Kalani Takase | ScoringLive
August 20, 2013, 10:37am
Male Athlete of the Week: Ryder Kuhns, Saint Louis football
Kuhns, a junior quarterback, passed for a career-high 361 yards on 28-of-41 passing (68 percent completion rate) with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He completed passes to seven different receivers and helped the Crusaders attain 18 first downs by pass and 28 overall.
Despite the gaudy statistics, Kuhns wasn't overly impressed by his performance Saturday in Saint Louis' 45-24 win over Kahuku at Aloha Stadium.
"It was a good win, but we still got a lot of ways to go," said Kuhns, who was 14 of 20 for 220 yards in the first half. "It was alright but there (are) a lot of holes in my game that I still gotta pick up on."
Kuhns capped the Crusaders' first scoring drive Saturday with his 9-yard touchdown pass to Allan Cui. The drive, which covered 96 yards on eight plays, was hampered by two Saint Louis holding penalties, but Kuhns was 4-for-4 on the drive, including a 12-yard pass to Drew Kobayashi to negate the first penalty and 35-yard swing pass to Adam Noga following the second.
Later in the second quarter, Kuhns guided the offense on another eight-play scoring drive. This time Kuhns was sacked for a 7-yard loss on the second play of the drive, but he was perfect throwing the ball, completing all five of his pass attempts for 68 yards. A 33-yard completion to Devon Stubblefield following another holding penalty against the Crusaders set-up Kuhns 2-yard shovel pass to Cui for their second touchdown connection of the game.
"I thought that Ryder did a good job of taking the opportunities when they were there," Saint Louis coach Matt Wright said. "He got rattled a bit - I think they got us a little bit with some blind-side shots - but he stood back up and kept his poise going into the next series and did a good job of leading the offense."
Kuhns and company got in another a score just five seconds before halftime when he found Stubblefield for a 30-yard scoring strike down the right sideline. Kuhns pump faked to Stubblefield on a short hitch route, before the latter burned past the cornerback and the former dropped the ball in perfectly between two Kahuku defenders near the goal line.
Saint Louis trailed 24-23 at the start of the fourth quarter, but that's when Kuhns turned it. He completed his final seven pass attempts, including an 8-yard touchdown pass to Riccardo Salas III for the go-ahead score with seven minutes and 19 seconds left to play.
Through two games, Kuhns has thrown for a state-best 568 yards with seven touchdowns. He has completed a staggering 72.5 percent of his pass attempts and has yet to be intercepted. Saint Louis has a bye this week before it opens Interscholastic League of Honolulu play against Kamehameha on Aug. 30 at Aloha Stadium.
Co-Female Athletes of the Week: Remo Gaogao and McKenna Granato, Punahou girls volleyball
With the loss of eight seniors to graduation, the reigning two-time Division I state champion Buffanblu and interim coach Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson were on the lookout for some players to step up at last weekend’s Ann Kang Invitational Volleyball Tournament.
Enter Remo Gaogao and McKenna Granato.
Gaogao, a 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter, and Granato, a 5-foot-10 junior outside hitter, shouldered much of the load to lead Punahou to a perfect 8-0 record, successfully defending its Ann Kang Invitational championships from a year ago.
"It really was actually just a preseason tournament for us," Fuamatu-Anderson said. "There were no real expectations from me, and I told them that. I saw it as an opportunity for us to work together, because lost eight seniors from last year."
Among the departed are reigning Interscholastic League of Honolulu Player of the Year Carly Kan and All-ILH first teamers Brittney Markwith and Tayler Higgins.
"The Ann Kang started on Thursday and we had just got done with tryouts the Friday prior to that, Fuamatu-Anderson said. "We really had been together just a couple of days before the tournament, so for me it was mostly to see what we’re made of and to try different lineups, throw kids in here and there to see how they perform under pressure."
Gaogao, a fourth-year varsity player who earned league Honorable Mention last season, and McKenna, a second-year member of the team, led the way for much of the three-day tournament. The duo’s contrasting styles were complimentary to each other, according to their coach.
"McKenna is strong, she has a strong arm and she’ll go up and put balls away. She’s just a beast. When she takes a swing at a ball, it’s amazing to see the power that she generates," Fuamatu-Anderson said. "Remo is more of a finesse player. She’s not only a hitter, but a very smart hitter. Her ball control is really good and she’s just a solid all-around player."
The Buffanblu dropped just one set in the tournament - a three-set semifinal victory over Mater Dei - before sweeping past Huntington Beach in the title match. Granato was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
"They both played really well - we’re very fortunate that when one wasn’t really producing on the outside, the other was," Fuamatu-Anderson said of Gaogao and Granato. "They’re very supportive of each other, they’re hard workers and very disciplined. They train very hard whether we’re strength training, in the classroom or out on the volleyball court."
Punahou scrimmages Kahuku Saturday before opening the ILH season at Sacred Hearts on Aug. 31.
TOP PERFORMERS - WEEK 2
Chad Aragon, Moanalua - Caught nine passes for 103 yards in loss to Waianae
Eric Au Hoon-Kaawa, Nanakuli - Rushed for 97 yards and intercepted a pass in win over Waialua
Chance Cacatian, Radford - Rushed for touchdowns of 67 and 4 yards in win over Anuenue
Justin Carvalho, Maui - Rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns in win over Konawaena
Zeno Choi, Kaiser - Recorded two of his team's four quarterback sacks in win over Kalani
Allan Cui, Saint Louis - Caught nine passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns in win over Kahuku
Kebi Dellatan, Waialua - Rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown in loss to Nanakuli
Mack Eberhardt, Leilehua - Completed 13 of 19 passes for 143 yards without an interception and rushed for 26 more yards in win over Iolani
Onosai Memelio, Maui - Rushed 12 times for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns and added a 7 yard touchdown reception in win over Konawaena
Ofa Fahiua, Hilo - Recorded two quarterback sacks in win over Waiakea
Fitou Fisiiahi, Kaiser - Rushed for touchdowns of 4, 7 and 40 yards in win over Kalani
Chad Hanaoka, Iolani - Caught touchdown passes of 17 and 13 yards in loss to Leilehua
Shaenen Hernandez-Fonoti, Aiea - Caught three passes for 107 yards with two touchdowns in win over Pac-Five
Brandon Howes, Konawaena - Completed 25 of 51 passes for 371 yards and 3 touchdowns in a loss to Maui.
Cameron Howes, Konawaena - Caught five passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in loss to Maui.
Isaac Hurd, Campbell - Threw for 225 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 73 yards in win over Kailua
Makena Johnston, Kalaheo - Rushed 10 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns in win over Roosevelt
Mana Kaahanui, Aiea - Rushed for 102 yards on 10 carries in win over Pac-Five
Brandon Kahookele, Kamehameha - Rushed for 200 yards on 22 carries in win over Farrington
Melvin Kahunanui, Kaiser - Caught a 16-yard touchdown pass, intercepted two passes and returned one 30 yards for a touchdown in win over Kalani
Donavan Faoa Kelley, Hilo - Rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in win over Waiakea
Kiko Kohler-Fonohema, Lahainaluna - Recorded an 81-yard interception return for a touchdown in win over Kapaa
Colby Kruse, Castle - Intercepted two passes and returned one 13 yards for a pick-six in win over Damien
Jonah Lapitan, Kaimuki - Recovered three fumbles in loss to Waiphu
Izaiah Lavatai, Radford - Returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in win over Auenue
Thomas Leong, Kaiser - Rushed for 11- and 14-yard touchdowns, returned a kickoff 94 yards for a score and brought back a 75-yard punt return for another in win over Kalani
Cody Lui-Yuen, Radford - Threw touchdown passes of 28, 26 and 5 yards in win over Anuenue
Bobby Lum, Hawaii Prep - Rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in a win over Waimea.
Hunter Macabio, Hilo - Recorded an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in win over Waiakea
Jeddiah Mageo, Waipahu - Recorded two of his team's four quarterback sacks in win over Kaimuki
Vavae Malepeai, Mililani - Rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries in loss to Punahou
Gavin Marques, Waipahu - Passed for 96 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 103 yards in win over Kaimuki
Hercules Mataafa, Lahainaluna - Returned a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown in win over Kapaa
Austin May, Campbell - Rushed for touchdowns of 4, 34 and 33 yards in win over Kailua
Pookela Noa-Nakamoto, Waianae - Caught four passes for 108 yards with a touchdown in win over Moanalua
Deshaun Osborne, Leilehua - Returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown in win over Iolani
Aaron Pierman, Maui - Returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in win over Konawaena.
Kelii Padello, Mililani - Recorded four of his team's six quarterback sacks in loss to Punahou
Jameson Pasigan, Radford - Caught touchdown passes of 26 and 5 yards in win over Anuenue
Kalanimoku Pauole, Leilehua - Threw two touchdowns passes and ran for another in win over Iolani
Ikaika Piceno, Leilehua - Rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in win over Iolani
Tobias Powell, Radford - Rushed for touchdowns of 1 and 40 yards in win over Anuenue
Devin Preston, Waiakea - Rushed 28 times for 120 yards in loss to Hilo
Kainoa Simao, Kamehameha - Recorded a 53-yard punt return for a touchdown in win over Farrington
Noah Sua-Godinet, Kamehameha - Passed for 134 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 35 yards in win over Farrington
Devon Stubblefield, Saint Louis - Caught six passes for 117 yards with a touchdown in win over Kahuku
Chase Takaki, Konawaena - Caught 13 passes for 167 yards with a touchdown in loss to Maui.
Larry Tuileta, Punahou - Completed 20 of 31 pass attempts for 255 yards with two touchdowns in win over Mililani
Fika Tuli, Aiea - Rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in win over Pac-Five
Chazz Troutman, Nanakuli - Rushed for touchdowns of 3 and 7 yards in win over Waialua
Kyle Urasaki, Castle - Caught four passes for 57 yards with two touchdowns and had an interception in win over Damien
Taliauli Vaifoou, Kahuku - Recorded two of his team's three quarterback sacks in loss to Saint Louis
Jemery Willes, Waianae - Rushed 20 times for 159 yards with two touchdowns in win over Moanalua
Levi Wong, Waipahu - Recovered two fumbles in win over Kaimuki