Menehunes can gain control with win over Warriors KIF Football Kapa’a (1-1) at Waimea (2-0) 7:35 p.m. Hanapepe Stadium By JASON GALLIC TGI Sports Editor Were there an evening on Kaua’i to head to the stadium and sacrifice in the
Menehunes can gain control with win over Warriors
KIF Football
Kapa’a
(1-1) at Waimea (2-0)
7:35 p.m.
Hanapepe Stadium
By JASON
GALLIC
TGI Sports Editor
Were there an evening on Kaua’i to head
to the stadium and sacrifice in the name of football, Friday would be the
one.
It is on this night that the Kaua’i Interscholastic season either
becomes interesting, or moot.
That so because 2-0 Waimea plays host to 1-1
Kapa’a. Prior to the beginning of the KIF season, the latter was looked at as
the squad with the best chance to challenge the Menehunes’ hold, now eight
years old, on the KIF crown.
“This is a pivotal game,” Waimea coach Jon
Kobayashi said. “Generally, the third game of the season (for each team) is
looked at as very important.”
Waimea blanked Kapa’a 37-0 in the schools’
Sept. 8 meeting at Vidinha Stadium. The Menehunes accomplished that without the
services of running back Jessie Sablan. Kobayashi said his first-option back
will see some playing time Friday night. Sablan has been out of action since
suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Punahou game Aug. 18.
“He’s not at 100
percent,” the coach said. “But he’s been cleared by doctors, so we’re excited
to have him back.”
For their part, the Warriors have had two weeks to
prepare for Waimea, and they will benefit from the return of their go-to
tailback, Dahson Gonzales. The junior was questionably tossed from the first
meeting with Waimea for throwing a forearm. Kapa’a managed to find success
without him, defeating Kaua’i 20-6 two weeks ago. But the running back, along
with backfield mate Kalani Miyashiro — who leads the KIF in rushing — will be
vital if the Warriors are to challenge the Menehunes.
“I’ve said it
before,” Kobayashi said. “They’ve got a heck of a combination in the backfield.
Maybe better than Waimea’s.”
Perhaps, but the Menehunes did manage to get
their bread-and-butter ground game working last week in a 29-0 defeat of
Kaua’i. Junior Ikaika Cabral led Waimea with 104 yards; senior Josh May pitched
in for 69.
“We got back to the Waimea way last week,” Kobayashi said. “It’s
no secret that we like to run the ball. Passing requires a lot of timing. We
like to keep things simple.”
Defensively, too. If Kapa’a is to win,
quarterback Dusin Mundon will have to get better protection from his offensive
line than was given in meeting one. Mundon will also have to maintain a
constant awareness of the swarming Menehunes’ defense.
Mundon managed to
complete four passes in the teams’ first tangle, including a 36 yarder to
junior Dustin Maglinti to open the contest.
“We are at a disadvantage
because Kapa’a has had two weeks to prepare,” Kobayashi said. “We’re sure
they’re going to come out with new offensive and defensive schemes.”
