The defending champions played like champions, and the Kaua’i Cowboys appeared hesitant to take that away from them. The Cowboys fell to Na Kani Koa of Oahu 26-6 in the home-opener of their first Hawaii Football League (HFL) regular season
The defending champions played like champions, and the Kaua’i Cowboys appeared hesitant to take that away from them.
The Cowboys fell to Na Kani Koa of Oahu 26-6 in the home-opener of their first Hawaii Football League (HFL) regular season game at Vidinha Stadium on Saturday.
The win improves the Na Kani Koa to 2-0 in the HSF regular season standings; the Cowboys start the season at 0-1, and will host the Hilo Storm next Saturday at Vidinha Stadium ( 3p.m.).
The Na Kani Koa took control in the first.
They opened the scoring with an electric 94-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Mike Simpson (6-14, 264 yards) to wide-out Mike Miyashiro (6 receptions, 224 yards) with 5:45 left in the first quarter. Following a 38-yard dash from receiver Kelii Ross early in the second period, the Na Kani Koa reached the red-zone, where Kawika Nakoa ran it in from 12-yards out and scored the second touchdown of the game. The visiting team failed in both their extra-point attempts and led 12-0 at the half.
The Cowboys held Na Kani Koa scoreless up until the 7:00 mark in the third, when another bomb from Simpson to Miyashiro, this one for 66-yards, put them back in the end-zone. A third Simpson to Miyashiro connection three-minutes later led to a fourth touchdown and the deathknell of the Cowboy’s hope for a season-opening victory. Again wide open, Miyashiro caught a 45-yard reception, which Simpson ran in on a sneak.
The Na Kani Koa led 26-0 heading into the final period.
The Cowboy’s only score came in the waning minutes of the fourth, when Kia Hale threw a four-yard spear to running back Kawika Parangan.
The score was the only time Kaua’i posed a significant offensive attack. The Cowboys were hesitant on offense, lacking confidence on the line and especially in the pocket. They committed five turnovers – all five on interceptions thrown by four different Kaua’i quarterbacks.
Terry Noice, the Cowboys’ starting quarterback, couldn’t find a rythm and seemed timid at the onset. He went 0-9 with two interceptions, and fell injured in the first half. He would not return. The Cowboys switched the QB spot between Al Ah Loo, Kia Hale and James Carvalho. Hale threw the only Cowboy touchdown, a four-yarder to running back Kawika Parangan. Hale went 2 for 3 for 36 yards. Carvalho amassed the most air production; he completed 3 of 7 passes for 40-yards. And Ah Loo, also the coach of the Cowboys, completed one pass, a 29-yarder which deflected off a Na Kani Koa linebacker and landed in the hands Hale.
The Cowboy hurlers didn’t get much help from their line. They were hurried from the pocket after nearly every snap and were sacked six times.
Kaua’i’s defense fared better than its offense, but a few miscues turned into hundreds of yards for the Na Kani Koa.
In every of Miyashiro’s sizeable receptions, a Kaua’i defensive back was no where to be found.
But there were occasional spurts of defensive prowess. Linebacker Desmond Mundon and Defensive End Steven Kelikuli notched a sack apiece and shared one in the fourth period. Luther Yam came up with big stops all game, and Burl Kanoho’s play rounded up a potentially solid Cowboy defense.
