It’s time to get back to the gridiron, as both the Waimea High School and Kaua‘i High School foot-ball teams hit the field this Friday at their respective spring football events. The two-time defending champion Red Raider squad will hold
It’s time to get back to the gridiron, as both the Waimea High School and Kaua‘i High School foot-ball teams hit the field this Friday at their respective spring football events.
The two-time defending champion Red Raider squad will hold its red and white game at Vidinha Stadium, starting at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Menehune blue and white scrimmage will be held at Hanapepe Stadium, also beginning at 7 p.m.
Kaua‘i head coach Keli‘i Morgado and his run and shoot system is definitely in place, especially with the success of the past two seasons.
But this year will be a challenge for Morgado and his coaching staff. The Red Raiders lose their two biggest weapons, quarterback Kekoa Crowell and wide receiver Kevin Cadiente.
In addition to Crowell and Cadiente, Kaua‘i also loses almost half of last season’s roster to graduation.
But the good news is that the Red Raiders will inherit a heavily talented group from last year’s undefeated KIF champion junior varsity squad. Also, junior wideout Jett Jasper, the only returning offensive KIF all-star, should lead the Kaua‘i receiving corps in its hunt for title number three. On the defensive side of the ball, the Red Raiders will have to count on Preston Ramson, Raymond Jerves, and Sean Thompson.
The trio are the only returning defensive KIF all-stars.
The most important piece to Morgado’s offensive scheme is the quarterback spot and so far, according to Morgado, incoming senior Tron Rule is the front runner to succeed Crowell.
The Menehune also lose most of their roster to graduation with just eight players returning from last season.
But Waimea’s biggest gun, Kenny Estes, returns for his final season.
Estes, who dazzled at the 2005 state track and field championships with numerous medals, including a second straight 4×100 relay state title, looks to lead the Menehune back to the top.
Estes, who was lost for most of last season, should come back with a vengeance against the rest of the KIF. The junior led Waimea to a win against Kaua‘i at Hanapepe Stadium, but after going down with a broken collar bone injury, the Menehune couldn’t bounce back without their star tailback.
Waimea, who normally fields the smallest squad in the KIF, has a host of talented players coming up from the JV ranks.
