Waimea ends in winning fashion

LIHUE – Like its older brothers, the Waimea Menehune junior varsity football team closed out the KIF season Friday without a single mark in the loss column.

The Menehune (5-0-1) scored all of their 28 points in the first quarter and relied on defense the rest of the way to shut out the Kapa’a Warriors 28-0 at Vidinha Stadium in Lihue.

Two hours later, the Menehune (6-0) varsity team clinched their own undefeated regular season with a 28-3 win over the Warriors.

The Menehune scored all of their four touchdowns in the first quarter.

Tight end/kicker Justin Estes again found comfort on the scoreboard, catching two TD passes and converting all of his four extra point attempts.

All of quarterback Thomas Batis’ completions went to Estes, who ended with four receptions and 79 yards.

Running back Luke Tsuchiya led the Menehune offense from the ground, rushing for 113 yards on 12 carries and one TD.

Andrew Becklund scored the fourth TD. He finished with 33 yards on four carries.

Overall, the Menehune finished with 257 yards of offense – 178 on the ground.

The Warriors amassed 228 yards of offense – 82 yards rushing.

Quarterback Leo Calvan completed 7 of 14 passes for 146 yards. Falcon Valeria caught three of those passes for 39 yards.

Tsuchiya broke loose for a 10-yard TD on the second play of Waimea’s opening drive, and after the Warriors offense failed to jumpstart in the ensuing possession, the sophomore running back dashed for 47-yards to set up Becklund’s 1-yard TD scamper.

Kapa’a’s offense continued to sputter.

Waimea’s Joshua Baptiste landed on a Warrior fumble mid-first quarter, setting up a 2-yard TD pass from Batis to Estes.

The Menehune weren’t through.

Waimea’s Eric Oroc landed a giant hit on a Warrior in the next possession, forcing a fumble which teammate Keith Kauahi picked up for the Menehune. Two plays later, Batis connected with Estes on a 60-yard TD pass to put the Menehune up 28-0 after just the first quarter.