Punahou football

On this date in 1995, Punahou running back Afatia Thompson put on a show for the last time in his prep career. Thompson ran for 119 yards and three touchdowns as top-ranked Punahou blitzed Pac-Five 48-28 at Aloha Stadium. The Wolf Pack took an early lead before Thompson took over. The future UH fullback tied it with a 2-yard plunge and followed it up with scores from 10 and 13 yards. Thompson needed only 15 carries and one reception to […]

Hawaii’s leader in career passing yards had less than a year to enjoy the accomplishment. On this date in 1986, former Punahou quarterback Shawn Akina died in Salt Lake City. He was 19. Akina was the first prep quarterback in Hawaii history to throw for 1,000 yards as a sophomore and closed his prep career with a state record 5,025. Saint Louis coach Cal Lee called him “the best pure passer we ever saw.” Ferd Lewis of the Honolulu Advertiser […]

On this date in 1948, Punahou pulled off another upset. The Buffablu, who were expected to be bottom feeders in preseason dope after losing a large senior class, rode a stifling defense and the speed of William Heilbron to upset heavily favored Kamehameha 6-0 in front of a crowd of 18,000. It was Punahou’s third straight victory. Although the victory made the Buffanblu the team to beat, Kamehameha came back to win the league title. But for one day, the […]

On this date in 1978, John Kamana carried Punahou to a 27-21 win over Iolani. Kamana was one of the ILH’s best receivers before dotting USC’s famous I formation as a tailback against Iolani. All Kamana did from there was rush for 200 yards, return a kickoff 85 yards for a TD and and add 15 yards receiving. That performance left reporter Ferd Lewis to utter his name in the same breath as all-time greats Mosi Tatupu of Punahou and […]

On this day in 1940, legendary coach Bill “Doggy” Wise outsmarted another foe. Wise dialed up a pass in the second quarter for the only score of the game and Punahou opened its season with a 7-0 victory over rival Kamehameha at Honolulu Stadium. Wise set up the victory by alternating halfbacks Elia Long and Bill Hubbell to the right side of the line. When Kamehameha was set up, Punahou had quarterback Ellwood Fern roll left. He pulled up before […]

When April began, the COVID-19 pandemic had Hawaii in lockdown and Tevarua Tafiti was a Punahou sophomore grinding away with his homework and workouts. There was not a single scholarship offer. As of mid-September, Arizona offered a scholarship — on Thursday — and the 6-foot-3, 208-pound junior defensive end now has 18 offers on the table. Arizona is the 11th Pac-12 Conference program to formalize its interest in Tafiti. On the same day, Arizona made an offer to Roosevelt junior […]