By Nathan Joyce
MaxPreps.com
Punahou of Honolulu gave Washington fans a glimpse of why MaxPreps.com and Sports Illustrated rated it as the top athletic program in the nation at the Emerald City Kickoff Classic Saturday.
The Buff n’ Blue took care of the Central Kitsap Cougars 42-19 in the main event game at Qwest Field.
The Hawaiians racked up 35 points in the first half and had more than 400 yards of offense.
"At times, it looked like (they) had 13, 14 guys out there the way they were flying around the field," Central Kitsap coach Mark Keel told the Kitsap Sun. "Everywhere we tried to go with the ball, they were there."
Backup quarterback Kimo Makaula, who is headed to Hawaii to play defensive end, passed for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns.
Also at the kickoff, in a game some thought was the true main event, Kentwood beat Kennedy 28-14 in a matchup of perennial state powers. Kennedy led 14-0 before the Conquerors stormed back for the win.
Basketball: Bradley Headed to Nevada
The state’s top senior is headed out of state.
Bellarmine Prep guard Avery Bradley is headed to Findlay College Prep in Henderson, Nev., to finish his high school career.
Bradley, one of the nation’s highest-rated guard left last week, his AAU coach Garry Ward told the Tacoma News Tribune.
Bradley needed to raise his grade-point average so he could become eligible for college. Ward said Bradley was still eligible to play high school ball in the state.
Ward told the TNT that Bradley has narrowed his college choices to Kansas, Texas and UCLA and will decide in the coming weeks.
"His GPA has got to be higher, and we all know that Bellarmine Prep is one of the toughest academic schools in the state,” Ward told the TNT.
Bradley is the second high-profile guard in recent years to leave the state before his senior year. Curtis’ Isaiah Thomas left for a New England prep school. He’ll be a freshman at Washington this year.
Football: Mount Tahoma’s Baines Blows Up
Mount Tahoma running back Ron Baines rushed for 421 yards in a 47-14 Narrows League opener over Shelton.
Baines’ total is No. 5 on the state’s all-time list for an 11-man game.
Baines had five touchdowns on his 24 carries. He had touchdown runs of 76 and 95 yards.
“I set my goals pretty high this season,” Baines told the Tacoma News Tribune. “Hopefully I get over 2,000 yards by the end of the season, score 20-25 touchdowns and get to the playoffs. My main goal is to get to the playoffs.”
Among other significant opening-week games: Class 3A Issaquah became the first team to beat Class 4A Bothell at home since 2005, upsetting the preseason No. 2 team in the state 24-13. … No. 2 O’Dea avoided an upset bid from Capital 14-13. O’Dea capitalized on a missed PAT and a blocked field goal in the win. … Kirby Moore’s touchdown grab with three minutes remaining lifted Class 2A champ Prosser past Class 4A Redmond 34-29.
