Shawn Balai-Apilado played both sides of the ball to lead the Raiders to a 46-21 win over the Crusaders in Kaua‘i Youth Football Saturday night in Kapa‘a.
Balai-Apilado led all defenders with a dozen tackles and peeled off three touchdowns, including a fumble recovery for a score in the 8-man tackle football game played at the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium.
Balai-Apilado opend the books in the first quarter on a two-yard scoot to paydirt, which was answered by the Crusaders when Shaeden Tallano, the leading defender for the Crusaders with nine stops, hoofed 51 yards for the tying score.
Keli‘i Efhan, finishing the night with six stops, proved the difference, running the point-after for a 7-6 bulge, the only lead the Crusaders enjoyed in the night.
Nalu Pikini-Villon took the call for the Raiders for a three-yard charge to paydirt to give the Raiders a 13-7 margin after one quarter of play.
Hunter Yoshioka upped the margin in the second quarter, snaring an 11-yard reception from Damien Butac for the 19-7 Raider lead.
But Efhan pulled the Crusaders back into the game with an answering 53-yard touchdown and a successful po int-after run for the 19-14 deficit.
Balai-Apilado picked up a loose pigskin in the end zone for a score and Butac added a 50-yard scoring run to give the Raiders a 31-14 halftime lead.
Balai–Apilado’s final TD came in the third quarter, a nine-yard scamper into the end zone. Nikini-Villon added one of his three tackles with a stop of Kamuela Numazawa in the end zone for a safety, pushing the Raider margin to 39-14.
Tallano added the final Raider score in the fourth quarter, a seven-yard run, gracing that TD with a successful point-after run.
Pikini-Villon picked up his second TD of the night, this one an 18-yard run with Xavier Idica doing the point-after run for the 46-21 Raider final.
Balai-Apilado topped the Raider defense with 12 stops followed by Travis Girard picking up six tackles, Nate Herbig marking four tackles. Pikini-Villon finished with three stops, Butac and Ian Castro each marked two stops and Braden Galiza had a tackle.
Tallano topped the Crusader defense with nine stops followed by Branden Asuncion marking seven stops, Efhan getting six tackles, Bulla Alo finishing with five stops along with Numazawa. Sage Tanioka had a pair of tackles and Kulika Diamond rounded out the game with a stop.
The Kaua‘i Youth Football will host its next game Saturday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium starting at 5:30 p.m.
Brad Hiranaka of KYF said people interested in registering for the youth football league can visit www.kauaiyouthfootball.com where registration forms for the summer league will be posted later this week.
