HANAPEPE — You can count this one as more of a victory for the Warriors as it is for the Menehune, who failed to move into a first place tie with the Red Raiders. Ironically, it was a 7-7 tie
HANAPEPE — You can count this one as more of a victory for the Warriors as it is for the Menehune, who failed to move into a first place tie with the Red Raiders. Ironically, it was a 7-7 tie that put them in that predicament.
In the first quarter, both teams could not muster up any offense, but on the other hand, the defenses dominated.
The Warriors and Menehune went three and out in their initial drives and after one quarter of play, the score stood at 0-0.
With 10:28 to go in the second period, Waimea looked to put some points on the board, after a Thomas Batis interception, but Kapa‘a’s defense came up with the big plays.
The Warriors were led by Amini Taufoou, who made numerous key tackles to keep the Waimea offense off the board.
But with 6:26 on the clock, Kapa‘a’s Kalima Leong juked his way to the endzone on a 27-yard TD run, which came on a fourth down play. Leong looked for a yard, but instead he came up with a TD. Russell Morita’s PAT gave the Warriors the lead at 7-0.
Waimea answered the challenge on the kick-off, as Aina Emayo ran 44-yards to the Kapa‘a 41 yard line, which gave the Menehune great field position.
However, Kapa‘a’s Isaac Miyashiro recovered Waimea quarterback Max Hadwin’s miscue inside the 10-yard line to deny the Menehune. At the half, the Warriors remained on top, 7-0.
The third quarter started and ended the same with both teams not being able to get into the endzone, as both defenses clamped down.
With 4:15 to go in the fourth quarter, a fourth down pass play from Hadwin to Mervin Pasion gave the Menehune their first points of the contest. The catch was Pasion’s first one of the season and probably the biggest of his career. Justin Estes’ PAT tied things up at 7-7. Kapa‘a had a shot to win the game with 1:05 left, but the kick attempt fell short and the game ended in a 7-7 tie.
Kaua‘i now moves into the first-place slot at 3-1, with Waimea taking a step back with a 2-1-1 record, and Kapa‘a remains in third with a 0-3-1. Kapa‘a and Kaua‘i tangle in Kaua‘i’s homecoming at Vidinha Stadium next Friday, with the JV game starting at 5 p.m. and varsity action following at 7:35 p.m.
