LIHUE — Kapaa quarterback Kahanu Davis passed for a touchdown, and ran for two scores to lead the Warriors to a 41-0 shutout over the Waimea Menehune Friday night during the opening game of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation football season contested at Vidinha Stadium.
“This was a big game for us,” said Kapaa coach Philip Rapozo. “We came off a loss — most people only look at the ‘W,’ and the ‘L;’ they don’t know who we played — and we didn’t want to start the season 0-1. We were prepared.”
The Warriors scored in every quarter, notching its first score on a 79-yard scoring hit on the first play from scrimmage in its second offensive possession. Davis found La‘akea Gonsalves on the far side, who pulled in the aerial and scampered along the sidelines for a touchdown. Gonsalves sealed the deal with a point-after boot for the 7-0 go-ahead with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Davis heralded the second quarter on a 42-yard romp to the end zone, Gonsalves converting the PAT boot for the 14-0 bulge with less than two minutes peeled off the period.
Turning the ball to Baba Na-O, the Warriors struck paydirt with a 54-yard run to the promised land, Gonsalves adding his third PAT boot for the 21-0 margin that came with more than nine minutes left in the first half. The Na-O score came following a strong defensive showing that yielded Waimea negative yardage following a quarterback sack deep in Waimea territory.
One of the Menehune bright spots showed itself during the green onslaught as Makoa Vanaman plucked a Davis pass with 2:03 showing in the half. But the Menehune take-over on their own 47-yard line produced no forward movement against the Warrior defense, and Waimea turned the ball over on downs with 33 ticks remaining.
Na-O found the end zone once more in the third quarter, capping a 45-yard drive on a one-yard charge to paydirt with 7:41 showing. The PAT failed, and Kapaa settled for the 27-0 score until Davis got his second rushing TD on a five-yard run to paydirt with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter. Dreyden Iwamoto made the PAT boot for the 34-0 reading.
Kapaa capped its victory with 52 seconds showing in regulation play when Hanohano Kuhaulua found the end zone on a one-yard run, Iwamoto adding the PAT honor for the 41-0 read.
But the Warriors were not done, yet — putting a period to its strong showing when defensive back Tylise Sadomiano-Amorin plucked a Menehune pass with no time left on the game clock.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Offensive statistics
• Kapaa Rushing: Kahanu Davis (96 yards; 2 TD; 8 carries), Baba Na-O (154 yards; 2 TDs; 15 carries), Jericho Castro (25 yards; 6 carries), Hanohano Kuhaulua (10 yards; 1 TD; 5 carries), Cody Relacion (27 yards; 5 carries)
• Kapaa Passing: Kahanu Davis (2/7 83 yards; 1 TD; 1 Int), Cody Relacion (3/4 17 yards);
• Waimea Receiving: La‘akea Gonsalves (2-89 yards, 1 TD, 3 PATs), Dreyden Iwamoto (1-16 yards, 1 TD, 2 PATs)
• Waimea Rushing: Makoa Vanaman (41 yards; 8 carries), Maka Shigematsu (22 yards; 12 carries), Kawelo Huddy (15 yards; 6 carries)
• Waimea Passing: Maka Shigematsu (9/18 47 yards, 1 Int);
• Waimea Receiving: Cody Goias (3/20 yards), Isaiah Ulanday (1/6 yards), Kawelo Huddy (3/18 yards), Kash Akita (2/3 yards)
Statistics provided by Dick Ueoka/Kyle Linoz.
