Husan Longstreet, Corona Centennial sneak past Punahou 50-43 at 2023 Honor Bowl: 5 takeaways
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - The last of five games at this weekend's annual Honor Bowl certainly lived up to the hype.
Corona Centennial, a regular participant in the Honor Bowl, took on Punahou in a matchup of Southern California versus Hawaii. After trailing 14-0 early on, Punahou bounced back by scoring 28 straight points. Centennial wouldn't go away easy, grabbing the lead back before Punahou snagged a one-point lead with less than a minute left.
Corona Centennial star junior quarterback Husan Longstreet led the heroics as the Huskies drove down the field and answered with a go-ahead touchdown with seven seconds remaining, to break the hearts of the Punahou faithful that had traveled to San Diego and packed the visiting bleachers.
Below are five takeaways from Saturday's game.
Husan Longstreet shows off legs early, arm late
Photo by Steven Silva
As a sophomore at Inglewood, Husan Longstreet threw for just under 4,000 yards and 40 touchdown passes, solidifying his spot as one of the nation's quarterbacks. He entered Saturday's game with 132 rushing yards in two games this season but had yet to find the end zone via the ground attack.
He quickly made up for missed time.
Each of Corona Centennial's first two possessions of the game ended with rushing touchdowns for the four-star junior recruit. Longstreet then scored twice more on the ground over a two minute span, tying the game at 28 in the third quarter.
As the clock ticked under three minutes in the fourth quarter, Longstreet used his legs again, rushing around the right side and finding the end zone from 15 yards out.
Then with the game on the line in the closing seconds, it was time to show off the arm. Longstreet took the snap rolled to his right and threw back across his body to the back of the end zone, finding a leaping Jason Harris Jr.
Harris Jr., secured the catch and the victory, closing out Longstreet's remarkable night with five rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown.
Defense and special teams kept Punahou in the game
Until coming alive midway through the fourth quarter, Punahou's offense was able find the end zone once in their first seven possessions on Saturday. Usually that would be a bad recipe for success while facing a Centennial team known for their offensive prowess.
Luckily for Punahou, their defense and special teams units were up for the challenge.
The Buff n' Blue held the Centennial offense scoreless for just under 16 straight minutes of gameplay including the entire second quarter. During that time, Punahou forced three fumbles, returning two for touchdowns. They also opened the second half with a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to take their first lead of the night.
Ball security an issue for Huskies
If not for four lost fumbles by Corona Centennial, Saturday's final score may have looked much different.
The first two fumbles came right as the Huskies were approaching the goal line, resulting in touchbacks after Punahou quickly jumped on the ball. The third fumble came on a strip sack of Husan Longstreet as Centennial tried to score in the final minute of the first half.
Hawaii commit Alika Cavaco-Amoy quickly picked up the fumble and rumbled 35 yards, evening the game at 14 just prior to the halftime break.
Centennial's first possession of the second half also ended with a fumble that was once again picked up by Cavaco-Amoy and returned 40 yards for a touchdown.
No quit in the Buff N' Blue
Punahou returns to the field during Saturday's Honor Bowl
Photo by Steven Silva
Ten minutes into Saturday's game, Corona Centennial had scored two touchdowns and fumbled the ball away on the one-yard line on their third possession. Punahou, meanwhile, had punted the ball away twice having yet to cross midfield.
The Buff n' Blue put their heads down and pounded away, scoring their first touchdown of the night with two seconds remaining in the opening quarter. Punahou held Centennial off the scoreboard in the second quarter, forcing two fumbles and a turnover on downs.
After seeing their two-touchdown lead early in the third quarter disappear and become a deficit, Punahou kept at it. They drove 80 yards to tie the game at 35 midway through the fourth quarter and drove 67 yards to briefly take the lead with less than a minute to play.
Can't count out fast-tempo Centennial offense
Under the leadership of Corona Centennial head coach Matt Logan, a fast paced offense is expected. On the opening drive of the game, the Huskies went 66 yards in just over two minutes to open the scoring with a nine-yard touchdown run.
Later in the game, the Huskies benefitted from their quick strike attack when they needed it most.
After allowing 28 unanswered points from Punahou, Centennial responded with a touchdown 23 seconds later. Following a three and out by the Buff n' Blue, Centennial went 64 yards, scoring their second touchdown in exactly two minutes of game time.
When Centennial fell behind for the first time all night, 43-42 with 57 seconds remaining, they proceeded to go right down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown with seven seconds left on the clock.
(Feature photo by Steven Silva)
