Kekaha “D” keeps Raiders outside

HANAPEPE — The Koloa Raiders mounted a long drive, but just couldn’t close the door, Saturday.

Taking up most of the final quarter in the Pop Warner Midget game, the Raiders pushed behind Loren Duarte to peel off first down after first down on a march down the field.

But, as the clock ticked down on an 8-6 deficit against the Kekaha Chargers, the Raiders just couldn’t strike paydirt.

Sure, they crossed the goal line. But, two scores were called back, and after nestling as close as the half-yard line, were bit by the penalty bug before losing the pigskin on an incomplete pass — in the end zone!

Kekaha took over to run out the clock on an 8-6 win, the difference coming off a Rylan Bayot PAT kick in the first quarter.

The Chargers struck first as Kailan Malama hit paydirt with Bayot completing the transaction for the 8-0 nod.

But, Koloa answered in the second quarter on a Reggie Vigilia score. The point-after attempt failed as Kekaha held on for the victory.

Earlier in the day, Koloa blanked the Kekaha JPW squad, 14-0 with Caleb Licke getting the credit for two touchdowns and a successful PAT boot.

Licke peeled off the first score on a 33-yard scamper with his boot opening on an 8-0 note in the third quarter.

Licke followed up that score with an 8-yard charge for the final arithmetic, that score also coming in the third stanza.

The PeeWee contest between Kekaha and Koloa was forfeited.

Hanapepe hosted the Kapa’a Eagles’ JPW and Midget teams on Saturday with action moving to Vidinha Stadium, Sunday when Lihu’e played host to the Northshore JPW and Midget teams as well as the Kapa’a PeeWee squad.

The Koloa association will return to Hanapepe Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 24 when they open up the weekend against Kapa’a followed by Kekaha hosting the Lihu’e Pop Warner Association.

The JPW game against the Eagles will kick off at 8 a.m.