In a high school football showdown that lived up to all of its No. 1-vs.-No. 2 hype, Kamehameha held off Punahou, 27-17, last night before a tense crowd of about 6,500 at Aloha Stadium.

The Warriors, ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 4-1 overall after its Interscholastic League of Honolulu opener. No. 2 Punahou fell to 4-1 and 1-1.

But as observers have been saying all season, the ILH title is still clearly up for grabs.

"This is only one game — so much can still happen," said Kamehameha senior defensive lineman Kalama Kaluhiokalani, who recovered a crucial fumble on the Warriors' 5-yard line with 3:40 remaining. "We've got to stay focused on the rest of the season."

Staying focused helped Kamehameha late in last night's game, when it appeared the momentum had swung in the Buffanblu's favor.

After the Warriors took a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, Punahou closed it to 20-17 after Brett Kan's 1-yard quarterback sneak with 6:29 left. On the ensuing kickoff, the Buffanblu's Keoki Hong recovered a fumble on Kamehameha's 25-yard line.

Punahou then had first-and-goal on the 3 after a pass interference penalty, but fumbled the ball on a running play.

"(The running back) looked like he tried to make a turn, but he had nowhere to go and they were all over him," Buffanblu coach Kale Ane. "The ball just came out."

Kaluhiokalani, playing nose guard, saw it on the turf and pounced.

"I knew I had to get it," he said. "But (the play) wasn't just me, it was everybody. Somebody else forced the fumble; I wish I knew who it was."

After three short gains, running back Jeremiah Dela Pe–a then burst through the middle and dashed 84 yards for the game-clinching touchdown with 2:07 remaining. Punahou was intercepted on its next possession and was out of timeouts so the Warriors were able to run out the clock.

In a defensive first half, the Buffanblu went up 3-0 on River Kim's 40-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but Kamehameha answered with Gerritt Vincent's 32-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The Warriors' extra point attempt failed, and it was 6-3 at intermission.

Kamehameha took a 13-3 lead early in the third quarter after Kahaku Ka'ai's 90-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Nichols, but Punahou answered on the next play from scrimmage with a 59-yard TD pass from Kan to Miah Ostrowski.

After Kim's 44-yard field goal attempt fell just short with 11:20 left in the game, Ka'ai and Nichols connected again, this time on an 80-yard scoring play.

But a personal foul by the Warriors on the ensuing kickoff helped the Buffanblu start from the Warriors' 40, and Kan scored 10 plays later. After Hong's fumble recovery, Punahou knocked on the door again, but Kamehameha slammed it shut.

"(The Warriors) are the defending state champs and they have great team defense," Ane said. "We played right with them, but they made big plays, clutch plays when it counted."

Kamehameha coach Doss Tannehill called it the "I Mua Spirit," citing the school's motto.

"The kids did it, they never gave up," Tannehill said.

Their reward — besides retaining the No. 1 ranking — is a date with Saint Louis next week.

"(The ILH race) is going to be a hell of a run," Tannehill said. "The winner is going to be whoever can survive."

KAMEHAMEHA (4-1, 1-0) 0 6 7 14 — 27

PUNAHOU (4-1, 1-1) 0 3 7 7 — 17

PUN — FG RIVER KIM 40

KS — Gerritt Vincent 32 interception return (kick failed)

KS — Aaron Nichols 90 pass from Kahaku Ka'ai (Drew Ueno kick)

Pun — Miah Ostrowski 59 pass from Brett Kan (Kim kick)

KS — NICHOLS 80 PASS FROM KA'AI (UENO KICK)

PUN — KAN 1 RUN (KIM KICK)

KS — JEREMIAH DELA PE–A 84 RUN (UENO KICK)

RUSHING—KS: Dela Pe–a 21-154, Bryson Vivas 4-21, Vincent 3-14, Ka'ai 2-(minus-21). Pun: Kainoa Carlson 2-7, Jay Angotti 9-25, Kan 1-(minus-7), Kim 1-(minus-8), Reid Nakahara 3-2, Colin Viloria 1-(minus-6).

PASSING—KS: Ka'ai 6-14-1—242. Pun: Kan 21-35-1—219.

RECEIVING—KS: Nichols 5-233, Jacob Ho 1-9. Pun: Ostrowski 11-130, Nick Horio 2-12, Viloria 3-6, Angotti 3-18, Kim 2-53.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.