Kamehameha RB Kanoa Shannon shakes off a tackle by Punahou LB Legend Matautia. John Lujan | SL

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_17101402_Piunahou_Kamehameha_10132017_John_Lujan_jvl032-28.jpg - John Lujan | SL

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It took until the second round for No. 5 Kamehameha to finally get an Interscholastic League of Honolulu victory this season.

Behind a stellar defense that got an interception and four sacks, the Warriors knocked off No. 4 Punahou, 44-31, Friday night in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I second round at Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

The Warriors (4-4 overall, 1-4 ILH), who went winless during the first round, will take on No. 1 and first-round champion Saint Louis for the second-round title next Saturday at the Stadium. If Saint Louis wins, it is the ILH D1 champion and will represent the ILH in the State Open tournameht. Kamehameha needs to beat Saint Louis twice to win the overall crown.

Kamehameha also snapped a 10-game losing streak to Punahou (5-3) dating five seasons.

"It's a dream come true," said Kamehameha lineman Ezra Evaimalo, who had an interception in the end zone for a TD. "We never won in five years. It's great."

"The key was coming together, believing in each other and executing," said Warriors linebacker Hoku Arias, who had a sack and another tackle for a loss. "We always talk about having fun and to us, fun is executing, doing exactly what the coaches tell us."

Thomas Yam passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns and Kanoa Shannon rushed for 86 yards and a TD. Evaimalo intercepted a pass he deflected in the end zone for another TD. Evaimalo also had two sacks, as did Kalawaia Pescaia.

Leads changed four times and was tied twice.

The game was tied at 24 entering the fourth period. Alex Serrao's 57-yard punt return to the Punahou 18 set up the Warriors go-ahead score, Yam's 3-yard TD pass to Laakea Ane with 8:44 in the game. Leihalia Panui's PAT failed, but a penalty against Punahou allowed a re-kick. But Kamehameha committed a false start and was backed up five yards, so Nokeakua Nakachi-Isaacs came in but he missed, too, to keep the score 30-24.

Later in the quarter, Punahou was backed up to its 5 after a 50-yard punt. On first down, Evaimalo leaped to bat a pass by Stephen Barber. The ball went up like a volleyball player's set and Evaimalo caught it in the end zone for the TD to make it 37-24 with 6:44 in the game.

The Warriors sealed the game with 2:10 left when Shannon scored on a 7-yard run to make it 44-24.

Punahou's Barber, saddled by injuries all season, played a complete game.  He completed 14 of 32 passes for 244 yards and three TDs (15 yards to Tamatoa Falatea, 38 yards to Koa Eldredge and 10 yards to Andrei Iosivas. 

Running back Vincent Terrell rushed for a game-high 155 yards on 18 carries, including a 56-yard TD.

Kamehameha amassed 22 first downs, but was penalized 17 times for 160 yards. Punahou had 19 first downs and was penalized 12 times for 115 yards.

Kamehameha took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on Yam's 39-yard TD pass to Ane and Nakachi-Issacs' 20-yard field goal.

Punahou took a 14-10 lead on Terrell's 56-yard TD run and Barber's 15-yard TD pass to Falatea. The Warriors ended the half with Reino Bush's 2-yard TD catch from Yam to make it 17-14 at the half.

Punahou tied the game at 17 on Tim Horn's 39-yard field goal and took a 24-17 lead on Eldredge's 38-yards scoring pass from Barber.

The Warriors then scored three consecutive times before Punahou scored in the waning seconds.