LIHU’E – When double-zero finally showed on the Vidinha Stadium clock, no less than 30 percent of the Kaua’i Cowboys hobbled to the sideline. Some dropped their head in despair after being pounded 42-0 by the visiting Hawaiian Warriors Saturday
LIHU’E – When double-zero finally showed on the Vidinha Stadium clock, no less than 30 percent of the Kaua’i Cowboys hobbled to the sideline.
Some dropped their head in despair after being pounded 42-0 by the visiting Hawaiian Warriors Saturday night. But most forced a half-smile, apparently relieved that the Hawaiian Football League regular season had come to an end.
“We’re pretty beat up,” Cowboys owner Rudy Bosma said. “We are walking wounded out there.”
Even those Cowboys who managed to take the field looked in need of repair. Coach/player Al Ah Loo moved with a steady limp. Injury even inspired Kaua’i to find a new quarterback. Saturday night, the Cowboys suited up 54-year-old Dave Horn as the snap-caller.
But Horn was unable to help an offense that has struggled all season – Kaua’i recorded just one first down. The Cowboys managed just 21 yards of total offense. Horn ended the game 4-for-10. His longest completion went for 10 yards to Dan Ingersoll.
Keone Ah Loo led Kaua’i’s ground attack with 14 yards on four carries.
Such offensive woes did not plague the Warriors, who racked up 315 total yards. Hawaiian’s efficient attack was led by 6-foot, 230-pound quarterback Ron Bradbury.
With a powerful left arm, Bradbury connected on 7-of-18 pass attempts for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
Both of his TDs went to wideout Zack Ramos. The pass-catcher baffled the Cowboys’ secondary with soft hands and an array of moves.
On the ground, the Warriors featured a two-headed attack. Cory Pinson carried nine times for 73 yards; Niko Vitale, who played at the University of Hawai’i-Manoa, ran 14 times for 70 yards.
It could have been much worse for Kaua’i. Coaches agreed to move to running clock for the second half.
A look at the rosters indicated who would control the game even before kick-off.
Hawaiian brought height and weight over from Oahu. Three guys on its active roster are listed at well above 300 pounds and stand at least 6-foot-4.
Kaua’i was unable to send the kind of bodies onto the field that could compete with that.
By the end of the first quarter, the Warriors had stormed to a 21-0 lead, scoring on their first three possessions.
For the game, Kaua’i punted five times, fumbled once and had a fake-punt intercepted by Vitale.
