HANAPEPE — The clock became Koloa’s worst enemy Saturday. Koloa tried, but with three Raiders in street clothes and a running clock, they could only prevent a shutout as Vincent Baloran pushed two yards up the middle for a touchdown
HANAPEPE — The clock became Koloa’s worst enemy Saturday.
Koloa tried, but with three Raiders in street clothes and a running clock, they could only prevent a shutout as Vincent Baloran pushed two yards up the middle for a touchdown with 5:34 left in the game.
The seconds continued to tick.
Justin Prem booted the point-after for the 28-8 deficit.
Tick, tick, tick.
Koloa quarterback Anderson Baloran found a hole.
Tick, tick, tick.
He scrambled right for a 37-yard scoot to the end zone, but before another tick could roll off the clock, a yellow flag appeared.
The penalty called back the score and the quarterback could only muster a 10-yard gain on the replay before the clock ran out for good on the Lihu‘e Patriots’ Midget victory Saturday.
With the win, Lihu‘e ends its midget season undefeated as the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Association wrapped up regular season play at Hanapepe Stadium.
Taran Tani’s defensive prowess sparked the Lihu‘e win as the starting signal caller plucked an Anderson Baloran pass in the third quarter and ran it back for a touchdown and a 28-0 lead at the 2:28 mark of the third period.
Earlier, Tani returned a fumble 26 yards, sparking a drive down to Koloa’s 3-yard line, where the Raiders’ defense held despite strong effort from the Patriots’ secondary forces.
Micah Aquias opened the scoring early on the first of two Patriot first-quarter touchdowns, tapping paydirt on a 7-yard run with Tani booting the point-after. Travis Koga scampered for a 30-yard score on the last play of the quarter.
“Aquias and Koga are the one-two punch,” announcer Ralph Sunigasaid during the half as Lihu‘e sat on a 22-0 lead.
Lihu‘e’s third score, a 2-yard Kekoa Agustin blast up the middle, was set up by a Koga fumble recovery. Shea Shimabukuro booted the PAT with 1:58 showing in the half.
Ralph Suniga of the Lihu‘e Pop Warner Association said the Lihu‘e Patriot Pee Wee team takes on the Kapa‘a Eagles Pee Wee as a preface to the Regional Junior Pee Wee playoffs at Vidinha Stadium Saturday.
Pending the outcome of the Hanapepe Pee Wee game, the standings in that division could result in co-champions, Suniga said. “We need to win to force the tie.”
The Kapa‘a Eagles are currently in the lead following their victory last week, and should Hanapepe Pee Wees get past Kekaha, the standings will be tied again.
A Lihu‘e win Saturday will result in a logjam at the top, but an Eagle win will give the title to Kapa‘a outright.
