Punahou senior running back Wayne Taulapapa and Kalaheo junior outside hitter Syenna Masaki helped their respective teams remain unbeaten with clutch individual performances last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Wayne Taulapapa, Punahou football
Last weekend's trip to Northern California got off to a rough start for the Punahou football team, but ended on a high note.

The Buffanblu, who were delayed 13 hours at Honolulu International Airport due to mechanical issues on the plane they scheduled to depart on, came away with a come-from-behind 22-15 win over Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.) in a non-league game that was played at Memorial Stadium on the University of California-Berkeley campus Saturday night.

The driving force for Punahou in the win was running back Wayne Taulapapa. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior rushed for a season-high 159 yards and two touchdowns — both coming in the second half — including the go-ahead score in the closing seconds of the game.

"Wayne will be the first to say that it was his offensive line and his wide receivers and everybody else, but he really had a great game," Buffanblu coach Kale Ane said. "He showed great vision, made some great cuts, used his second effort to break tackles, so I would feel comfortable saying he definitely carried us and had a great game."

Punahou started chipping away at Del Oro's 15-0 lead on Taulapapa's first touchdown — a 2-yard run — late in the third quarter. Just minutes into the fourth quarter, quarterback Ephraim Tuliloa snuck in from a yard out and also ran in the two-point conversion to tie it at 15-all.

The score held until Taulapapa scored from three yards out with just five seconds left in the game. The play was set-up off an interception by linebacker Logan Williams off Golden Eagles' quarterback Stone Smartt.

"Logan made a great play and gave us great field position," Ane said. "We had to get a stop and the defense did. The defense played great all night. We were running the ball well in the second half, the offensive line did a good job of creating a hole and Wayne made things work."

Taulapapa, who also caught a five-yard pass in the game, accounted for more than 76 percent of the Buffanblu offensive production. He had 164 yards from scrimmage of his team's 215 yards of total offense. The passing game struggled with Tuliloa completing just 8 of his 17 throws for 89 yards. He was also intercepted twice.

"I think (Del Oro) did a good job getting some pressure on us early and taking away a couple of things early," Ane said. "We played much better in the second half. The coaches did a great job of making adjustments in the second half, the kids got fired up and their intensity and urgency came back and I think both of those things propelled the team in the second half."

Ane said Taulapapa, who is averaging 7.9 yards per carry this season, will probably go down as one of the best running backs Punahou has ever seen.

"He's a special runner," Ane said. "I wouldn't say he's exceeded our expectations, but he's lived up to them. It seems that the bigger the game, the better he gets and that's the response you'd like everyone to have and the great ones do, so he's definitely living up to the expectations we have for him and there's nobody we'd rather have back there."

Taulapapa, who rushed for 260 yards and three touchdowns in last year's loss to Mililani in the Division I state final, has scholarship offers from BYU, Colorado, Hawaii, UNLV and Army.

Punahou (3-0), which ascended to the top spot in this week's ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, opens defense of its four straight Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I crowns at Iolani (2-1) Friday afternoon.

Female Athlete of the Week: Syenna Masaki, Kalaheo volleyball
Roberta Downey has the luxury of 11 returnees from last year's league championship-winning team, but the Kalaheo coach doesn't understate the importance of junior Syenna Masaki.

The outside hitter and third-year varsity member helped the Mustangs get off to a 2-0 start in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division with 10 kills and eight digs against Roosevelt last Monday and followed that up with 12 kills, five digs and a block against McKinley Wednesday.

"Right now she's unstoppable on the left side," Downey said of the 5-foot-9 Masaki. "She's our go-to player and one of our biggest offensive forces on our squad. When she's on, she's unstoppable."

Downey said Masaki's versatility has served the Mustangs well over the years.

"She can play and hit in all three positions and she can also set, too," Downey said. "Against Kailua (in the OIA D2 final) last year, I put Syenna and Siani (Yamaguchi) opposite and they just couldn't stop Syenna. She's always been an all-around natural, gifted athlete that can play in any position. She's one player that you want to have on your side."

Yamaguchi was named a First Team All-OIA East all-star last year, while Masaki was named to the Second Team.

The biggest gains in Masaki's development this offseason came in terms of her intangibles, Downey said.

"This year her growth and maturity has come in the way she talks and interacts with her teammates," Downey said. "She's very intense and aggressive and before, a lot of the girls didn't know how to take her because it's like she's yelling at you, but she isn't. This year she'll yell at a teammate like ‘come on, get the ball!,' but then right after that she'll walk up to the player and say, ‘I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that, but let's get that ball!,' and you wouldn't have seen that last year. Everybody wants it just as bad as she does, but she makes everybody play up to her level."

Kalaheo has six of its seven starters from a season ago back this year. Downey said all 11 returnees played club volleyball during the offseason.

"That's helped boost our varsity team and the entire program in itself," said Downey, who was named Eastern Division Coach of the Year in 2014.

In preparation for a move up to Division I this fall, Downey had her team participate in several preseason tournaments against stiff competition. The Mustangs went to Maui, where they won the Kamehameha-Maui tournament, and then took part in the Hawaii Volleyball Invitational, hosted by Kamehameha-Kapalama the following week.

"Winning on Maui was a big morale-booster for all of us, but then at Kapalama we took some good cracks from the (Interscholastic League of Honolulu schools), but that's part of the reason we put them in there, because when we get to states we want to compete better against the ILH," Downey said. "They all want to win. The girls have high expectations. For us coach, we're happy that we're in D1 ad we will take it one game at a time, but the ultimate goal is to win D1. We want to be the first team to win D2 and D1 back-to-back in the OIA and do a better job at states."

Kalaheo won its first league championship since 2006 and just the second in school history last year. It was swept by eventual-state champion Konawaena in the semifinal round of the state tournament and ended up finishing fourth. However, with its bevy of returnees, Downey said it was the perfect time to make the move to D1.

"Last year we were kind of disappointed that we were in D2, because last year's team would have been just as great to have up in D1, but now we've got to prove ourselves more," Downey said.

Masaki and the Mustangs (2-0) will hit the road for their next two matches. They visit Farrington (0-2) Wednesday and Moanalua (2-0) Monday.

AIR RIFLERY
Justin Enoki, Castle — Shot a score of 508 in a win over Castle

Jennifer Loui, Pearl City — Shot a score of 544.19 in a win over Waianae

Heather Mar, Kalani — Shot a score of 530.12 in a win over Kaimuki

Robert Williams, Pearl City — Shot a score of 511.12 in a win over Waianae

BOWLING
Anthony Brett, Kapolei — Rolled a high game of 241 in an OIA West boys' meet

Kristin Frost, Pearl City — Rolled a three-game series of 590 in an OIA West girls' meet

Jon Kanno, Castle — Rolled a high game of 230 and a three-game series of 620 in an OIA East boys' meet

Erin Ohta, Mililani — Rolled a high game of 237 in an OIA West girls' meet

Tyra Sanchez, Castle — Rolled a three-game series of 555 in an OIA East girls' meet

Zhi Qing Sun, Castle — Rolled a high game of 224 in an OIA East girls' meet

Kristopher Yadao, Pearl City — Rolled a three-game series of 609 in an OIA West boys' meet

CROSS COUNTRY
Kaeo Kruse, Kamehameha — Won an ILH boys' meet at Kamehameha in a time of 18 minutes, 10.61 seconds

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Seleni Bartley, Kapolei — Had 12 kills and five digs in a loss to Mililani

Bailey Choy, Iolani — Had 25 assists, four digs, three kills and a block in a win over Mid-Pacific

Moea Kekauoha, Iolani — Had 14 digs, eight kills and an ace in a win over Mid-Pacific

Ashley Pawlak, Mililani — Had nine kills and eight digs in a win over Kapolei

Noel Phillips, Redford — Had 10 kills, three digs and two blocks in a win over Campbell

Kunani Tuttle, Kapaa — Had 19 assists in a win over Island School

Carey Williams, Kahuku — Had nine kills and four digs in a win over Kaiser

FOOTBALL
Christian Acorda, Farrington — Scored on a 50-yard interception return in a win over Aiea

Chayce Akaka, Baldwin — Threw four touchdown passes in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Taje Akaka, Baldwin — Caught three touchdown passes in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Makoa Andres, Waiakea — Threw two touchdown passes and rushed for 130 yards on 17 carries in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Noah Auld, Kailua — Threw for 165 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Campbell

Nainoa Banks, Nanakuli — Threw for 308 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Waialua

Alika Bantolina, Kapolei — Caught three touchdown passes in a win over Moanalua

Brandon Brady, Radford — Scored on a 30-yard interception return in a win over Kaimuki

Alex Brost, Hawaii Prep — Kicked field goals of 33 and 52 yards in a win over Keaau

Abishai Campbell, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Rushed for 170 yards on 26 carries in a win over Waiakea

Johnathan Charbonneau, Honokaa — Caught two touchdown passes in a loss to Kealakehe

Clifford Cunningham, Nanakuli — Caught seven passes for 226 yards and a touchdown in a win over Waialua

Chance Kalaugher, Kaiser — Made 10 tackles, including a sack, and scored on a 32-yard fumble return in a win over Waipahu

Cody Loeka Cuba, Waiakea — Scored on an 88-yard kickoff return in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Isaiah Damo-Agcaoili, Kailua — Caught five passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in a win over Campbell

DallasJ Duarte, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Passed for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waiakea

Noah Esprecion, Campbell — Caught 11 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kailua

Ansen Faamasino, Farrington — Made four tackles, including one sack, and recovered a fumble in a win over Aiea

Challen Faamatau, Farrington — Rushed for 126 yards on 17 carries and caught a touchdown pass in a win over Aiea

Ace Faumui, Radford — Rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Kaimuki

Sulfa Grey, Waianae — Rushed for three touchdowns in a win over McKinley

Jaemi Harris, Kalani — Rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Roosevelt

Parker Higgins, Kaiser — Rushed for 128 yards with a touchdown, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a win over Waipahu

Jericho Kahooilihala, Kapolei — Made four tackles, including a sack, and recovered a fumble in a win over Moanalua

Andrew Kaufusi, Kaiser — Scored on a 91-yard kickoff return in a win over Waipahu

Shastyn Kekahuna, Roosevelt — Passed for 195 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kalani

Austin Keliinoi-Westbrook, Waianae — Scored on a 39-yard interception return in a win over McKinley

Ty Keough, Leilehua — Caught five passes for 118 yards with a touchdown and scored on an 89-yard kickoff return in a win over Castle

Zachary Kerr, Waianae — Scored on a 35-yard interception return in a win over McKinley

Riggs Kurashige, Kealakehe — Rushed for a touchdown and scored on a 50-yard punt return in a win over Honokaa

Leonard Lee, Kapolei — Intercepted two passes in a win over Moanalua

Mila Lele, Waialua — Rushed for 122 yards on eight carries in a loss to Nanakuli

Gabriel LeLesch, Kailua — Rushed for two touchdowns in a win over Campbell

Zelius Maae-Liupaono, Aiea — Intercepted two passes in a loss to Farrington

Vavae Malepeai, Mililani — Rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Liberty (Nev.)

Bayley Manliguis, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Caught four passes for 117 yards with a touchdown and rushed for three scores in a win over Waiakea

Gavin Marques, Waipahu — Rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass in a loss to Kaiser

Christian Mejia, Kailua — Had four sacks in a win over Campbell

McKenzie Milton, Mililani — Passed for 431 yards and five touchdowns in a loss to Liberty

Chyson Morgan, Nanakuli — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Waiakea

Johnny Morrison, Kapolei — Made six tackles, including a sack, and recovered a fumble in a win over Moanalua

Netane Muti, Leilehua — Had two sacks in a win over Castle

Dalton Nascimento, Moanalua — Made 10 tackles and forced a fumble in a loss to Kapolei

Gehrig Octavio, Waiakea — Scored on a 57-yard punt return in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Kodi Ongory-Mathias, Redford — Rushed for two touchdowns in a win over Kaimuki

Anthony Palleschi, Hawaii Prep — Ran for two touchdowns, had eight tackles and forced a safety in a win over Keaau

Alexcio Paulo-Meyers, Nanakuli — Scored on a 75-yard punt return in a win over Waiakea

Justin Perry, Hawaii Prep — Rushed for two touchdowns in a win over Keaau

Jorell Pontes-Borje, Waianae — Ran for 128 yards and a touchdown in a win over McKinley

Bishop Rapoza, Farrington — Passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Aiea

Hunter Rapoza, Waiakea — Caught two passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Kai Reed, Kalani — Caught six passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Roosevelt

Kea Rodrigues, Moanalua — Made six tackles, including a sack, and intercepted a pass in a loss to Kapolei

Jaymin Sarono, Kapolei — Caught 15 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown in a win over Moanalua

Andrew Simanu, Waipahu — Caught 12 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kaiser

Royce Simeona-Townsend, Castle — Had a sack, picked off a pass and forced a fumble in a loss to Leilehua

Taulia Tagovailoa, Kapolei — Passed for 464 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Moanalua

Rylan Tangonan, Castle — Recovered two fumbles in a loss to Leilehua

Shayne Teruya, Roosevelt — Caught six passes for 163 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kalani

Pita Tiave, Moanalua — Made 11 tackles in a loss to Kapolei

Kalakaua Timoteo, Mililani — Caught nine passes for 193 yards and four touchdowns in a loss to Liberty

Seth Tina-Soberano, Kalani — Threw for 176 yards with three touchdowns and ran in another score in a win over Roosevelt

Nic Tom, Kaiser — Threw a touchdown pass, rushed for another score, intercepted two passes, including a 78-yard pick-6, and scored on a 71-yard punt return in a win over Waipahu

Paul Tyquiengco, Castle — Intercepted two passes, including a 35-yard pick-6, and caught a touchdown pass in a loss to Leilehua

Soane Vaohea, Maui — Rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in a win over Lahainaluna

Tyler Vasega, Kapolei — Made six tackles, including a sack, and forced a fumble in a win over Moanalua

Bryson Ventura, Mililani — Caught six passes for 183 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Liberty