LIHUE — The Hanapepe Colts and Kekaha Titans posted winning records when the Kauai Pop Warner Football Association’s 56th Annual Jamboree opened the season Saturday with more than 400 young athletes filling Vidinha Stadium with color and pomp.
Traditionally, the Jamboree features exhibition games but the new board opted to play full games and the only exhibition match being a Flag Football matchup — a Lihue Raiders’ 37-0 win over Kekaha.
“I don’t even remember those things they are talking about,” said Mel Rapozo, one of two special recognition guests honored for their volunteerism with the Pop Warner football program. “I started in Pop Warner. And I can say this now because my mother is gone — is when I forged her signature because I wanted to play football. I’m not crying. I have a bad cold.”
Blaine Agena, the Kauai Pop Warner Football League scholastic coordinator said back when Coach Dick Ueoka co-founded the Pop Warner program, there were only five teams. But Ueoka recognized the importance of scholastics in Pop Warner football and personally visited the schools of those players he recognized as being potential scholar-athletes.
On the field, Ikaika Miyashiro peeled off a 57-yard touchdown run to open the scorebooks for the Kekaha Titans Mitey Mites who took a 12-6 edge over Lihue. Kailer Chow-Agor charged for a nine-yard scoring run to prevent a shutout. Reiden Samio opened the second half for Kekaha on a three-yard run to score.
Mykah Brun had the only score, a nine-yard scoot, to give the Titans a 6-0 edge over Lihue in the Junior PeeWee division matchup.
Hunter Ahloo had a 25-yard touchdown and a point-after run-in to lead the Raiders to a 19-0 win over Kekaha in the Junior Varsity division game. Coby Moon added a 55-yard run and Bronze DeCosta iced the win on an 11-yard score.
During the nightcap, the Hanapepe Colts combined for 69 points and allowed no scores in their matchup against the Koloa Rams.
Kamu Santiago tapped pay dirt twice — on an eight-yard score and a 68-yard breakout — to lead the Colts to a 33-0 win over the Rams in the JPW division. TJ Ceria had a 30-yard return of a pass interception for score, Iziah Henderson added a 15-yard score with Kyka Linoz passing to Alderete Labuguen for the PAT, and Shayden Dela Cruz iced the win on a 10-yard run with Storm Piccirilli doing the PAT honors.
Elijah Henderson had runs of 35 yards and 37 yards to lead the Colts to a 36-0 win over Koloa in the JV matchup where Maka Shigematsu, doing three PAT boots, put up a four-yard score. Ryson Wa‘alani had a five-yard score and Robert Cacal iced the win on a 64-yard score.
KPWFL continues its season with seven games on tap starting with Kapaa Eagles Mighty Mites meeting the Kekaha Titans at 8 a.m. The final kickoff goes at 7 p.m. when Lihue Raiders JV meet the Hanapepe Colts.
