Punahou dominated in every facet of the game, with special teams coming up huge in a 45-0 thrashing of Long Beach Poly on Saturday night at Moorpark H.S. in Moorpark, Calif.
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Isaac Maluina returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, Vincent Terrell returned a free kick for a score after a safety on a bad punt snap and Quinn Maretzki kicked three field goals for the Buffanblu (5-0), who won the final game of the California Classic.
“The kids played really well, the coaches did a good job of preparing them, and you never know what’s going to happen, especially when you travel,” Punahou coach Kale Ane said after the game. “There’s so many distractions, but I’m so proud of the way they came together and focused and committed to the game plan. It was great.”
Punahou finished with 282 total yards with Terrell rolling up 120 rushing yards on 18 carries.
Freshman John-Keawe Sagapolutele threw for 153 yards with a 29-yard TD pass to Koa Eldredge in a 28-point second quarter to build a 38-0 halftime lead.
Terrell had his way against what is traditionally one of Southern California’s finest defenses.
“Vince has that ability, and he showed it tonight,” Ane said. “He put his dues in, he works hard, he never complains about not getting enough touches. … He gets the ball, he’s so explosive. It’s such a mismatch.”
Terrell said he had a blast.
“It’s not always in the game plan for me to get a lot of carries, but I’ve got to do what the team needs, and that’s what it takes to win,” he said. “It was just my game, and I’m thankful for it.”
Punahou’s reserves got its final score, with Ian Eveleth hitting Kai Miyaki on a 13-yard pass in the fourth quarter, which was played with a running clock.
Poly, with a team largely led by underclassmen, wasn’t ready for the Buffanblu, especially when playing its first game against a team in midseason form.
“One-hundred percent,” Long Beach Poly coach Stephen Barbee said. “But my hat’s off to them. They’re a very well-coached, physical team. … They’re very disciplined and they’ve got athletes all over the place.”
———— Freelancer Scott French contributed to this report and covered the game for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. His full story will be featured in Sunday’s newspaper.
Punahou 45, Long Beach Poly 0
At Moorpark H.S. field
Long Beach Poly (0-1) 0-0-0-0 — 0
Punahou (4-0) 10-28-0-7 — 45
Pun — FG Quinn Maretzki 27
Pun — Isaac Maluina 10 blocked punt return (Maretzki kick)
Pun — FG Maretzki 30
Pun — Legend Matautia 4 run (Maretzki kick)
Pun — Koa Eldredge 29 pass from John-Keawe Sagapolutele (Maretzki kick)
Pun — FG Maretzki 36
Pun — Safety, ball snapped out of end zone
Pun — Vincent Terrell 57 free kick return (run failed)
Pun — Kai Miyaki 13 pass from Ian Eveleth (Jordan Kapisi kick)
RUSHING—Long Beach Poly: Malachi Rice 10-31, Mekhi Jordan 14-30, Kyren Rachel 1-14, Shea Kuykendall 3-(-3), John Jaster 1-(-9), team 1-(-20). Punahou: Terrell 18-120, Zachary Johnson 2-12, Matautia 1-4, Eveleth 1-(-3), Sagapolutele 3-(-4).
PASSING—Long Beach Poly: Jordan 6-10-1-60, Kuykendall 5-10-1-40. Punahou: Sagapolutele 12-23-1-153, Eveleth 1-1-0-13.
RECEIVING—Long Beach Poly: Ashun Brown 8-43, Keyonta Lanier 3-58. Punahou: Eldredge 5-59, Rayden Kiaaina-Caires 4-52, Moku Dancil-Evans 3-18, Terrell 1-13, Miyaki 1-13, Johnson 1-9, Treyden Buder-Nakasone 1-7.
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