 8-yard pass. A 12-play drive covering 65 yards ends on a 14-yard TD pass from Tuliloa to Eamon Brady. Backup RB Antonio Cortez Feria came in the game as Taulapapa came off with an injury.
Raiders are inside the Punahou 10 after three different defensive pass-interference penalties. Pascua runs twice to the 4 but Mizutani’s third down pass on a slant to Keoni-Kordell Makekau is incomplete. Makekau boots the 21-yard field goal. 7-3, 2:46, Q1.
Punahou takes over on its 20 and Enoch Nawahine is in at running back for Taulapapa, who remains on the Punahou sideline.
Punahou working a lot of option-keep as Tuliloa has carried the ball five times for 48 yards on the next drive. Quarter ends with Punahou second-and-goal at the 1. Nawahine in for a 1-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter. That’s his first TD of the season.
After an ‘Iolani three-and-out, backup QB Nick Kapule is in for the Buffanblu. Taulapapa back into the game and runs for nine on third-and-8. Kapule then with a deep ball and Takeyama makes a diving 35-yard touchdown catch full extension in the end zone in front of a defender. Great catch. 21-3, 9:14, Q2.
Raiders have their drive stay alive on a roughing-the-passer penalty on third down. Pascua then busts through the middle for 23 yards and Mizutani finds Nick Kennedy for 17 yards. Punahou calls timeout with ‘Iolani first-and-goal at the 10. Following the timeout, another pass interference call on Buffanblu. Mizutani with the play fake and finds a wide open Tamatane Aga in the end zone for a touchdown. Two-point conversion fails.
Punahou answers with an 8-play, 74-yard drive capped off by a brilliant throw by Kapule, who fits a deep ball just beyond the fingertips of the defender into the hands of Judd Cockett for a 27-yard TD. ‘Iolani forced him to throw a perfect throw and Kapule did for the TD.
Mizutani with a deep ball on third down that is caught by Makekau for a big 46-yard reception. Mizutani with a 12-yard completion to Nick Kennedy and then scrambles for 14 yards to the 5. Plus a late-hit on the Punahou defender shoving Mizutani after he had stepped out. Pascua is stopped for no gain and two incomplete passes makes its fourth-and-goal from the 7 after a 5-yard penalty. Makekau motions out left and then catches a perfect pass and slips past the defender for the TD. Two-pointer is no good. 28-15, 1:55, Q2.
Punahou gets a big 36-yard pass from Kapule to Eamon Brady on third down and is at the ‘Iolani 17, but Helam Baldomero intercepts a Kapule pass in the end zone. Pacua with a 21-yard run and it’s halftime.
HALFTIME BOX SCORE
at Kozuki Stadium
Punahou (3-0, 0-0) 7 21
‘Iolani (2-1, 0-0) 3 12
Pun—Eamon Brady 14 pass from Ephraim Tuliloa (Jet Toner kick)
Iol—FG Keoni-Kordell Makekau 21
Pun—Enoch Nawahine 1 run (Toner kick)
Pun—Ethan Takeyama 35 pass from Nick Kapule (Toner kick)
Iol—Tamatane Aga 5 pass from Tai-John Mizutani (pass failed)
Pun—Judd Cockett 27 pass from Kapule (Toner kick)
Iol—Makekau 7 pass from Mizutani (pass failed)
RUSHING—Punahou: Tuliloa 7-68, Wayne Taulapapa 10-46, Nawahine 3-14, Kapule 1-2, Antonio Cortez Feria 2-1. ‘Iolani: KJ Pascua 17-73, Mizutani 3-7.
PASSING—Punahou: Kapule 7-13-1-147, Tuliloa 5-9-0-55. ‘Iolani: Mizutani 7-18-0-109.
RECEIVING—Punahou: Keala Martinson 4-47, Brady 3-64, Takeyama 3-55, Cockett 2-36. ‘Iolani: Makekau 3-61, Nick Kennedy 3-43, Aga 1-5.
Second-half kickoff will be about 4:58 p.m.
Was off by a minute. Raiders get the ball first. Disappointing three-and-out as Mizutani misses two wide-open guys on third-and-5. It turns out not to be a three-and-out as Punahou is whistled for illegal participation. Too many guys on the field. ‘Iolani first down. Pascua pulls off a 39-yard run as one of the ‘Iolani OL just pancaked a defender. Pascua scores on what looks like an 8-yard TD pass but holding is called on a receiver. Mizutani finds Makekau for a 9-yard TD on third down and it’s 28-22, 8:48, Q3.
Kapule still in at QB. Drive stalls out after two incomplete passes but Toner drills a 43-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game. 31-22, 6:58, Q3.
‘Iolani has another drive extended as Punahou is whistled for pass interference one more time. Ball is inside the Punahou 30. Aaron Woo comes up with a huge interception for the Buffanblu, who take over at the ‘Iolani 48.
Two plays and a touchdown as Kapule hits Cockett for 32 yards and then Brady for a 16-yard TD and just like that it’s a 16-point Punahou lead with 4:48 left in the third quarter.
A little but of a repeat of the Farrington game as Mizutani with a bad decision to throw over the middle and Seyddrick Lakalaka with the interception.
Two plays, touchdown again as Brady hauls in his third TD reception of the game, this one from 30 yards.
‘Iolani goes three-and-out and Cockett with a 40-yard punt return to the 20. Taulapapa with an 8-yard TD run to make it 52-22. Buffanblu have scored 24 points in less than seven minutes of game action.
Taulapapa adds a 1-yard TD run and it’s running clock to start the fourth quarter. Buffanblu with 31 points in final 6:48 of third quarter.
FINAL.
at Kozuki Stadium
Punahou (4-0, 1-0) 7 21 31 0 — 59
‘Iolani (2-2, 0-1) 3 12 7 0 — 22
Pun—Eamon Brady 14 pass from Ephraim Tuliloa (Jet Toner kick)
Iol—FG Keoni-Kordell Makekau 21
Pun—Enoch Nawahine 1 run (Toner kick)
Pun—Ethan Takeyama 35 pass from Nick Kapule (Toner kick)
Iol—Tamatane Aga 5 pass from Tai-John Mizutani (pass failed)
Pun—Judd Cockett 27 pass from Kapule (Toner kick)
Iol—Makekau 7 pass from Mizutani (pass failed)
Iol—Makekau 9 pass from Mizutani (Makekau kick)
Pun—FG Toner 43
Pun—Brady 16 pass from Kapule (Toner kick)
Pun—Brady 30 pass from Kapule (Toner kick)
Pun—Wayne Taulapapa 8 run (Toner kick)
Pun—Taulapapa 1 run (Toner kick)
RUSHING—Punahou: Tuliloa 7-68, Taulapapa 14-66, Kapule 5-21, Nawahine 3-14, Stephen Barber 3-7, Antonio Cortez Feria 2-1, Christopher Tuliloa 1-0. ‘Iolani: KJ Pascua 25-131, Gafoaleata Fetui-Salavea 6-23, Mizutani 5-14.
PASSING—Punahou: Kapule 15-25-1-301, Tuliloa 5-9-0-55, Barber 1-2-0-6. ‘Iolani: Mizutani 15-39-2-175.
RECEIVING—Punahou: Brady 7-143, Keala Martinson 5-70, Takeyama 4-61, Cockett 3-68, Taulapapa 1-14, Cole Arceneaux 1-6. ‘Iolani: Makekau 6-107, Nick Kennedy 5-52, Aga 2-10, Pascua 1-6, Fetui-Salavea 1-0.
Did Look just have his team lie down for those 7 minutes (just so he could prove that Iolani belonged in D2)? Take into account that when Iolani started getting close and making it a game, Punahou’s 7-minute explosion started.
Going to have to agree with Ldub. There are a lot of red flags here in the 2nd half. It should never be about the coach. If true, my heart goes out to those kids putting their bodies on the line for someone who has other plans.