Boom, just like that, a 77-yard catch and run for a TD from Nick Kapule to Ke‘ala Martinson. On the third play from scrimmage, first series of the game. PUN 7, KS 0, 11:19.
Fatu Sua-Godinet at QB. His first pass is a bomb to Kumoku Noa. The pass bounces off either Noa or the defensive back and is scooped out of the air by Alaka‘i Mashima. But PUN comes up empty on this series.
After recovering a fumble, KS uses a trick play on the next snap, a lateral pass from Sua-Godinet to Justice Young — a reserve QB lined up as a slotback. Young then throws a pass to Jaycob Cabunoc for a 48-yard TD. KS 7, PUN 7, 6:03.
Another tricky play by Coach Doug Cosbie and his staff, and another TD catch for Cabunoc. Sua-Godinet runs the option left, then pitches to Noa on a reverse. (They ran something like this in preseason and Noa threw a duck, frankly). Noa fires a beautiful pass to the corner of the end zone, where Cabunoc is wide open for a 23-yard TD. WOW. Looks like Noa’s been working on his passing. KS 14, PUN 7, :07.
SECOND QUARTER
Punahou drive stalls, some vicious and clean hitting by the Warriors. Jet Toner‘s coffin corner punt is fair caught at the KS 6. Field position in favor of the Buffanblu.
KS working Jordan Baduyan extensively on the ground. He already has 13 carries for 53 yards and we’re not quite midway through the second quarter yet.
Warriors drive on the strength of Sua-Godinet’s QB draws — Baduyan is finally taking a well-earned break. But Sua-Godinet fumbles in the red zone and PUN recovers.
Next KS drive is promising. A quick pass to Noa from Sua-Godinet with a fake lateral ends up as a 36-yard gain. But the Warriors go back to it and Noa fumbles the lateral as he dishes it to RB Kanoa Shannon, who is hit. The ball is returned 46 yards. A penalty gives PUN the ball at the KS 15, but the Buffanblu go nowhere. KS gets its third and fourth sacks of the game, one on Kapule and one on Stephen Baerber. Toner then misses a 38-yard field-goal try wide left. I think everybody here is shocked by the miss.
KS has the ball back with 1:10 to go in the half. Sua-Godinet launches a bomb into tight coverage and Noa comes up with it. Magical. First down at the PUN 29. Sua-Godinet runs for 6 yards, time out with :22 left. Incomplete pass, then he scrambles for 10 yards, :07 left.
Sua-Godinet scrambles as time runs out and is stopped at the 12. Flag goes down, late hit? He’s still standing but two Buffanblu are down on their backs. He’s a strong dude. Call is late hit, personal foul on PUN. KS gets one more play. FG time.
Adam Stack puts his tee down and it’ll be a 23-yard try from the right hash mark, but PUN burns a time out to try and freeze him. After an offensively stimulating first quarter, it’s been all about defensive adjustments by both sides in the second quarter.
Stack lines up again. The 23-yard FG is good. KS 17, PUN 7, :00.
HALFTIME
At Aloha Stadium
Kamehameha (3-1, 0-1) 14 3 — 17
Punahou (4-0, 1-0) 7 0 — 7
PUN—Ke‘ala Martinson 77 pass from Nick Kapule (Jet Toner kick)
KS—Jaycob Cabunoc 48 pass from Justice Young (Adam Stack kick)
KS—Cabunoc 23 pass from Kumoku Noa (Stack kick)
KS—Stack FG 23
RUSHING—PUN:
#34 Wayne Taulapapa 6-38
#14 Kapule 5-(-17)
#2 Stephen Barber 1-2
KS:
#23 Jordan Bayudan 14-51
#8 Fatu Sua-Godinet 7-40
#1 Cabunoc 1-2
#20 Kanoa Shannon 1-(-2)
PASSING—
PUN:
#14 Kapule 7-18-0-145
KS:
#8 Sua-Godinet 5-11-1-102
#10 Young 1-1-0-48
#7 Noa 1-1-0-23
RECEIVING—
PUN:
#21 Ethan Takeyama 3-34
#13 Martinson 1-77
#80 Judd Cockett 1-7
#15 Cole Arceneaux 1-23
#25 Enoch Nawahine 1-4
KS:
#7 Noa 3-83
#1 Cabunoc 3-95
#20 Shannon 1-(-5)
All in all, I really like the playcalling when the Warriors have the ball. They’re stretching Punahou’s secondary with Noa and lining up really wide. That gives Sua-Godinet lots of room to work with on those QB draws. Simple and effective. Punahou hasn’t lost a game yet, but right now, the Warriors have their number. KS has four sacks: Alema Kapoi, Dayton Dano, Nakoa Pauole and Lokomaikai Recca.
THIRD QUARTER
No points, all defense. Kamehameha’s defense willing to bend just a bit, and PUN has driven from its 10 to the KS 31 as the quarter ends.
FOURTH QUARTER
PUN finally breaks through. A 15-yard TD strike from Kapule to Cole Arceneaux. KS 17, PUN 14, 9:58.
Fourth down and a foot for Kamehameha at its 29-yard line. Timeout called by Cosbie with 7:57 to go.
PUN totally in rhythm now. 77 yards in six plays. Big pickup is a 52-yard pass from Kapule to Eamon Brady on a nice pump fake. Then it’s Kapule to TE Christopher Tuliloa on first and goal from the 10 out of a power formation for an easy TD pass. PUN 21, KS 17, 6:37.
KS goes three and out on the ensuing series. Defensively, the Warriors’ pass rush has been neutralized in the fourth quarter.
Wayne Taulapapa bursts through the crowd and goes 36 yards to paydirt. Punahou O-lineman is down on the play, can’t see the number. OK, it’s No. 50, J.P. Muasau. Toner’s kick is good and this might be out of reach for Kamehameha now. PUN 28, KS 17, 3:29.
Second half: Taulapapa 14 carries for 91 yards. For the game, he has 20 carries for 129 yards.
Warriors drive to the PUN 10, but the drive stalls. Sua-Godinet is sacked and then throws three incompletions in a row. PUN ball with 1:50 left.
COMMENTS