Punahou shuts out Pac-Five, 17-0


Punahou capitalized on two special teams errors by Pac-Five by scoring a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns Saturday night to pull away from the stubborn Wolfpack, 17-0, in Interscholastic League of Honolulu football action at Aloha Stadium.

The Buffanblu, ranked No. 4 in the ScoringLive-OC16 Power Rankings, improved to 3-0 overall with a victory in its ILH opener. Pac-Five fell to 1-3, 0-1 after its third straight loss.

The Wolfpack, however, threatened to pull off a major upset yesterday as they trailed only 3-0 after three quarters. But a costly fumble on an ill-advised punt return attempt set up a Punahou touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, and the Buffanblu got more breathing room after Steven Lakalaka's 1-yard TD run with 6:36 remaining.

Pac-Five had forced a Punahou punt late in the third quarter, but a Wolfpack returner tried to pick up the slow-rolling ball despite being surrounded by three Buffanblu defenders. He lost a handle on it and Punahou's Braydon Hill recovered the fumble on the Pac-Five 11-yard line. Two plays later, backup quarterback Kale Dyas connected with Noah Willey on a 10-yard touchdown pass and Kaimi Fairbairn's extra point made it 10-0.

Another miscue on the ensuing series set up the Buffanblu's second TD, as an errant punt snap resulted in Punahou gaining possession at the Wolfpack 30. Seven plays later, Lakalaka ran it in untouched from 1 yard out and Fairbairn's PAT gave Punahou a 17-0 cushion.

Quincy Marting intercepted a Pac-Five pass one play after the ensuing kickoff, but the Buffanblu missed a 47-yard field goal attempt and the Wolfpack got one last try on offense. But they lost the ball on downs at midfield and Punahou was able to run out the clock.

Fairbairn's 37-yard field goal with 4:17 left in the half was the only scoring through three quarters.