The Crusaders celebrate a touchdown in the Buffanblu’s season-ending loss in 2021. CJ Caraang | SL

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Punahou football coach Nate Kia knows that there is nothing more precious than time. 

Unlike a year ago, when Kia took over the Buffanblu program, time has been on his side this prep football season and the results tell as much. 

With its 24-8 win over fifth-ranked Saint Louis Saturday night, Punahou, the No. 2 team in the ScoringLive Power Rankings, improved to 8-1 on the year and laid claim to its first league championship since 2014. 

It's been quite the turnaround from the truncated 2021 season, when the Buffanblu struggled to a 1-4 record and finished third (last) behind Saint Louis and Kamehameha in the Open Division of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. 

Kia was clear when asked what the difference has been for this year's squad. 

"Time," he stated. "Time together."

Kia continued, "I think we didn't even have our staff completed until July of last year, right before the season started, so just having the time to put in the systems, to build the chemistry, to put in the work and learn to trust each other (has been key) and the players have done that and the staff has as well and in doing so, we've had a great season thus far."

Two of the numerous contributors to the ILH title-clinching victory over the Crusaders Saturday — senior cornerback Travis Ross and junior wide receiver Noah Macapulay — were in agreement with their coach's assessment. 

"I think it was just over the summer, we were building chemistry as one unit, as a family and us seniors, we made sure we had team-bonding activities so that we'd be connected as one and that we're just an unstoppable force," Ross stated. 

Macapulay explained how he and his teammates have embraced the grind of not just the season, but the offseason as well. 

"We worked so hard during the summer; I think we were the team that worked the hardest over the summer," he said.

That commitment to improvement has continued over the course of the season as well, added Macapulay, who recorded seven receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns Saturday. 

"Coach Nate pushes us every day to get better. Every day is a challenge, you know. We have school and then we come to practice every day, but we just have to be mentally strong coming through this stretch and we need to get healthy for states and I think that we could do it. Our team, we have everything we need, as coach says," Macapulay laid out. 

The payoff for Punahou is the program's first league title in eight years. Consequently, it ended Saint Louis's string of seven consecutive ILH crowns by winning all three of its meetings against the Crusaders this fall. 

"It's a big accomplishment, not just for our team, but for our community and our school because I know Saint Louis is a great team and I know they always give us challenges, especially last year and this year, but yeah, this is a big monumental moment for our school and our family," said Ross, who tallied 1 1/2 tackles for loss, including one-half sack and broke up two passes Saturday. 

Ross, Macapulay and the Buffanblu will take on third-ranked Mililani in the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Open Division State Championships on Friday, Nov. 18 at the Trojans' John Kauinana Stadium. The game will follow the Kahuku-Campbell semifinal at 4 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. 

Punahou will be making its first state tournament appearance since 2016, when it finished second to Saint Louis in the ILH and lost to Kapolei in the first round of the state tournament.