LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School junior varsity football team clinched the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation title with a 34-6 win over Waimea to set the stage for its homecoming sweep, Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. Following the JV win, the varsity
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School junior varsity football team clinched the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation title with a 34-6 win over Waimea to set the stage for its homecoming sweep, Saturday at Vidinha Stadium.
Following the JV win, the varsity boys held off a strong Waimea comeback in the second half to sweep the series with a 24-16 win.
Defense proved to be the key for the Red Raider junior varsity when two pass interceptions and two fumble recoveries provided the spark for four of the five Kaua‘i touchdowns.
An interception and fumble recovery set the stage for two first quarter scores as Desmond Souza plucked a Derek Callejo airball on the Waimea 37-yard line at the 3:38 mark.
Kaua‘i capped that drive when Dryke Smith-Butac found a hole for a 20-yard run into the end zone, enhancing that touchdown by running in a two-point PAT for the 8-0 read.
But the Raiders weren’t through as Austin Manera added to the score with 26 seconds remaining in the period, Manera pulling in an 18-yard scoring pass from quarterback Trey Aguano.
Kaiea Iwasaki set up that play when he pounced on a loose football on the Menehune 18 on the kickoff drive following Smith-Butac’s score.
Kaua‘i opened the second half by capping its own kickoff drive with Aguano getting strong blocking on a slant left for a three-yard score. The point-after failed for a 20-0 lead.
Enoka Baclayon set the stage for the Raiders’ second score in the third quarter when he corralled a loose ball on the Waimea 37-yard line, setting up another scoring drive that came when Aguano connected with Reggie McFadden for a four-yard touchdown pass.
Marcus Martinez, strong on defense from the starting whistle, graced the score with a two-point run-in for the 28-0 lead after three periods.
More fireworks opened the final period as Smith-Butac plucked another Callejo aerial and ran the ball back 74 yards for the Raiders’ final score at the 6:50 mark.
Waimea was able to answer when Callejo pushed through for a one-yard score with 3:18 remaining in the game. The point-after pass from Callejo to Faa Tafua came up empty for the 34-6 final.
