LIHUE — The Shriners Club received a check for $1,000 from the Kauai Pop Warner Football League, and the Kapaa Eagles association was the recipient of the Leon “Angus” Gonsalves Perpetual Sportsmanship Award on Sunday as the KPWFL closed its 2018 season with the East-West Shrine Game and the Harold Naumu Bowl.
Led by president Lani Cummings, the Eagles earned the Gonsalves award after topping the grading based on participation all of the KPWFL events, including the Westcon Conference, Fun Day, Risk Management, Jamboree, Cheer Camp, Cheer Competition and the entire season.
Axton DeRego came up with two late touchdowns, and Pa‘a Troche made the big difference for the East in the Mighty Mite division game in the East-West Shrine Game. Trailing 25-13, the East coughed up two scores to tie the game, and Troche’s point-after effort put the East on top, 26-25.
Kaena Henderson opened the scorebooks with a 65-yard scoring run and graced the score with a point-after run for the 7-0 bulge that was answered by the East when Alaka‘i Mundon found the end zone on a 65-yard scoring run.
DeRego did the point-after to knot the contest, 7-7, until Kepa Pablo tapped pay dirt on a 24-yard run. The PAT came up empty for the 13-7 go-ahead.
Henderson upped the West ante, 19-7, at the break after finding the end zone on a three-yard charge.
CJ Jenkins brought the East to within striking distance after coming out of the halftime and hitting pay dirt on a seven-yard run. The PAT came up empty.
The West turned to Dax Saliado, who threw a 41-yard scoring pass to Kailen Henderson to keep the lead comfortable at 25-13.
But the Troche-DeRego combination would not let go. Troche passed for 12 yards to DeRego to pull within six, and another Troche to DeRego pass for 61 yards knotted the contest before Troche’s point-after pushed the East ahead by a digit.
During the Junior PeeWee division matchup, the West spread its touchdowns over Connor Mulliken, Zayden Asuncion, Arya Talbano and Keona Tam with Keona Tam adding a PAT kick and a PAT run for the 27-0 shutout over the East.
KPWFL president Teddy Arroyo said the board extends its grateful appreciation to all of its association members — Kekaha Titans, Hanapepe Colts, Koloa Rams, Lihue Raiders, and Kapaa Eagles — the association parents and volunteers, the football officials and the community for the support that enabled the league to enjoy a successful season.
The board also extends its best wishes to those teams traveling on to participate in the National Pop Warner Super Bowl events next week in Orlando, Fla.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
