![Punahou's Marist Liufau (7) and Kennedy Freeman bring down Kapolei QB Taulia Tagovailoa in the first half. Photo by Jamm Aquino/Star-Advertiser.](https://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/SPT-punahou-1417-630x399.jpg)
By creating an Open Division for the state tournament, fans are given more opportunities to see how some of the best in the OIA stack up to the best of the ILH.
Kapolei, ranked fifth in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10, gets the first crack when it faces No. 3 Punahou in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
Kapolei 33, Punahou 21
Hurricanes (10-2) advance to play Kahuku in semifinals of Open Division next Friday night at Aloha Stadium.
at Aloha Stadium
Kapolei (10-2) 0 13 7 13 — 33
Punahou (7-3) 7 0 14 0 — 21
Pun—Keala Martinson 27 pass from Nick Kapule (Jeff Chan kick)
Kapo—Jaymin Sarono 22 pass from Taulia Tagovailoa (kick failed)
Kapo—Sarono 19 pass from Tagovailoa (Tanner Ritchey kick)
Pun—Martinson 28 pass from Stephen Barber (Chan kick)
Kapo—Wyatt Perez 7 pass from Tagovailoa (Ritchey kick)
Pun—Martinson 17 pass from Barber (Chan kick)
Kapo—Sarono 3 pass from Tagovailoa (pass failed)
Kapo—Sarono 4 pass from Tagovailoa (Ritchey kick)
RUSHING—Kapolei: Leighton Rosa 7-30, Antoneo Brown 6-20, Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala 6-12, Perez 1-1, Tagoaviloa 5-(minus 17). Punahou: Enoch Nawahine 5-21, Kapule 11-9, Sitiveni Kaufusi 2-5, Stephen Barber 5-(minus 37).
PASSING—Kapolei: Tagovailoa 28-37-0-367. Punahou: Barber 13-21-0-169, Kapule 9-15-1-120.
RECEIVING—Kapolei: Sarono 9-87, Perez 8-132, Mokiao-Atimalala 5-72, Kaeo Alvarez-Ranan 4-61, Isaiah Ahana 1-17, Rosa 1-(minus 2). Punahou: Martinson 9-168, Judd Cockett 4-40, Ethan Takeyama 3-43, Eamon Brady 3-20, Nawahine 2-10, Kaufusi 1-6, Paulo Soa 0-2.
FOURTH QUARTER
Kapolei fumbles with 11 seconds left inside the 10 but it won’t matter. Eleven seconds left. Kapolei is going to win this thing. FINAL.
Barber scrambling for his life and Dylan Naehu comes up with a huge sack to force Punahou to lose 22 yards. Buffanblu will punt with 5:30 remaining. NO. They go for it and Barber throws up a prayer and it’s CAUGHT by Martinson for 46 yards at the Kapolei 33. Buffanblu still have a pulse. 5:05 remaining. Now Barber is wrapped up but somehow gets it away and HAS A MAN OPEN. NO! It’s just overthrown. It’s getting crazy down the stretch. Third-and-10. Barber overshoots Martinson in the end zone and it’s fourth down. Barber is SACKED by about four different Hurricanes near midfield. Turnover on downs with 4:36 remaining.
Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala with a 7-yard run to set up third-and-3. Kapolei calls timeout. Dump underneath to Sarono for 13 yards and Jaymin Sarono is first player in Hawaii high school history with 100 receptions in a season. Tagovailoa fits an absolutely beauty into the hands of Alvarez-Ranan to the 4-yard line. A 17-yard pass and Tagovailoa passes Jarin Morikawa (Mililani) for fourth place on single-season passing list. Tagovailoa scrambles and he hits Sarono for a 4-yard TD. Biggest lead of the game for Kapolei, 33-21, with 6:45 left.
Punahou starts on its 41. A 9-yard pass to Cockett moves the ball past midfield. Cockett picks up 9 more for a first down to the 36. Pass out of the backfield to Kaufusi and he tries to hurdle a defender but fumbles. Kapolei recovers before it goes out of bounds and penalty for hurdling is declined. Kapolei takes over on own 30 with 9:08 remaining.
More flags on the kick return. Weeeeeeeeeeeee. Unsportsmanlike conduct call on a Kapolei player for taunting.
Kapolei will start the fourth quarter second-and-8 at the Punahou 20. False start on Kapolei. Lakalaka with a tackle to set up third-and-8. Tagovailoa dumps it off to Perez for 17 yards to the 3. Tagovailoa with TD pass No. 40 as Sarono hauls in third of the game from 3 yards out. Kapolei back in front. Perez takes a nasty hit to the helmet area on the two-point try and is down. Punahou flagged on the play. Perez able to jog off on his own. Tagovailoa runs in the two-point conversion but Kapolei is called for a hold. Kapolei goes for 2 from the 15. Third try and there’s another flag. Make that two. One on each team. Let’s try it a fourth time. Pass fails. 26-21, 11:03.
THIRD QUARTER
Kapolei starts on its 30 as we’ve already had three lead changes in the third quarter. Risky throw over the middle is batted away by the Buffanblu defense. Two incomplete passes and then Dominick comes flying in to sack Tagovailoa, who took way too much time in the backfield. A personal foul is called on Punahou though and the drive stays alive. Two nice runs by Antoneo Brown pick up a first down. Now an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Punahou moves the ball to the Buffanblu 22.
Big return by Nawahine out to the 50. 38 yards on the return. Barber remains in the game at QB and picks up 4. Now Barber has to take a knee. Kapolei player also hurt on the play. Barber stays in and hits Judd Cockett for 11 yards to the 35. Big play on third-and-10 as Barber finds Takeyama for 13. Barber scrambles so far behind the line of scrimmage that he throws a ball 25 yards in the air that is complete for a loss of 1. Third-and-11. Pass complete to Eamon Brady for 6 yards to the 17. Fourth-and-5. Martinson with his THIRD TD catch of the game. Out-and-up is good for a 17-yard TD. Punahou back in front, 21-20. 2:38.
Falcon Kaumatule with a sack to start Kapolei’s first drive. Six-yard loss. Punahou loses Alvarez-Ranan on defense and he’s wide open for a 33-yard gain out to the 47. Third-and-2 now at the Punahou 28. Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala out of the backfield is wide open for 12 yards. Tagovailoa with his third TD pass as he hits Wyatt Perez on a 7-yard TD to put Kapolei back in front. Eight plays, 80 yards on the drive. 20-14, 5:12.
Punahou starts on its 26. Kapule starts with a keeper and runs for 6. Kapolei is whistled for a second sideline interference, resulting in a 15-yard penalty to the 48 after Kapule scrambles for 5 more and a first down. Tagovailoa-Amosa just eats up the right tackle to pick up his second sack. Third-and-1 and Kapule keeps it and is stopped short but takes a big hit. Face-mask called on Kapolei so it’s a first down due to a penalty. Second one on drive. Stephen Barber in as Kapule was hit pretty hard and he throws a 28-yard TD to Martinson. TD Barber to Martinson. Buffanblu with a 74-yard drive helped out by two 15-yard Kapolei penalties. 14-13 Punahou, 9:33.
HALFTIME BOX
at Aloha Stadium
Kapolei (9-2) 0 13
Punahou (7-2) 7 0
Pun—Keala Martinson 27 pass from Nick Kapule (Jeff Chan kick)
Kapo—Jaymin Sarono 22 pass from Taulia Tagovailoa (kick failed)
Kapo—Sarono 19 pass from Tagovailoa (Tanner Ritchey kick)
RUSHING—Kapolei: Leighton Rosa 1-9, Antoneo Brown 3-5, Wyatt Perez 1-1, Tagoaviloa 3-(minus 2), Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala 2-(minus 8). Punahou: Enoch Nawahine 5-21, Sitiveni Kaufusi 1-3, Kapule 6-(minus 2), Stephen Barber 1-(minus 4).
PASSING—Kapolei: Tagovailoa 14-18-0-207. Punahou: Kapule 9-15-1-120.
RECEIVING—Kapolei: Sarono 6-67, Perez 3-80, Mokiao-Atimalala 2-36, Isaiah Ahana 1-17, Kaeo Alvarez-Ranan 1-9, Rosa 1-(minus 2). Punahou: Martinson 4-64, Ethan Takeyama 2-30, Eamon Brady 1-15, Judd Cockett 1-11, Nawahine 1-0.
SECOND QUARTER
Kapolei runs a middle screen on third-and-5 that picks up 26 to the 50 but a hold on the receiver is going to be called as a Kapolei OL is down on the play. Even with the penalty it’s still a first down. Senior OL Jon Kansana (6-0, 315) helped off the field. Kapolei runs out the clock. HALF.
Punahou ball on its 48 and Martinson hauls in a pass for 13 yards to the 39. Rush gets to Kapule, forcing an incompletion with 1:28 on clock. Kapule escapes a sack but ball goes off a receiver’s fingertips, off a defender and then Leonard Lee with the one-handed scoop off the ground for an INT and Kapolei takes over on its 19. Big pick by the Hurricanes defense.
Kapolei with a chance to do something here late in the half but Miki Suguturaga gets his first sack for Punahou. Coverage helped on that one. LB Ryan Dominick bats down a pass at the line of scrimmage. Third-and-10 throw is high and Buffanblu force quick three-and-out with 1:51 still on clock.
Key spot for Kapule here as Punahou will try to answer. Personal foul on Kapolei wipes out Tagovailoa-Amosa’s second sack. Offsides on Kapolei makes it first-and-5 and Kapule misses Takeyama open in the middle of the field. Kapule then short-arms a throw to the backer out of the backfield. Third down. High snap to Kapule forces him to keep and Tagovailoa-Amosa throws him to the turf. Just a 1-yard gain and Punahou will punt.
Another defensive PI call on Punahou moves the ball to the Kapolei 34. Junior Misi Fakatoumafi comes flying off his left end spot, beats the tackle and sacks Tagovailoa for a loss of 5. Sarono gets 6 back to make it third-and-9. Taulia takes off up the middle and gets seven but he’s 2 yards short. Kapolei will go for it. Fourth-and-2 on own 42 with 6:25 and counting in first half of defensive battle. Interesting choice here. DEEP ball down the middle is CAUGHT by Wyatt Perez. HUGE play nets 33 yards. What a gutsy call and throw and catch. Third-and-4 and Tagovailoa throws a bullet to Sarono for a 19-yard TD. Kapolei takes first lead, 13-7, 4:15.
Buffanblu to start on own 24. Punahou quickly out to the 42 as Nawahine runs for 10. Timeout as there is an injured Kapolei player. LB Keane Kanehailua looks OK. Kapule picks up 8 on the keeper to set up third-and-3. Nawahine stuffed on third down and Kapolei forces a Punahou punt.
Hurricanes start first-and-10 on Punahou 24. Tagovailoa to Jaymin Sarono for a 22-yard TD to tie this game up but the XP is missed. 10:47. Tagovailoa has passed McKenzie Milton (Mililani) for fifth place on the all-time single-season passing list. He needs 291 yards to get to fourth ahead of Jarin Morikawa (Mililani).
FIRST QUARTER
Hurricanes moving the wrong way as it’s first-and-15 at their own 5. QB Taulia Tagovailoa hits Wyatt Perez for a big 21-yard gainer. June Jones special right there. Tagovailoa scrambles for days and penalty flags fly. Jones over to talk to Tagovailoa, not liking seeing his QB running around for his life. Back to the 9 after a hold and it’s first-and-27 but Tagovailoa finds Isaiah Ahana for 17. Kaeo Alvarez-Ranan with a nice leaping catch for 9. Pass down the field over the middle on third-and-1 goes off the hands but a flag flies in. Defensive PI is called resulting in a first down at midfield. Third-and-10 and Taulia buys time and finds Perez for 26 yards to the 24. Escaped traffic and made throw on run. Nice play by Taulia. QUARTER.
Keala Martinson with an 11-yard reception on third-and-7 to move the chains. Eamon Brady wide open in the slot for 15 yards. Stephen Barber checks into the game at QB to run the ball but is stopped for a loss. Kalani Segovia with the TFL. Third-and-7 and Kapule throws a PERFECT 12-yard TD to Takeyama, but they are going to call offensive pass interference. Third-and-22 and Kapule finds an open Keala Martinson for a 27-yard TD. 7-0, 3:29, Q1.
Punahou forces a second consecutive third and out. Kapolei punts and the Buffanblu fumble on the return but Punahou recovers.
Punahou starts on its 39. Short pass from QB Nick Kapule to Ethan Takeyama on second down and he breaks the tackle in a one-on-one matchup and picks up 20 yards. Diving attempt by LB Keane Kanehailua is almost a pick. RB Enoch Nawahine stopped for no gain to set up third-and-10. DL Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa in on the pressure. Tagovailoa-Amosa with the sack on third down and Punahou will punt. Good stop for Kapolei.
Kapolei wins the toss and will receive. LB Seyddrick Lakalaka blows up a screen pass for a loss of yards on second down. Kapolei runs the same play to Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala on third down and he gets 10 yards but is 2 yards short. Punahou declines a holding call on Kapolei and the Hurricanes are three-and-out.
*****************
The game features the top two passing quarterbacks in the state in Kapolei sophomore Taulia Tagovailoa (60%, 3,292 yards, 36 TD, 6 INT) and Punahou senior Nick Kapule (60%, 2,678 yards, 30 TD, 8 INT). Quarterbacks from two different teams have never thrown for more than 3,000 yards in the same season.
HISTORY: Punahou has won both games against Kapolei with the last coming in 2010.
Believe in what you can do always never say quit regardless if there is a big play or not if so the game could be won at that moment!!! Keep up the tempo in your mind the faster you think the faster you can respond and move!!! good play calling makes all the difference when guiding at this level no legs no movement no movement no play offense and defense!!! Concentration all the way on plays down to the snap which can get you a freebie now and then!!!:)
I hope Kapolei wins so they can prove my point that the ILH is overrated.
Damien, Iolani has Won, now here comes another ILH juggernaut Punahou, should make it a clean sweep for the ILH in 1st weekend of play
Let’s go Hurricanes! Rep the OIA and end all this silliness!
Simple Simon, I hope Kapolei wins because Im sick of Punahou. I still think overall the ILH is stronger
Don’t forget Punahou’s defense is atrocious.
So far not impressed with Punahou in this first half.
I don’t care what happens for the rest of the game, but at this point can we all just agree that the myth of an OVERWHELMING superiority of ILH is officially DEBUNKED.
punahou just finish a 5 week bye they rusty, so will the loser of this game play baldwin for 9th place?
JJ ball back in the Aloha stadium. Pun getting picked apart.
Good Story November 5, 2016 at 9:09 pm
I don’t care what happens for the rest of the game, but at this point can we all just agree that the myth of an OVERWHELMING superiority of ILH is officially DEBUNKED.
I don’t think anybody thinks that ILH is “overwhelmingly” superior to the top teams in the OIA.
but i am surprised at how well kapolei is playing.
is there anyway i can see the game streamed without a oc16 account? grrrr
@al
My bad…then the post by ilh about a “clean sweep” was acknowledging parity? Let the back pedaling begin…
Good Story November 5, 2016 at 10:10 pm
@al
My bad…then the post by ilh about a “clean sweep” was acknowledging parity? Let the back pedaling begin…
i can’t speak for the user named ilh. I’m not that interested in doing that either. I can only tell you my position: ILH D-II is pretty strong compared to OIA D-II. if ILH conducts a sweep in the first round, it doesn’t mean “overwhelming dominance” of ILH over OIA. top to bottom, ILH D-I is stronger than OIA, obviously. But the top OIA teams can and more or less always have competed with ILH (which is why a merger makes sense).
Although I didn’t think that kapolei would be up and up with punahou. this kapolei team seems to be peaking at the right time.
Ohoh… ILH won’t have two teams anymore and the committee got it wrong again.. like I said, it’s how well you prepare your team dat week and you’ll see your result.. kalofae ILH…. He’ll give us the excuse, that’s not st.louis. .lol..Great job Kapolei, show them you belong in the championship mix.. OIA BABE.. RRFL…
Up and Up they getting burned
Kapolei is putting on a good showing against Punahou.
@al
Well then I don’t know why you bothered addressing my comment…but you did say “I don’t think anybody…”. Just speak for yourself.
Punahou playing a little dirty
Tagoavailoa-Amosa could easily be the state defensive player of the year, dude has gotten better every week.
Juggernaut?…..to funny @ILH to funny…hahahahaha
Like I’ve been preaching all along. ILH IS OVERRATED!!!
All that talk to have a 2nd ILH team can go in the trash. Now we’re down to 1 ILH team. This Open Division is rubbish!!! Go back to the regular format.
A good win for Kapolei, they did there homework on how to stop Punahou, i think St. Louis popped Punahou’s bubble again this year, so Punahou had a much difficult time against Kapolei, Kapolei’s QB Tagovailoa is like his brother at St. Louis a tough one to stop, and he is only a 10 grader, it would be a classic to see Kapolei vs. St. Louis because of the two Brother’s on opposite sides of each other. Next Friday we will know who will be in the finals. So , now it’s getting interesting. Congratulations Tagovailoa and Kapolei, go gettem against Kahuku.
I don’t know why they didn’t pressure tagovailoa at all tonight. Picked them apart with all that time back there
Bye Felicia
Oia all the way….let’s go…Kahuku all the way
punahou d coordinator needs to be fired. 4 man rush the whole game no blitzing, of course u going get picked apart. the happiest person tonight is jj cause his 1st dislike is kale, his 2nd dislike is kahuku so he getting that next week
Kapolei played fast and physical. Their DLine should be awarded the player of the game.
Oh, i forgot, Punahou with a bunch of Kahuku Player’s and a coach or two just got THRASHED, by EWA BEACH BOY’S.
Lol, what happened to kahuku, punahou st louis and everyone else… O.I.A#1
Lol….hhsaa goes through all this trouble to.get ILH2 and WHAT? Cannot finish. OIA the new elite league.
Oh now you cheering for Kapolei make up your mind ILH
It’s amazing how one game makes some league is overrated or underrated. One game doesn’t tell a story. You need to look at how it plays out over 3-5 years. One game is an anomaly.
If Kapolei beats Kahuku next week I am not coming on the board saying that Kahuku is overrated. I will say that Kapolei was the better team for one night. Lot of ILH envy out here.
No the ILH just got trashed by Ewa Beach Boys or Kapolei or wharever.
ILH November 5, 2016 at 10:54 pm
Oh, i forgot, Punahou with a bunch of Kahuku Player’s and a coach or two just got THRASHED, by EWA BEACH BOY’S.
Hahaha….to funny…..Crack me up!
ILH- maybe 3 teams next year?? Waianae beat kam and Kapolei beat punahou this should end all theories that the ilh is superior to the oia.
Lol @ ILH now cheering for the Ewa Beach boys. Loser
ILH- Full of excuses!! Like I said humble yourself before you make yourself out to be an ass..
@ILH: You is one salty nut. Hahaha. You make me laugh.
When the ILH wins it all this year, all around the Stadium and Parking lot going need to get a lot of Security, because all of the OIA going be very upset with the outcome and going like make trouble. Especially if Open Division, Division 1, and Division 2 all winner’s are from ILH.
Funny how New Names pop up with the same stupid nonsense…huh Roll Waves/EF
Omg….your humor is non stop….stop it already, im catching cramps laughing so hard….lol
@ILH how does your foot taste? Buggah must be Ono yah? Hahahahahaaaahaaaaahaaa!!! I laugh at how you hate Kahuku so much you try and say that Kahuku got beat because Punahou has some kids and coaches who live on the N.shore. There’s only one Kahuku team and if you’re not on it then you gonn lose. Nai nai ILH. OIA running things in the big boy division! Congrats to Kapolei and thank you for handling the ” all mighty puffin blew” . Red Raider Nation was cheering you on! Sorru, Next Friday will be a different story.
Too funny ILH.. Kahuku boys from Punahou got beaten by EWA beach boys? CRAZY…….. Are you saying everyone from Kapolei is EWA Beach Boys and everyone playing for punahou is from kahuku…CRAZY… 2ND YEAR IN A ROLL, YOU GOTTA EAT YOUR WORDS AND HUMBLE YOUR MULI…LOL…MUST BE HARD… SMDH..
Iolani can’t beat Mililani,
and Damien is gonna get smoked by an outer island team. We alreay know whats gonna happen to St. Louis; the same thing as last year but worse.
The Hurricanes were 0-2 all time against the Buffanblu and 1-8 against Interscholastic League of Honolulu opponents heading into the matchup.
The OIA is a fine league. And so is the ILH. But it is very naive to call either league overrated. Kapolei played wonderful tonight and deserved the win. But Kapolei’s history against the ILH and Punahou wasn’t that great before tonight. Great job by Kapolei and Waianae.
I have Kahuku beating Kapolei 49-13 and St. Lous beating Waianae 28-7.
Then I have Kahuku beating St. Louis 35-21 for the title.
Good game by the Canes. Typical game between a talented ILH team and an equally talented OIA team. When push comes to shove, ILH can’t handle the OIA physicality.
Should be a good game next week.
RRFL!!
ILH November 1, 2016 at 10:11 pm
MANLEY: you will eat your words, cause this Punahou team is no fluke, could score 60 plus points on Kahuku.
ilh November 1, 2016 at 4:27 pm
Punahou will knock Kapolei than Kabuki off, watch and see, Punahou is a high flying Machine on Offense.
@ilh, just quit already, we all know you never made the varsity football squad for Sacred Hearts Academy hahahahahahahaha.
Nah just joking, no get your dakine all in a bunch.
Congrats Kapolei and Coach Hernandez for a great win. OIA Baby!!!
RR4L c/o 87
Enjoyed the game.
Enjoyed the predictions………being wrong.
Looking forward to next weeks game.
A lot of time, the reason why the ILH kids aren’t as tough is the private schools and public schools have a different learning climate. The atmospheres around the schools are very different. It is often said that transferring from a public to private school softens some kids. The focus is no longer just school and academics. There is music, literature, dance, and other more subtle activities.