LIHUE — The Menehune held off a second half Red Raiders rally to get their first win in the regular season.
Waimea High School’s varsity football team edged out Kauai High, 16-14, Saturday afternoon at Vidinha Stadium.
“Just very proud of the boys and the way they played,” said Waimea head coach Jason Caldeira. “I’m very proud of the staff and how hard they worked. Just going to congratulate both teams on a heck of a game.”
Waimea (2-2, 1-2 KIF) scored all its 16 points in the first half.
The Menehune started hot with a touchdown on the team’s opening drive, starting on their own 38-yard line and capping off the drive on a 1-yard run by senior running back William Kamaka-Riley.
In the second quarter after sophomore place kicker Kawelo Huddy converted a 33-yard field goal, Waimea found the end zone again just before halftime.
Menehune senior Harrison Kanahele, who’s typically a lineman on offense, got one carry out of the backfield to score on a 1-yard run.
Kauai High (3-2, 2-1 KIF) then started to close the gap in the second half. At just under five minutes left in the third quarter, Red Raiders junior running back Austin Paresa scored on a 16-yard run.
“I think Waimea was getting a little bit tired, but they were still executing offensively and defensively. And we kept searching for something,” said Kauai head coach Derek Borrero. “They shut us down in the first half, so we had to go to Plan B and then Plan C if we were mixing it around. We finally found the passing game. It helped, and the running game (helped with) spreading everything a little bit more. But still, it was just a little bit too late.”
Paresa scored again at just less than a minute left in the final quarter on a 3-yard run.
After Paresa’s second touchdown run, without any timeouts left, Kauai attempted an onside kick. Noice’s short bouncer was recovered by Menehune senior Dylan Balaan.
“We just couldn’t put it together in the beginning,” said Kauai head coach Derek Borrero. “And, you know, we had some injuries from the last game. So, we put in a different mix during the week. I wasn’t sure who wasn’t sure who was going to be ready, but that’s sports.
“We really didn’t have the right guys in the first quarter,” he continued. “It’s all about gelling, and we weren’t gelling in the beginning. And Waimea, like I told the boys, they’re hungry. They’re hungry, and they’re sick and tired of being sick and tired. When you play a team like that, you got to watch out.”
A couple of kneel downs ran the remaining time off the clock to secure a Menehune win.
“It came down to who made less mistakes. We had a great first half, and they came out and beat us in the second half. Luckily, we held off and the final score went our way,” Caldeira said.
Caldeira added of Balaan’s recovery: “I could breathe. I could breathe again.”
Waimea will host Kapaa (3-1, 1-1 KIF) on Saturday at Hanapepe Stadium. The junior varsity game will begin at noon and the varsity will follow.
Kauai High next plays on Sept. 30 against Kapaa at Vidinha Stadium.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st quarter
05:04 WAIMEA William Kamaka-Riley 1-yard run, Kawelo Huddy PAT no good, 6-0 Waimea
2nd quarter
10:36 WAIMEA Kawelo Huddy 33-yard field goal, 9-0 Waimea
00:05 WAIMEA Harrison Kanahele 1-yard run, Kawelo Huddy PAT good, 16-0 Waimea
3rd quarter
04:25 KAUAI Austin Paresa 16-yard run, Logan Noice PAT good, 16-7 Waimea
4th quarter
00:51 KAUAI Austin Paresa 3-yard run, Logan Noice PAT good, 16-14 Waimea
STAT LEADERS
Waimea
Passing: Lacin Montemayor, 5-6, 99 yards, 1 interception
Rushing: Avery Miguel, 19 carries, 66 yards
Receiving: Dylan Balaan, 3 receptions, 45 yards, 1 fumble
Defense: Noah Simao, 4 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
Kauai
Passing: Christian Manera, 12-26, 128 yards
Rushing: Austin Paresa, 10 carries, 53 yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving: Noah Ruiz, 5 receptions, 43 yards
Defense: Kyle Bissara, 4 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
