A week after one of the craziest high school football games ever, Punahou, which earned the No. 1 ranking after beating Saint Louis 51-45 in double overtime last Friday, hosts ‘Iolani to start second-round ILH Division I play.
The four-time defending ILH Division I champions are 25-1 since the start of the 2013 season and have beaten ‘Iolani by the same 59-22 score in each of the last two meetings.
The Raiders (2-4, 0-3) were competitive through two-plus quarters in the last meeting before giving up 31 unanswered points. Nick Kapule has done an admirable job filling in at QB for the Buffanblu in place of starter Ephraim Tuliloa, who was hurt in that ‘Iolani game. We’ll see if Tuliloa makes it back today.
Live updates to follow:
Haven’t seen Tuliloa out there for warmups so I assume Kapule will start his third straight game.
Punahou will receive. Kapule in at QB. He drops back and finds Keala Martinson for 29 yards on the first play. Wayne Taulapapa‘s first carry is a 55-yard TD run but it’s called back by holding. Kapule completes two more passes to Martinson but it’s fourth-and-4 at the 49 and Punahou punts.
Sophomore Tai-John Mizutani starts at QB for ‘Iolani. K.J. Pascua with a 7-yard run on second down but two incomplete passes sandwich it and ‘Iolani punts.
Kapule with his fourth completion, all to Martinson, for 9 yards. Taulapapa cleans up with runs of 6 and 10 yards before scoring on a 16-yard TD rush. 7-0 Punahou, 7:00, Q1. Two tackles on the drive by ‘Iolani’s Christian Naeole.
Mizutani hits two completions for 27 yards to Keoni-Kordell Makekau, who takes a shot near the sideline. Makekau stays down near the sideline and the entire team is concerned. He’s up on his feet and it looks like it’s his right shoulder/arm. Raiders first-and-10 on the Punahou 49. ‘Iolani converts a fourth-and-1 as Mizutani hits Tamatane Aga on play action for 2 yards. ‘Iolani gets to the 13 but DE Pono Puu-Robinson comes up with a sack from behind and forces a fumble. ‘Iolani recovers but loses 17 yards. Two incompletions and ‘Iolani turns it over on downs. Meanwhile Makekau’s pads are off.
Kapule hits Eamon Brady for 56 yards to the ‘Iolani 10. Kapule mishandles a snap and loses 13 yards. Fourth-and-goal at the 4 and Punahou hands it off to Taulapapa off the left side for a 4-yard TD run. 14-0, 20.1, Q1.
END 1: No. 1 Punahou 14, ‘Iolani 0.
Three-and-out for ‘Iolani. Losing Makekau is a huge blow to the offense.
Kapule is sacked by Naeole for a loss of 8 yards on first down. Third-and-15 and he finds Ethan Takeyama for a 22-yard gain. Taulapapa up the middle and he’s gone. 39-yard TD run. 21-0, 9:32, Q2.
‘Iolani gets a first down as Brent Nagami scoops the ball from near the ground for a nice 14-yard reception. Mizutani misses two throws though and ‘Iolani punts. NO! It’s a fake and Melvin Hoomanawanui runs for 9 on fourth-and-8 for the first down. A personal foul penalty moves the ball ahead 15 yards. Pascua with a 1-yard run but he’s down on the play. Raiders losing their best players on offense. Pascua is helped off and he’s walking on the sideline. Doesn’t look as bad as Makekau’s injury. Third-and-9 and Kennedy picks up a 10-yard reception for the first down. Kennedy with a diving catch in the corner of the end zone but he can’t get a foot down. Fourth-and-6 at the 10 and ‘Iolani goes for it. First it calls timeout. Pascua still getting looked at on the ‘Iolani bench and I don’t see Makekau anywhere. Mizutani with the throw and it’s an easy holding call on Punahou. Now fourth-and-1 at the 5. Gafoaleata Fetui-Salavea runs straight up the middle for 4 yards and then scores on a 1-yard TD run on the next play. 21-7, 4:40, Q2. That was an 18-play, 90-yard drive.
Stephen Barber in at QB for Punahou and he runs for 13 yards. A hold moves Punahou back and it’s third-and-14 after a Taulapapa drop. Incomplete and Punahou has to punt with 3:29 remaining in the half.
Pascua back in for ‘Iolani. Good sign for the Raiders who can make this a one-possession game. Aga with a 16-yard catch and Kennedy with an 11-yard reception to the 39. Mizutani has a receiver open deep but Kitagawa with the pick as the receiver got deep but ball was underthrown. He returns it 56 yards. Taulapapa runs for 18 and Barber for 15. After a personal foul, Barber finds Martinson for the 16-yard TD pass. 28-7, 52.7, Q2.
HALFTIME BOX
at Alexander Field
‘Iolani (2-4, 0-3) 0 7
Punahou (6-0, 3-0) 14 14
Pun—Wayne Taulapapa 16 run (Jet Toner kick)
Pun—Taulapapa 4 run (Toner kick)
Pun—Taulapapa 39 run (Toner kick)
Iol— Gafoaleata Fetui-Salavea 1 run (Evan Minami kick)
Pun—Keala Martinson 16 pass from Stephen Barber (Toner kick)
RUSHING—‘Iolani: K.J. Pascua 11-46, Fetui-Salavea 5-15, Melvin Hoomanawanui 1-9, Tai-John Mizutani 1-(minus 17). Punahou: Taulapapa 9-104, Barber 2-28, Kapule 5-(minus 6).
PASSING—‘Iolani: Mizutani 13-27-1-98. Punahou: Kapule 8-9-0-147, Barber 1-4-0-16.
RECEIVING—‘Iolani: Nicholas Kennedy 3-27, Tamatane Aga 3-19, Pascua 3-12, Keoni-Kordell Makekau 2-27, Brent Nagami 1-14, Conor Hannum 1-(minus 1). Punahou: Martinson 6-73, Eamon Brady 2-68, Ethan Takeyama 1-22.
Raiders ball first. Two first-dwon receptions for Kennedy, who goes high to snag a nice catch at the 45. Third-and-9 and Mizutani hits Kennedy for 30 yards to the 14. Four catches for 63 yards on this drive. Third-and-10 and Coby Pudiquet catches the slant from Mizutani for a 14-yard TD. 28-14, 8:11, Q3.
Barber at QB. Taulapapa just throws a defender off of him on an impressive 45-yard run. Third-and-2 at the 27 and Barber keeps for 3 yards. Raiders had a chance to stop him short there. Barber picks up another third-down conversion with his legs. Wayne Taulapapa (11 carries, 150 yards, 4 TD) scores on 1-yard TD run. No. 1 Punahou 35, ‘Iolani 14, 5:28, Q3.
Raiders go right back to work on offense as Mizutani completes his first three passes of the drive. ‘Iolani mixing run and pass on every play well. First-and-10 on the Punahou 41 as Kennedy goes over 100 yards on his ninth catch. Seyddrick Lakalaka with a big sack on second-and-4 from the 8. Fourth-and-10 at the 14 and timeout is called by Punahou. Blitz off the end forces a jump ball throw and Kamauliola Aina picks it off in the end zone.
Barber runs for 7 to the 32 for the first down as the third quarter ends. 35-14 Buffanblu.
Three incomplete passes and Punahou punts. Barber is 3-for-12 passing.
Raiders picks up yards as Fetui-Salavea runs 17 yards to the Punahou 18 but is down on the play. Mizutani is currently 26-for-45 for 239 yards. Left leg injury for Fetui-Salavea who is walking off really slowly. LB Alexander Skelton with a big sack as ‘Iolani got to he 10. Third-and-8 and Kennedy makes the catch right at the stick. First down after the measure. ‘Iolani tries to run it in out of the “I” formation but can’t but Mizutani hits Melvin Hoomanawanui on third-and-goal for the 4-yard TD. 35-21, 7:05, Q4.
A bad snap on the first play results in only a 1-yard gain and Naeole with a tackle for loss to force third-and-12. Pass to Brady goes for only 4 yards and Punahou will punt with 5:29 remaining.
Raiders stopped on fourth-and-1. Punahou ball on Raiders 36.
Raiders get another chance as Helam Baldomero intercepts Barber at the 14 and returns it 31 yards to the 45.
Mizutani goes deep but Ryan Dominick picks it off at the 1. Feria tries to run it out of the end zone but is tackled for an ‘Iolani safety. 35-23, 2:30, Q4.
Raiders will start from their 40 with 2:22 left. Mizutani to Nagami for 20 yards to cross midfield. Mizutani at 300 yards passing. Fourth-and-4 at the 34. Kennedy with his 15th catch for 16 yards to the 18. Pascua with a screen pass and he goes 9 yards to make it fourth-and-1 at the 9. Timeout ‘Iolani with 55.1 seconds remaining. Mizutani is picked in the end zone. That will do it.
FINAL
at Alexander Field
‘Iolani (2-5, 0-4) 0 7 7 9 — 23
Punahou (7-0, 4-0) 14 14 7 0 — 35
Pun—Wayne Taulapapa 16 run (Jet Toner kick)
Pun—Taulapapa 4 run (Toner kick)
Pun—Taulapapa 39 run (Toner kick)
Iol— Gafoaleata Fetui-Salavea 1 run (Evan Minami kick)
Pun—Keala Martinson 16 pass from Stephen Barber (Toner kick)
Iol—Coby Pudiquet 14 pass from Tai-John Mizutani (Minami kick)
Pun—Taulapapa 1 run (Toner kick)
Iol—Melvin Hoomanawanui 4 pass from Mizutani (Minami kick)
Iol—Safety, Antonio Cortez Feria tackled in end zone
RUSHING—‘Iolani: K.J. Pascua 24-70, Fetui-Salavea 7-45, Melvin Hoomanawanui 1-9, Tai-John Mizutani 4-(minus 29). Punahou: Taulapapa 11-150, Barber 10-88, Feria 2-(minus 3), Kapule 5-(minus 6).
PASSING—‘Iolani: Mizutani 33-62-4-329. Punahou: Kapule 8-9-0-147, Barber 4-16-1-31.
RECEIVING—‘Iolani: Nicholas Kennedy 15-169, Pascua 7-39, Tamatane Aga 4-28, Brent Nagami 3-49, Keoni-Kordell Makekau 2-27, Pudiquet 1-14, Hoomanawanui 1-4, Conor Hannum 1-(minus 1). Punahou: Martinson 7-78, Eamon Brady 3-72, Ethan Takeyama 2-28.
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