No. 2 Punahou shakes off slow start to whomp Moanalua


Michael Lasquero | ScoringLive
August 26, 2023, 11:44pm

Punahou OLB Josiah "Ko'o" Kia (8) celebrates in the end zone after an 18-yard pick-6 gave Punahou the lead late in the first quarter. Michael Lasquero | SL

For nearly 12 minutes, No. 2 Punahou did not look like the second best team in the state.

Three fumbles lost by the offense on their first three possessions was not something that you expected to see from the Buffanblu against a Moanalua team searching its first win of the season.

Fortunately, the defense held up for four quarters to give Punahou its first shutout win of the year.

Linebacker Josiah "Ko'o" Kia's 18-yard pick-6 with 10 seconds to go in the first quarter started the scoring for the Buffanblu in a 45-0 win over visiting Na Menehune in a non-league game at Alexander Field Saturday afternoon.

Kia's defensive touchdown was one of three interceptions by the Punahou defense, which helped offset the three fumbles by the offense. Alika Cavaco-Amoy and Donte Utu also came down with a pick for the Buffanblu.

Special teams also played a factor for the home team. After Carson Beard's 32-yard field goal gave Punahou (3-0 overall) a 10-0 lead with 1:35 left in the first half, the kickoff coverage unit forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball to regain possession for the Buffanblu. This helped lead to Iosepa Lyman's 3-yard TD run to make it a 17-0 game at the break.

Punahou's offense flushed all of its miscues at halftime as Ty McCutcheon found freshman receiver Zion White for an 80-yard TD on the first play from scrimmage of the second half. Running back Alai Williams also scored on runs of 20 and 6 yards in the third quarter to put the game into a running clock.

John Luke Twigg scored on a 6-yard run late in the fourth quarter and Beard booted his sixth PAT for the final points of the game.


Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].