HANAPEPE — The Kapa‘a Eagles Midget squad had a chance to spoil the outcome of the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Association Midget division, Saturday, but came up short. Hanapepe Colts’ Rhandy Compoc-Dela Cruz ran for two touchdowns and Jae Delos Reyes
HANAPEPE — The Kapa‘a Eagles Midget squad had a chance to spoil the outcome of the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Association Midget division, Saturday, but came up short.
Hanapepe Colts’ Rhandy Compoc-Dela Cruz ran for two touchdowns and Jae Delos Reyes threw for one to outdistance the Eagles, 22-7 in a pivotal Midget division matchup at Hanapepe Stadium.
Earlier in the day, the Lihu‘e Patriots Midget team, in hot pursuit of the lead, wrapped up a 28-6 win over the Kekaha Chargers.
With just two points separating the Colts and the Patriots, Lihu‘e was hoping for an Eagles win to settle the division title.
But Compoc-Dela Cruz did not let that happen as he peeled off scoring runs of 40 yards and 91 yards in an explosive first-half Hanapepe showing. A Chad Sherman boot following Compoc-Dela Cruz’s second TD in the second quarter put Hanapepe up 14-0 at the half.
With the Eagles battering away at the Colts’ ground game, Delos Reyes found Shylen-John Keuma on a 34-yard scoring hit in the third quarter with Sherman upping the ante on a PAT boot.
With just 27 ticks showing on the clock, the skies dark from pregnant storm clouds, the Eagles lit up the boards when Devon Andrews finally found the end zone on a 7-yard scoring run.
He followed that score by passing to Kawika Wellington for the PAT.
The Patriots relied on its depth to mark four touchdowns and Erin Doi finished with two PAT kicks in its Midget win over the Chargers.
Jonathan Butac (3-yard), Michael Remigio (9 yard), and Dade Apao (43 yard) gave Lihu‘e its 20-0 halftime lead after Doi booted one of his two PATs.
Royce Allianic finalized the math in the third frame on a 1-yard charge with Doi doing the PAT honors.
Kekaha’s sole score came with 1:23 left in the frame as Nohili Kahepuu found the end zone on a 3-yard charge.
Junior PeeWee
The Kapa‘a Eagles JPW kept its undefeated record intact with a 21-0 win over Hanapepe as Shain Davis ran for two TDs in the first half. Kaiona Nakamura-Makanani graced the win on a 1-yard score in the fourth period.
In an earlier game, Kekaha Panthers’ Neno Costales ran for a TD and threw for one to lead the Panthers to a 20-0 win over the Lihu“e Patriots.
After Costales peeled off a 41-yard score in the first quarter and hit Matthew Garcia for a 27-yard score in the second period, Jaycob Rapanot iced the win with a 32-yard run with 1:22 left in the game.
Wally Kawahaulau Jr. rounded out the math on a PAT after Costales’ first TD.
Despite the win, the Panthers could not usurp the Patriots from its strong second place divisional standing as Lihu‘e finished 4-3-1 and 9 points followed by Kekaha at 2-4-2 and 6 points.
The Colts drop to 2-5-1 and 5 points and Koloa rounds out the standings with a 2-6 record and 4 points.
PeeWee
Rashaan Kuhaulua and Leevi Bethel each marked two touchdowns as Kapa‘a Eagles PW took a 34-0 win over the Hanapepe Colts PW in the sole PeeWee game of the weekend.
Kuhaulua opened with a 2-yard scoring run and Edsel Lactaotao’s PAT boot gave the Eagles and early 8-0 lead.
Bethel marked scores of 83 yards and 53 yards in the second period and Lactaotao’s boot following Bethel’s 83-yard score gave Kapa‘a a commanding 22-0 halftime lead that was answered late in the third frame when Hanapepe’s Jobe Delos Reyes found the end zone on a 3-yard scoring run.
But the Eagles were not done for the day as Kaikea Sonoda opened the fourth period on a 16-yard score with Kuhaulua running back an interception 60-yards for a touchdown at the 5:25 mark.
The Eagles win puts them in solid second place with a 6-3 record and a dozen points while Hanapepe drops to 3-6 and 6 points.
Koloa Rams, enjoying a bye on the final week of regulation play, finish undefeated in the standings with a 9-0 record and 18 points.
Koloa is waiting to hear if the Mexicali team is coming to the annual Shriners Bowl scheduled for Dec. 13.
The Shriners Bowl, dedicated to the organization that helped launch the Pop Warner football program, will feature JPW and Midget teams from the East against the West at the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium.
If the Mexicali team makes it to the island, it plays the Koloa Rams in a PeeWee matchup starting at 2 p.m.
The JPW East-West game kicks off at noon and the Midget East-West game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Prior to that, the Mokihana Bowl is scheduled to host the Panaewa Aliis and the three divisions of the West Side Eagles at Hanapepe Stadium starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 29.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
