Buffanblu shake slow start to rout Kamehameha


Punahou RB Vincent Terrell leaps over a Kamehameha defender in the second half of an ILH Open Division second-round game. CJ Caraang | SL

HALAWA — No. 2 Punahou overcame a slow first half and came alive in the second half to rout No. 15 Kamehameha, 47-20, at Hawaiian Financial FCU Field at Aloha Stadium Friday.

The Buffanblu (10-1 overall) advance to the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Open Division second-round final to take on top-ranked Saint Louis on Nov. 1. Punahou lost 25-19 back on Sept. 20, their only defeat of the season. 

The Warriors end their season at 3-7 overall.

Despite turning over on downs on their opening offensive series, Ezra Evaimalo deflected a lateral for the scoop-and-score to give Kamehameha an early, 7-0 lead.

Tanner Moku rushed for a team-high 108 rushing yards and added a 53-yard touchdown reception to help reclaim the lead for the Warriors, 14-7.

John-Keawe Sagapolutele finished with 236 passing yards and two touchdowns and connected with Chris Paige for a 29-yard score, but the kick failed as the Buffanblu trailed, 14-13 at halftime.

Raydan Kiaaina-Caires caught a team-high six passes for 111 yards and hauled in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Sagapolutele to give the Buffanblu their first lead of the game and never looked back.

Vincent Terrell rushed for two touchdowns and finished with 116 yards on 18 carries and had a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Nathaniel Kia returned an interception 27 yards to make it, 34-14 as the Buffanblu scored 28-unanswered points.

Jonah Yuen threw for 193 yards on 14-of-26 passing, was picked off twice, and threw his second touchdown pass to Titus Maunakea.

Punahou reserves got some late action as David Dikeman threw a 38-yard touchdown to Peyton Macapulay for the final score of the night.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].