Punahou's Maninoa Tufono carries the ball against Kamehameha in an ILH Division I contest. John Lujan | SL

 Purchase image    More photos1 of 33

 

HALAWA — No. 4 Punahou went quarterback-by-committee to rally by No. 5 Kamehameha, 21-17, in a nail-biter Friday night at Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union Field at Aloha Stadium.

The Buffanblu played five different players at quarterback, yet it was linebacker Maninoa Tufono tossing the game-winning, 10-yard touchdown pass to lineman Solotoa Moeai with three minutes, 17 seconds left.

"It was a family effort," Tufono said. "All the brothers, all the work we put in everyday, I'm just grateful for this team, these brothers. We'll move on to next week and we get better."

Tufono carried his team on his back. Besides completing 2 of 2 passes, he rushed 12 times for 41 yards. He even had a 44-yard reception that he fumbled, but recovered in the end zone for a TD.

"Number one, it's a great job by their coaching staff to see, assess their talent and maximize what they can get from their talent," Kamehameha coach Abu Maafala said. "Number two, he's just a highly-recruited, blue-chip Division I player. Every player that Punahou has had like that, they use him in a multi-faceted role, so it doesn't surprise me that he did what he did."

Tufono wears No. 5, as did Manti Teo, who also had multiple roles when he played for the Buffanblu.

"He reminds me of another No. 5 that we used to have," Punahou coach Kale Ane said referring to Teo. "They're both tremendous athletes, tremendous leaders. We're fortuante that he's in terrific shape and he understands the plays on both sides of the ball. We got our money's worth tonight (from Tufono)."

Punahou improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Divisiion I standings. Kamehameha fell to 3-3 and 0-3.

The game featured eight different QBs combined. 

Taking snaps at QB for Punahou were: Nui Adolpho, Hugh Brady, Stephen Barber, RB Vincent Terrell and Tufono. Ironically, Barber was the only one of the five to not complete a pass (Terrell did not attempt a pass). 

Kamehameha started freshman Kiai Keone before bringing in Thomas Yam, who was coming off an injury. Brandon Baniaga, who did not attempt a pass, scored on a 3-yard run.

"My main goal is to the develop players," Maafala said. "At the end of the day, do we want to win? Yes. You can't be afraid to play people. To play Kiai, he had three great weeks of practice since we pulled him from the JV and you gotta play'em. Give him an opportunity to get adjusted to this game, liking it to (Mililani QB) Dillon Gabriel (who also started as a freshman) and what they did with him at Mililani. No matter how you feel the game is going, you have to develop your talent and that was it."

The game was tie at 14 at the half and the Warriors got a break early in the third period when Jonah Kahahawai-Welch forced a fumble from RB Evan Powers that was recovered by Hoku Arias on the second play from scrimmage at the Punahou 23. After converting a fourth-and-6 from the Punahou 19 to the 10, the Warriors lost yardage and settled for a 31-yard field goal by Nokeakua Nakachi-Issacs to give the Warriors a 17-14 lead.

Punahou lost another fumble on its next series, but Kamehameha was unable to capitalize. The teams would exchange punts the next five possessions, but 15-yard punt by Kamehameha in the fourth quarter gave Punahou field position at the Warriors' 39.

The Buffanblu moved the ball to the Kamehameha 27 after Barber was caught in an option keeper for an 11-yard loss. He was down for awhile before leaving the game for Adolpho, who completed a clutch 23-yard pass to Koa Eldredge for afirst down at the 4. A penalty moved the Buffanblu back to the 9 and Tufono was dropped for a 1-yard loss by Hoku Arias. But on second-and-goal from the 10, Tufono lined up in shotgun, took a step forward to freeze the Warriors' rush, then looked up to find Moeai coming across from right to left to complete the 10-yard scoring play.

"I'm just thankful for my athleticism," Tufono said. "I just put it in a spot where Toa (Solotoa) could catch it; it was a hell of a catch by Toa and he brought it down for us."

Punahou had a golden opportunity to get on the board early in the game after it recovered a muffed punt at the Warriors' 9. But Kahahawai-Welch stopped Terrell for a 3-yard loss and after an incomplete pass, he sacked Aldolpho for an 8-yard loss. Tim Horn missed on a 37-yard field goal try.

Punahou did get on the board later in the first period. After taking over from its 30, Powers rushed for 25 yards to the Warriors' 45. On the next play, Brady completed a pass to Tufono who had the ball jarred loose before reaching the end zone, but he recovered for the TD. It was the first of two fumbles Tufono suffered.

"You know, I had to figure it out," Tufono said. "I fumbled a couple times in the beginning, but I had to figure it out, get back into my groove at running back and hold on to the ball tight."

Punahou punted from its 16 on its next series, giving the Warriors field positon at the Buffanblu 37 after an 18-yard return by Alex Serrao. Yam moved the Warriors down to the 3 on 2-of-5 passing for 30 yards. But one first-and-goal, Baniaga lined up at QB and ran off left tackle for the TD to tie the game at 7 with 8:33 in the half.

Later, an interception by Trent Shiraki off of Keone set up Barber's 2-yard TD run off the left side to help Punahou regain the lead at 14-7 with 3:15 left in the half.

Kamehameha had to punt on its next series and Punahou took over from midfield. But on third-and-3 from the Warriors' 43, Kalamaku Kuewa intercepted Barber and returned the ball to the Punahou 49. Five plays later, Yam hit Skyler Ramos for a 22-yard TD to tie the game at 14 with 23 seconds in the half.

Yam was 13 of 31 for 134 passing yards; Keone was 4 of 7 for 24 yards.

Kamehameha plays Saint Louis Friday at Aloha Stadium. Punahou has a bye.