HANAPEPE — Acetyn Emayo ran for two touchdowns and pulled in a pass for a TD to lead the Blue to a 32-6 win Friday. Kiliona Russell-Moe, the quarterback for the Blue team, passed for a TD and kept one
HANAPEPE — Acetyn Emayo ran for two touchdowns and pulled in a pass for a TD to lead the Blue to a 32-6 win Friday.
Kiliona Russell-Moe, the quarterback for the Blue team, passed for a TD and kept one for another score in the annual Blue-and-White football game at Hanapepe Stadium, hosted by the Waimea High School athletic department.
Fans were given an opportunity to see the accomplishments of their sons, relatives and friends as the Menehune donned the pads for a game under the lights.
Game format had teams playing for four 20-minute running time quarters, but no kicking. Instead, the teams took over from the opposing side’s 35-yard line and working through regulation ball, tried to score.
The game was unlike the other school’s spring games where one color represented offense and the other color representing defense.
Waimea had the players playing both sides of the ball, one side taking over if the other failed to convert on downs, or if it scored.
With two good quarterbacks, represented by Russell-Moe for the Blue and Kalen Games for the White, both sides were adept at moving the ball on the ground, the Blue getting the majority of the calls going to Emayo while on the other side, Destin Miguel got the call.
In the air, Games’ targets included Kamea Palama-Alquiza, Ian Garcia, Jaycob Rapanot and the White signal caller even lobbed a few to Miguel.
Russell-Moe also had his favorite targets, going to Emayo, Trevors-Duke Kahaulelio-Yadao who played well defensively and offensively, with opportunities given to Micah Rapacon and Kevin Tubon.
Defensively, Kahaulelio-Yadao and Charlie Kahepuu were the leading stoppers.
Following an exchange of series, the Blue found the end zone when Emayo, coming off a series of pass plays, broke open for a 48-yard score.
He carried the ball into the end zone for a two-point PAT as the quarter ended.
Late in the second quarter, the Blue struck again as Russell-Moe capped a long drive with a short keeper into the end zone. Emayo did the PAT honors for the 16-0 bulge.
The White answered as Games found Miguel for 19 yards and its first score.
The PAT failed for the 16-6 read as the quarter came to a close.
Returning from the break, White got control of the ball and moved it all the way inside the 10-yard line before Blue’s Russell-Moe plucked the Games airball in the end zone, quashing its hopes for a score.
The interception set up the next touchdown as Emayo cradled the ball for a 92-yard cross-field run to paydirt on the next play from scrimmage, Brandon Moises, the game announcer, describing the play as “the Grove Farm Play of the Game.” Russell-Moe kept the ball on the PAT for the 24-6 lead.
Blue scored again in the fourth quarter, Russell-Moe hitting Emayo for a 55-yard score, the PAT pass going to Kahaulelio-Yadao for the 32-6 final.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
