Kamehameha's defense stifles Punahou in rebound league win

Kinue Miller | SL

On a night that the Warriors needed a win, Kaimana Fake and the Kamehameha defense were real difference makers.

The senior DL registered two tackles for loss as the Warriors had three sacks and five total TFLs to go along with six pass breakups and an early interception by Tau Purcell, setting the tone for the home team in a 24-10 win over Punahou.

"I'm so proud of my boys," said Fake. "All the seniors on the D-line we all got a sack, Tau got a pick, as a defense we work all year for this."

Kamehameha broke the 10-all tie through three quarters on a two yard keeper by Taimane Purcell, his only carry of the evening via the wildcat formation, then sealed the deal on a 29 yard pass from Mana Forges to Jayden Braun with 4:36 left.

Punahou got on the scoreboard first, benefitting from a mishandled snap on a punt attempt that gave the Buffanblu the ball on the Kamehameha three yard line. The Warriors denied three chances at the end zone, however, and the Buffanblu settled for a 21 yard field goal by Tyler Endo.

The home team responded at the 8:49 mark of the second, capping an extended drive with a three yard run by Ezekiel Gabriel to make it a 7-3 game and then closed the scoring for the half on a 39 yard field goal by Tyler Fujimoto.

Things got interesting when Hunter Fujikawa found a streaking Brady Lau for a 33 yard pitch and catch to tie the contest up at 10-all at the midway point of the third, but the Buffanblu offense was unable to break through the Warriors defense for another.

"This was huge," said Fake of the win. "We work every game, we're just taking one game at a time. We're looking at December 5, but hey, every week of this is the same, we prepare the same and we just ball out."

The win on Senior Night vaulted the Warriors, at least temporarily, into sole possession of first in the ILH Open standings, a half game ahead of Saint Louis, who will finish its slate next week against Punahou. A win by the Crusaders on Nov. 1 would then set up a one-game playoff for the league's lone berth into the state tournament.

By the numbers, the Warriors defense held the Buffanblu to just 170 yards of total offense, though the Buffanblu defense also kept the Warriors largely in check with just 237 in total.

Niamiah Samia was another standout on the evening with four total tackles and four pass breakups for the Warriors, as was Punahou's Tua Tafiti, who had six total tackles and two sacks, both team highs.