John Lujan | SL

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John Lujan | SL

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Despite a layoff of nearly four weeks — 26 days to be exact — there were hardly any signs of rust for the Punahou football team in its 56-14 shellacking of Kamehameha Thursday night.

The third-ranked Buffanblu scored early and often, including a string of 28 straight points that stretched from the second through third quarters in the much-anticipated regular-season opener for both Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I teams.

Punahou posted 523 yards of total offense, including 406 through the air — 347 of them coming from senior southpaw Nick Kapule, who completed 17 of 31 passes. Kapule threw five touchdown passes, including three to Judd Cockett, one of two receivers to go over 100 yards Thursday.

Perhaps the most important statistic of them all for Buffanblu was zero turnovers. The offensive line, which was missing two starters, allowed just one sack against a Kamehameha defensive line that features a pair of highly-sought after recruits in Nakoa Pauole and Andrew Aleki.

In addition to Cockett's banner day, several other receivers got into the scoring column for Punahou. Ethan Takeyama caught seven passes for 147 yards — both game-high marks — Keala Martinson notched four grabs for 85 yards and Eamon Brady added three receptions for 62 yards. All three caught a touchdown pass.

Kapule picked apart the sixth-ranked Warriors' pass defense, particularly exploiting mismatches with speed slot receivers against linebackers.

"We just kind of look for the openings and that just happened to be there tonight," said Cockett, who had touchdown receptions of 4, 8 and 44 yards. "I just feel like our film preparation was really good, so we were ready for that."

Cockett's third TD catch was the start of a 21-point third quarter for Punahou, which stretched its lead from 21-7 at halftime to 42-7 by the start of the fourth quarter.

Halftime provided a chance to make some in-game adjustments, but not a whole lot of them, Cockett said.

"I think we just went in there and talked over a couple coverage things and a bunch of us just laid down with our feet up and kind of just relaxed and tried to have fun — that's when you do your best," Cockett said.

The Buffanblu ended up with 26 first downs by the end of the night. They were 4 of 10 on third downs and an incredible 3 for 3 on fourth downs. All three fourth-down conversions were goal-to-go situations and each resulted in a touchdown.

"We're just eager to go out and prove ourselves, I guess, and we want to be aggressive this year, so I guess that's what that says," Cockett said of the fourth-down success.

Ane, whose son, Teetei, serves as the team's offensive coordinator, took the statistic in stride.

"I know the offensive coordinator pretty well and he kind of convinced me to go for it, so he owes me a couple hot sundaes," Ane joked.

The Buffanblu defense did its part by holding the Warriors to just a pair of scores despite 205 rushing yards.

"The defense played well, they stepped up," Ane said. "They got gashed a few times but they made big plays, never quit and it was good to get some kids in there at the end, but it's the kind of game that you have to get stops and they did."

The time off between games was hardly that, Cockett explained.

"For four weeks everyone was just grinding," he said." We made sure, in the first week, that we had to stay focused, so we've just been working hard these four weeks."

The Buffanblu (2-0) will have "just" eight days off before facing defending ILH champion and second-ranked Saint Louis Friday night.