Bronson Yadao provided a spark for the Kapa‘a football team but the Warriors’ defense had no answer for Kaua‘i passer Kekoa Crowell. Crowell passed for 356 yards and two scores in leading the Red Raiders to a 30-6 win in
Bronson Yadao provided a spark for the Kapa‘a football team but the Warriors’ defense had no answer for Kaua‘i passer Kekoa Crowell.
Crowell passed for 356 yards and two scores in leading the Red Raiders to a 30-6 win in the KIF opener for both teams on Friday night at Vidinha Stadium.
Trailing 14-0 in the third quarter, Yadao (87 yards passing) moved the Warriors (0-1 in the KIF) to within eight points of Kaua‘i (1-0 in the KIF) after a 49-yard scoring strike to Austin Rosa.
However, the Red Raiders scored the next 16 points on three Cody Kimura field goals of 25, 46 and 32 yards and a 49-yard touchdown scamper from Weston Victorino to stretch the margin to 24 points in the final period.
The Red Raiders then went to the ground game to run out the clock and seal the victory.
Crowell was hot early as he hit on 15-of-20 passes in the first half for 252 yards.
Early in the second quarter, the Red Raiders jumped on the scoreboard after Crowell launched a 34-yard touchdown strike to Kevin Cadiente who out-jumped the Kapa‘a defender for the score.
Cadiente caught six passes for 101 yards in the first 24 minutes of action.
Despite a deflection on the attempt, Kimura was able to boot the extra point through to give Kaua‘i a 7-0 lead.
The Red Raiders controlled play for most of the first half but only could manage a touchdown lead thanks in large part to 11 penalties for 70 yards.
The Warriors managed just 42 yards on the ground with Kalima Leong doing much of the damage with 18 yards.
The Red Raiders extended their margin to 14-0 late in the third quarter after Crowell (23-of-38 for the game) drove his club 43 yards in five plays.
The drive culminated in a 15-yard scoring strike from Crowell to Garen Itamura. Kimura again booted the extra point through the uprights to give Kaua‘i a two touchdown advantage.
For the game, the Red Raiders totaled 26 first downs while the Warriors had just seven.
Waimea plays tonight at the Hanapepe Ball Field against Woodbridge High from California at 7:30 p.m. in the final preseason game for the Menehunes.
Next week, the Warriors travel to Hanapepe to face the Menehunes in the KIF opener for Waimea. The JV contest starts at 5 p.m.
