WAHIAWA — With two of its biggest playmakers out nursing injuries, the Punahou School football team still managed to rally past Leilehua, 28-19, in non-league acton last night at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

Junior quarterback Kimo Makaula completed 12 of 16 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown and classmate Cayman Shutter added 8 completions in 14 attempts for 96 yards and three more touchdowns for the Buffanblu, who improved to 2-0.

Leilehua (2-1) appeared to have taken the game's momentum into halftime, having grabbed a 13-7 lead on Kaipo Kea's 10-yard touchdown pass to Edieson Dumlao on fourth-and-8 with 39 seconds remaining.

The extra-point attempt failed after a mishandled high snap.

But Punahou took the lead back midway through the third quarter after Makaula's 37-yard TD pass to Robbie Toma on third-and-11 and Robert Izuta's extra point.

Shutter helped Punahou stretch the lead to 21-13 with 4:13 left in the quarter on a 16-yard scoring pass to Kameron Steinhoff, and he connected with Jeremy Ioane on a 20-yard touchdown pass to put the Buffanblu up, 28-13, midway through the fourth quarter.

"(At halftime), we talked about getting completions, and eventually the big plays would come," said Makaula, who alternated with Shutter after every series. "We just had to settle down and stay focused."

Punahou already was facing a challenge entering the game as Dalton Hilliard, a dazzling running back, sat out to heal a knee injury. Manti Te'o, a punishing linebacker and fullback, also suited up but did not play due to an injured shoulder.

"It was good for us to go through that, learning to play without those guys," Buffanblu coach Kale Ane said. "The (other) players need to depend on each other, and it was a team effort."

Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said he also substituted freely, using the non-league game to get playing time for reserves.

"We rotated a lot of people in, but I'm glad our boys continued to fight," Tokuda said. "We need depth (for the regular season), so that's another reason I did that."

The Mules closed to 28-19 on Kea's 26-yard touchdown pass to Dumlao, but their two-point conversion pass fell incomplete and Punahou recovered the ensuing onside kick.

The Buffanblu were able to gain first-and-goal and run out the clock.

PUNAHOU (2-0) 7 0 14 7—28

LEILEHUA (2-1) 0 13 0 6—19

Pun — Robbie Toma 10 pass from Cayman Shutter (Robert Izuta kick)

Lei — Edieson Dumlao 4 pass from Kaipo Kea (Marcus Breakfield kick)

Lei — Dumlao 10 pass from Kea (run failed)

Pun — Toma 37 pass from Kimo Makaula (Izuta kick)

Pun — Kameron Steinhoff 16 pass from Shutter (Izuta kick)

Pun — Jeremy Ioane 20 pass from Shutter (Izuta kick)

Lei — Dumlao 26 pass from Kea (pass failed)

RUSHING — Punahou: Stabren Caires 7-18, J.J. Autele 4-5, Mark Fukui 1-(minus-4), Shutter 2-(minus-4), Galen Arakawa 1-(minus-1), Makaula 1-(minus-5), Erik Horn 3-17. Leilehua: Rico Newman 10-54, Kaipo DeRego 7-23, Bronson Pausa 3-9, Kea 1-(minus-5), Joedee Taua 3-3.

PASSING — Punahou: Shutter 8-14-0—96, Makaula 12-16-0—157. Leilehua: Kea 13-19-1—110, DeRego 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING — Punahou: Arakawa 6-75, Toma 5-83, Keola Kane 3-17, Toby Reeuwijk 2-28, Kameron Steinhoff 2-25, Caires 1-5, Ioane 1-20. Leilehua: Dumlao 5-59, Newman 2-10, Elijah Manaea 1-12, Pausa 1-3, Taua 1-9, DeRego 1-7, Allan Macam 1-10.

JV SCORE

Leilehua 21, Punahou 8

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.