Playing like a team with more experience, Kahuku came out firing on all cylinders to beat defending Division I state champion Punahou, 24-14, last night at Aloha Stadium.

The nonleague game was the season opener for the Buffanblu (0-1), who are looking for a successor to all-state quarterback Cayman Shutter.

Meanwhile, the Red Raiders (2-0) looked like a team ready for its O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East opener Saturday at Kailua.

Kahuku's defense set the tone, limiting the Buffanblu to just 91 yards in offense. Punahou's only TD by the offense came on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Dean Matsuo with 53 seconds left in the game. Their other score was an 81-yard interception return by Jeremy Ioane.

Outside linebacker T.J. Tito was in on five of Kahuku's seven sacks on Punahou QBs Kaiana Eldredge and Liloa Travis, who is in his first season. Eldredge is a transfer from a Utah program that primarily ran the ball.

Eldredge played most of the game and completed 6 of 19 passes for 57 yards. He was sacked five times, four times by Tito. Although he threw tight spirals, he had trouble hitting his receivers.

"He comes from an offense where it's predominantly running," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "We tried to give him some opportunity to throw the ball. He threw the ball more than he's used to."

Travis came in with 4:58 left in the game and engineered the Buffanblu's only scoring drive. He completed a 10-yard pass to Forrest Kim who fumbled before he got into the end zone, where Matsuo recovered the ball for the TD.

Ane said his staff will have to decide how to split the reps between the two QBs in their next nonleague game against Mililani next week.

"It's a work in progress and we want both of them to get more experience," Ane said.

Kahuku coach Reggie Torres understood the situation.

"This is Punahou's first game," he said. "We were fortunate we had a game last week. Defense, we have a lot of kids that played before. Our front three kids are stellar."

Receiver/running back Lopaka Morris exploded with a 64-yard TD run on a receiver reverse early in the fourth quarter.

"That would've been a loss," Torres said. "He made two great moves and he broke it. That kid's exciting."

From the left slot, Morris came around right against a flow of a fake run to the left.

"I just tried to use my blockers," Morris said.

Moreover, Kahuku demonstrated a kicking game. Cameron Mercado kicked a 42-yard field goal that increased Kahuku's lead to 17-7 late in the third quarter. He also had three touchbacks on kickoffs, negating any return threat Punahou might have had.

But penalties were an issue for Kahuku, which was tagged 12 times for 114 yards. Two illegal blocks nullified 45- and 46-yard punt returns by Morris.

"Two weeks already," Torres said in reference to the penalties this week and last week against Kealakehe. "We gotta clean it up. We're going back to the drawing board."

Kahuku took a 14-0 lead into the half on a pair of TD passes from starter Evan Moe. He hit Punga Vea on a nine-yarder in the first quarter and later on a 14-yarder to Shairone Thompson. The second came after Kahuku recovered a muffed punt return at the Punahou 14.

Punahou cut its deficit in half on Ioane's interception return midway through the third quarter. But Kahuku answered with Mercado's field goal and later with Morris' 64-yard TD run.

PUNAHOU (0-1) 0 0 7 7 — 14

KAHUKU (2-0) 7 7 3 7 — 24

Kah—Punga Vea 9 pass from Evan Moe (Cameron Mercado kick).

Kah—Shairone Thompson 14 pass from Moe (Mercado kick).

Pun—Jeremy Ioane 81 interception return (J. Fairbairn kick).

Kah—FG Mercado 42.

Kah—Lopaka Morris 64 run (Mercado kick).

Pun—Dean Matsuo fumble recovery in end zone (Fairbairn kick).

RUSHING—Punahou: Kaiana Eldredge 7-(minus 46), Stabren Caires 6-25, Alaka'i Aglipay 1-3, Steven Lakalaka 2-1, Liloa Travis 3-(minus 8). Kahuku: Moe 3-22, Galeai Malufau 17-25 , Lopaka Morris 3-68, Tyrone Brown 4-26, Fonoivasa Mataafa 4-23, Viliami Pasi 7-21, Team 1-(minus 2), Sage Kaka 1-(minus 9).

PASSING—Punahou: Eldredge 5-19-0—57, Liloa Travis 8-12-0—70. Kahuku: Moe 4-13-1—29.

RECEIVING—Punahou: Forrest Kim 7-52, Jeffrey Pedrina 2-44, Caires 1-(minus 1), Mountain Mitchell 3-32. Kahuku: Vea 2-15, Thompson 1-14, Mataafa 1-0.

JV—Kahuku 0, Punahou 0 (tie)