They are the first Neighbor Island school to be handed the top seed in a state football tournament. As of last night, they are now the first Neighbor Island team to make a state final as the undefeated Kaua‘i High
They are the first Neighbor Island school to be handed the top seed in a state football tournament.
As of last night, they are now the first Neighbor Island team to make a state final as the undefeated Kaua‘i High School football team (9-0) defeated the bigger OIA Division II champs Waipahu High School (8-2-2), 17-6 last night at Vidinha Stadium.
The win comes right after Kaua‘i head coach Keli‘i Morgado was named KIF coach of the year. Kevin Holtzman was named defensive player of the year, while Pono Mathews, who didn’t play last night due to illness, was named offensive player of the year.
It was a slow start for the Red Raiders in the first quarter as the rain caused both teams to fumble the ball more times in one quarter than possibly all season.
Second quarter start wasn’t any better with Kaua‘i causing another turnover. Waipahu picked up on that momentum as Waipahu quarterback Gil Fernandez handed it off to Matt Soueira who went for a 59-yard touchdown run to draw first blood. Their extra point attempt by Aaron Paahanu failed.
That was it for Waipahu’s Marauders.
Justyn Jumawan-Perreira caught an interception and ran for a 20-yard touchdown run, tying at 6-6. The extra point attempt by Kainoa Lemke put Kaua‘i ahead. Lemke’s 36-yard field goal attempt just moments later gave them a bigger lead, 10-6 going into halftime.
In the fourth quarter, Jumawan-Perreira came up with another big interception to run 55 yards for the touchdown.
Overall, Kaua‘i High’s Andrew Renaud threw for 31 attempts, had 19 completions and two interceptions. The Red Raiders ran 50 offensive plays for 142 yards. Micah Alayvilla went for six carries for eight yards.
The team travels to Aloha Stadium next week to play the second-seeded King Kekaulike.
