Flag football is a family affair

HANAPEPE — Briggs Agu got a lot of support from his family who was camped out under a tent for the KPAL (Kaua‘i Police Activities League) flag football program Saturday at Hanapepe Stadium.

Agu, one of the Waimea Cubs’ ball carriers, eluded an Anahola defender, picked up blocking by team-mate Madison Moore, and scooted into the end zone under sunny skies, one parent noting the extreme contrast in weather conditions of last week when teams battled in driving rain at the Koloa park.

Following the contest in Hanapepe, the Agu family bottled up their tent and piled into their cars to make their way out to the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a where another Agu, Bransen, was involved in the championship basketball game with the KYBA Boys 14 Under program.

Moore, KPD officer Paul Applegate explained, started out the season as a cheerleader, but after watching everything, wanted to play instead, the cheerleader-turned-player providing boosts of speed with her sideline sprints in the contest.

“We let them play,” Applegate said. “Even if they start out as cheerleaders, if they want to play, they can play.”

This weekend, the flag football program draws a bye as the semi-pro football league and the Kaua‘i Cowboys host the Wilfred Kaui Bowl at the New Kapa‘a Ball Park on July 3, the game paying tribute to the Kaui family for their contribution to the sport of football on Kaua‘i. On July 17 games, there is a change in the scheduling, comissioner Leon Gonsalves noted.

Games were originally scheduled for the Anne Knudsen Park in Koloa, but will instead be played at Vidinha Stadium in Lihu‘e. The following week will be the season finale on July 24, those games also being played at Vidinha Stadium, but enhanced by the addition of special exhibits and awards presentation by the KPAL program.

“Then, comes tackle football,” comissioner Gonsalves said.