KAPA‘A — In the first rematch of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season, the Kapa‘a Warriors suffered the same fate as they did in the season opener with a 24-0 loss to the Kaua‘i Red Raiders Friday night at the New
KAPA‘A — In the first rematch of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season, the Kapa‘a Warriors suffered the same fate as they did in the season opener with a 24-0 loss to the Kaua‘i Red Raiders Friday night at the New Kapa‘a Town Park Field.
Kapa‘a stayed with Kaua‘i for the majority of the contest and had opportunities throughout, but it was simply a case of the final score not reflecting the true competitive nature of the game.
Unlike the previous meeting, the scoring started much earlier this time. The Raiders threatened to put points on the board on their first possession when running back Paleku Yasay took the first play for 27 yards on a screen pass, followed by a 36-yard reception for Kalena “Boom” Rodero Workman that put Kaua‘i at the 3-yard line. Quarterback Trey Shimabukuro stood patiently in the pocket, went through his progressions and laid the ball right in Workman’s hands, crossing the middle of the field, setting up a 1st and Goal.
After three illegal procedure penalties backed up the Raiders, a field goal try failed when holder Taran Tani could not handle the snap, scooped up the ball and ran to the left, but was stopped well short of the goal line as Kapa‘a dodged an early bullet.
The momentum turned back quickly when Cameron Largusa intercepted Brehdan Kamibayashi’s first pass attempt and gave Kaua‘i the ball back at the Kapa‘a 29. Kapa‘a forced a 4th and 3, but Kaua‘i kept the offense on the field, went without a huddle and Yasay took the handoff on the draw for a 19-yard gain. Two plays later, Yasay pounded his way into the end zone from a yard out.
Shea Shimabukuro’s extra point was true and Kaua‘i took a 7-0 lead with 7:37 remaining in the opening quarter.
Two three-and-outs later, the Warriors offense began to pick up the pace and running back Darren Taylor got things going with an 11-yard run. Receiver Awai Dejos then hauled in a 14-yard pass to pick up another first down. Kamibayashi brought his team towards the goal line using the short-passing game and the Warriors grabbed a 1st and Goal at the 9-yard line.
A penalty and lost yardage backed the team up to the 16-yard line on third down. Kamibayashi tossed a fade pass to the right side of the end zone in the direction of Marshall Adkisson, which fell incomplete. Kapa‘a still liked that matchup and ran the same play to Adkisson on fourth down. The 6-foot-1 receiver outleaped the Raider secondary and hauled in what appeared to be the game-tying score, but a flag on the field for illegal procedure nullified the touchdown.
Undeterred, Kapa‘a went back to the same play for the third straight time. Adkisson was the target and again made the deep catch, but came up two yards short of the end zone and the Raiders took over on downs.
After each team had field goal opportunities ultimately come up short, the squads headed to the locker room with the Raiders holding a slim 7-0 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, Kaua‘i defensive back Puna Hanohano intercepted a Kamibayashi pass attempt at the Kapa‘a 15-yard line, setting up an eventual Shea Shimabukuro field goal, making the score 10-0 with 11:46 remaining.
The turnovers continued to derail a Kapa‘a comeback attempt when two Preston Ikehara-Yasay fumbles led to touchdowns by Paleku Yasay and Shea Shimabukuro, creating the 24-0 final tally.
Kaua‘i had another strong all-around showing and remains undefeated (6-0, 3-0) in 2009. Kapa‘a is now 2-3 overall and 1-2 in KIF play.
