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Two months after Kahuku played closer than any other team in Hawaii, Punahou got the rematch it wanted.
The Buffanblu’s remarkable season will continue in the final round of the First Division Bank Hawaiian/HHSAA state championship on Friday after a 52-24 beat of Mililani on Friday night at John Kauinana Stadium.
Junior Ala’i Williams rushed for an Open Division state-record 237 yards and four touchdowns and senior linebacker GianCarlo Rufo had six tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble for Punahou (9-1), which won. 28 points for the sixth time this season.
Its only loss was a 27-20 defeat at Kahuku’s Carlton E. Weimer Field on Sept. 3, when the Red Raiders trailed 20-13 in the fourth quarter before coming back and then stopping Punahou in the final game.
Only one of the two times in Kahuku’s current 21-game winning streak against Hawaii opponents has the team lost by fewer than 10 points.
“Kahuku is a good team,” Rufo said after Friday’s win. “They are very disciplined, great at all levels of the game. This week we need to work hard, definitely, fight and come out with a victory. Our chemistry is better (now). We got closer, working together, communication was much better. All these meet and show on the field.
In just his second season as head coach, Nate Kia has pulled off a remarkable turnaround from 1-4 last season to Punahou’s first appearance in the state finals since 2014.
The Buffanblu dominated in all phases against Mililani, almost doubling the Trojans in the first attack (24-13). Punahou forced three turnovers, outscored Mililani 265-15 and converted all five of its four-possession plays.
But the real difference maker is Williams, a 6-foot, 215-pound running back who joined Mosi Tatupu, Wayne Taulapapa and Ryan Tuiasoa as the only Buffan Blue players to rush for at least 230 yards in a game.
“He does it in his art and he does it in finer points and it still gets better,” Kia said. “The O-line is getting better and I’m proud of how they’ve grown and it’s much better than before.”
His biggest challenge will come Friday against the defending champion Red Raiders (11-2), who punched their ticket to the final 16 with a 32-7 win over Campbell on Friday.
Kahuku set a state tournament record with three interceptions returned for touchdowns against the Sabers to help offset an offense that had just gained 146 yards.
Punahou quarterbacks John-Keawe Saapolutele and Ty McCutcheon combined to throw for 300 yards in a game against Kahuku two months ago.
Since then, the Red Raiders have given up 44 points in seven games against Hawaii opponents.
“We have great athletes,” Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho said after Friday’s win. “You never see our defense like Kahuku’s defense. You don’t know how big and fast they are until you play them.
Kahuku started seven defensive players with at least one FBS offer against the Sabres, including reigning Star-Advertiser Defensive Player of the Year Liona Lefau, a Texas commit who had a game-high nine tackles and a sack.
Senior linebacker Moe Fonoimoana, a sophomore who has already been offered by Hawaii and San Diego State, had two sacks for the Red Raiders.
Aiden Manutai, another sophomore with offers from Arizona and Hawaii, had one of three leagues.
Kahuku and Punahou’s past four meetings date back to 2014, when the Red Bulls beat the Raiders in the semifinals.
Kahuku holds an 8-4 advantage in the series dating back to 1973.
