Lihu’e- Jaws in the Vidinha stands and press box hung lower than tree branches in a wind storm. And it was Waimea’s fault. Not only did the team support its ranking as the fifth best in the state with a
Lihu’e- Jaws in the Vidinha stands and press box hung lower than tree branches
in a wind storm.
And it was Waimea’s fault.
Not only did the team
support its ranking as the fifth best in the state with a 37-0 blanking of
Kapa’a, but the Westside school put its billing as a team focused only on the
ground game to shame.
Even the Menehunes’ fans looked shocked.
Waimea
quarterback Nikko Naumu, despite completing no more than four passes in the
preseason, unloaded for five completions- three for touchdowns- on nine
attempts during the opening half. The first-year senior finished the contest
6-13 with four TDs and one interception.
Despite the gap in scoring, Kapa’a
did manage to battle hard in the trenches. And, the Warriors may have changed
the course of the game had they been able to stick the ball in the end zone
early. The opportunity did present itself.
After a 43-yard field goal from
the Menehunes’ Adrian Agon to open the scoring, Kapa’a found itself the
benefactor of a fumble deep in Waimea territory. The Warriors took possession
at the Menehunes’ 16-yard line, but could not capitalize. Waimea senior
linebacker Brandon Perreira, the Menehunes’ standout who also ran for an
85-yard TD in the fourth quarter, proved just too tough. He went helmet to
helmet at the goalline with Warriors’ QB Dustin Mundon, keeping the sophomore
from scoring. The play summed up the hard-nosed feel of the Kaua’i
Interscholastic Federation opener. Both teams’ players appeared happy to
finally be hitting an opponent rather than each other in practice.
Early in
the second quarter, following a short Kapa’a possession, Waimea blocked a
Warrior punt. The Menehunes’ took the ball on Kapa’a’s 25-yard line, where, on
the first play from scrimmage, Naumu found sophomore Dane Koga streaking into
the end zone for a TD. One minute later, following a Warriors’ fumble, Naumu
and Koga hooked up again for an 18-yard scoring pass.
Naumu finished off
his stunning second-quarter aerial display minutes later when he found a
blazing Micah Bermoy up the left sideline for a 63-yard TD. The pair connected
again late in the fourth quarter for a 17-yard touchdown.
Kapa’a was not
without highlights, however. Despite the gap on the scoreboard, both the
offense and defense continued to pound away. The team showed no signs of
throwing in the towel. But the Warriors did show themselves a group still
trying to grasp a new offense. Many of Kapa’a’s pitches out of the option
looked shaky, and the Warriors were unable to capitalize deep in Waimea
territory.
Key Stat
Nikko Naumu: QB,
Waimea
6-13-1-131
Waimea QB Nikko Naumu had a breakout game,
completing six of his thirteen attempts for four touchdowns and just
one interception.
By DENNIS FUJIMOTO, Staff
Waimea
37, Kapa’a 0
Waimea 3 20 0 14
37
Kapa’a 0 0 0 0 0
The Vital
Stats
Team Stats Menehunes Warriors
1st Downs
10 8
Total Yards 301 143
Rushing
34-170 35-78
Passing 6-13-1-131
4-13-0-65
Punting 4-35 6-38
Fumbles-lost
5-3 6-3
Penalties-Yards 6-50 7-49
