LIHU‘E — Timmy Rivera pulled in a Tyler Keaunui air ball for 75 yards and the only score that spoiled the Kaua‘i Bulldogs’ stand against the Waikele Wildcats, Saturday night at Vidinha Stadium. The Kaua‘i Bulldogs, a product of the
LIHU‘E — Timmy Rivera pulled in a Tyler Keaunui air ball for 75 yards and the only score that spoiled the Kaua‘i Bulldogs’ stand against the Waikele Wildcats, Saturday night at Vidinha Stadium.
The Kaua‘i Bulldogs, a product of the Kaua‘i Youth Football program, hosted the first of its spring season games against the Waikele 7th-9th division squad.
“We had to make adjustment just this week,” said Brad Hiranaka, president of the KYF and a coach with the Bulldogs. “We didn’t have a Freshman division team because of the high schools’ Junior Varsity practice schedule, and we couldn’t let our eighth graders go up against high school players.”
The adjustment worked as the Kaua‘i Bulldogs held firm for most of the game, but had its chances snuffed on three big interceptions from the Wildcats.
Adam Amosa spoiled the Bulldogs’ first possession with a fumble recovery on the Kaua‘i 32-yard line. But the Wildcats could not make progress against the Bulldogs’ defense which held strong despite Waikele going to several different ball carriers.
Isaiah Alapai corralled another loose pigskin to open the second period and despite the last-minute shouts from the coaching sidelines, the Bulldogs were bit on a Wildcat flea flicker as Tyler Keaunui connected with Jerney Tago who hit Timmy Rivera on the Bulldogs’ 1-yard line.
Again, the Bulldog defense held, and following a time out to regroup, forced the Wildcats back to the 12-yard line before taking over on downs at the Kaua‘i 7-yard stripe leading to a 0-0 halftime deadlock.
Elijah Gouveia-McCarthy got the Bulldogs noticed in the third quarter by recovering a Wildcat fumble on the Waikele 19-yard line.
But the Waikele defense got into the act when Kristian Vaana-Kikuyama plucked a Bulldog pass at the 1-yard line, running the ball back to his own 21-yard line.
Another exchange took place when Keli‘i Efhan recovered a loose ball on the Wildcats’ 42-yard line, but the Kaua‘i team could not advance the ball, punting to the Waikele 23-yard stripe.
That was where Keaunui found Rivera for the 75-yard aerial connection among scattered Bulldog defensive backs, and coupled with a two-point conversion, became the final score.
The Bulldogs had one more shot at a goal when Corey Somera-Payomo returned a punt to the Waikele 19-yard line in the final period, setting up a drive that went to the Waikele 8-yard line on a first-and-goal before Vaana-Kikuyama plucked a Bulldog airball, running it out to the 30-yard line.
Another scoring opportunity came with 3:30 remaining when Michael Gabriel fielded a Waikele punt on the Wildcats’ 39-yard line and the Bulldogs engineered a drive to the Waikele 24-yard line with a minute left.
But the Wildcats’ Dominic Maneafaiga, a running threat throughout the game, snuffed the Bulldogs’ hope for a score on an interception at the Waikele 15-yard line.
The Kaua‘i Bulldogs, DII team will host the Ewa Beach Hammerheads, Friday night at the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium starting at 7 p.m.
