LIHUE — Wailani Kawahalau scored three touchdowns to lead the Hanapepe Colts Junior Peewees to a 26-6 win over the Lahaina Chiefs JPW Saturday at the Turkey Bowl. “This game almost never happened,” said Amber Cabral, the Colts’ team mom.
LIHUE — Wailani Kawahalau scored three touchdowns to lead the Hanapepe Colts Junior Peewees to a 26-6 win over the Lahaina Chiefs JPW Saturday at the Turkey Bowl.
“This game almost never happened,” said Amber Cabral, the Colts’ team mom. “At first, the Maui champion was supposed to come over to Kauai, but dropped out. At the last minute, the Colts JPW pulled everything together to travel to Maui.”
Facing the Lahaina Chiefs for the second time in as many years, the Hanapepe Colts scored all of its touchdowns in the first half, triggering the running clock at the half at the Maui War Memorial Stadium.
The victors returned to Kauai on Monday.
“The score is misleading,” said Colts coach Kylie Linoz, about the game. “The game was tough, but our boys were faster.”
Makoa Vanaman broke open for the first score — a 60-yard run to the end zone in the first quarter.
“Once he found the hole, all he had was the safety and linebacker to deal with,” said Kawahalau, a Colt running back who scored three touchdowns. “But Makoa was faster.”
Kawahalau, who played for Koloa before moving to the Hanapepe program, scored on runs of 45 yards, 70 and 40 yards, the 45-yard scoring burst coming in the first quarter with the latter two scores coming in the second quarter.
“It was challenging,” Kawahalau said. “Lahaina was a hard team to play against. They were tougher than the Lihue Patriots JPW who gave us a hard time.”
Linoz joked that Kawahalau gets the glory while Vanaman did the “dirty work.”
Vanaman said everyone played together and did what they needed to do.
“The offensive line made the holes, and I just found them,” the running back said. “Everyone did what they were supposed to do.”
Degan Davis, the Colt quarterback, said playing in the Turkey Bowl was a great experience.
“Lahaina is a good team,” Davis said. “But Hanapepe was better. When we got to the field, it was muddy and it was harder to adjust than if we were playing at home. The boys kept sliding. But we finally made the right adjustments and had fun.”
Linoz said for many of the boys, this was the first time competing in sports off-island.
“I was glad to see them play as hard on Maui as they did on Kauai to earn the team’s fourth championship,” Linoz said. “We had fun. Lahaina’s team and its parents were great hosts, friendly, helpful and courteous to our people.”
Joining the team on the Valley Isle, the Hanapepe Colts JPW cheer squad, eligible for the National Pop Warner Cheer and Dance Competition in Orlando, Fla., opted to travel to Maui with the team.
“We may go to the Nationals next year, if we win,” said Ginny Agena, the Colts cheer coordinator. “Of the seven teams who earned eligibility, I think only the Kekaha Titans are sending its Junior Midget and Junior Peewee teams to compete in Florida.”
The four-time Kauai Pop Warner Football League champion Colts include players Davis, Isahn Ulanday, Kellen Sheldon-McGihon, Hayden Oglesby, Kawahalau, Nainoa Ragragola, Sean Mullikin, Kaimani Harris, Xyran Pai, Vanaman, Rayson Ruiz, Kanaan Ephan, Caleb Martin, Keith Kanna, Logan Ayau, Zachariah Costales, and Nick Reyes.
Cheer members include Shai-Lein Acosta, Ashlyn Agena, Maeani Arbilera, Chandi Cabral, Jaidalyn Cummings, Malia Iaea-Constantino, Brilynn Imaoka, Jayzlin Kali-Palau, Jhayliyah Kaneakua-Yoshimoto, Ki-Yana Kanoho-Ceria, Kyrie Linoz, Jolana Macadangdang, Kemanalani Martin, Tori Santiago, Cassie Mae Simpliciano and Isley Ulanday.
