Though they were without the trophy they were hoping for, the Kaua‘i Red Raiders did not come home empty-handed Saturday, following Friday night’s 24-17 loss to ‘Iolani in the Div. II state championship. What they did manage to bring back
Though they were without the trophy they were hoping for, the Kaua‘i Red Raiders did not come home empty-handed Saturday, following Friday night’s 24-17 loss to ‘Iolani in the Div. II state championship.
What they did manage to bring back was perhaps a newfound respect for the KIF from other top state programs.
Being unable to capitalize on opportunities was the deciding factor in Friday night’s outcome, but the Red Raiders played pretty evenly with the now three-time defending champion ‘Iolani team for all four quarters.
“I think, if anything, we proved we can ball,” head coach Derek Borrero said after the game.
As just the second KIF team to reach a title game, this Kaua‘i squad had already staked its claim as the best the KIF has produced, and finished just seven points short of being the only team in Hawai‘i — Division I or II — to complete the 2009 season without a loss.
It would have been easy for Kaua‘i to play the role of the “happy to be there” team. They were a decided underdog, somewhere in the area of two touchdowns. They were playing a team that has owned Div. II for the latter half of the past decade.
Then they gave up a defensive touchdown on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Many in attendance barely had time to settle into their seats before the scoreboard switched from 0 to 7 in the ‘Iolani column.
Yet all these factors, which one might assume would turn the game into a laughable, one-sided affair before halftime, didn’t seem to effect Kaua‘i’s mentality one bit. Everything pointed to a blowout, but next thing we knew, the two sides were jogging in at halftime in the midst of a 10-10 ballgame.
Multiple things went wrong for Kaua‘i that they will certainly look back on with some regret. They forced a number of third-and-long situations but could not make those critical stops, allowing ‘Iolani to convert nine of its 13 third-down attempts.
They forced six first-half turnovers but only managed 10 points.
They had a chance to take their first lead early in the third quarter, having moved to the ‘Iolani 29, but Trey Shimabukuro’s pass on 3rd and 4 was picked off inside the ‘Iolani 10. Borrero felt they “needed to finish that drive” with points after getting great field position after a Travis Koga interception.
But even through these few key missteps, Kaua‘i went head-to-head with the best team it could possibly face on the biggest stage it could reach, all the while looking every bit worthy of the situation.
