LIHUE — The Waimea High football team entered its game against Kauai High suffering critical injuries, and it was inconsequential to the result in Friday’s 21-7 victory over the Kauai High Red Raiders at Vidinha Stadium.
After trailing the Red Raiders 7-0, the Menehune scored three unanswered touchdowns to earn the victory.
The Menehune football coach Jason Caldeira acknowledged the past two weeks for his team were turbulent.
His team overcame on-the-field and off-the-field challenges, and despite the setbacks, their offense and defense continued to produce.
“It’s been a crazy last couple of weeks,” Caldeira said. “We’ve had players with injuries, and I know at one point in the game the players were raising each other.”
Both teams successfully moved the football throughout the first quarter but were unable to manufacture points, until Kauai’s possession late in the first quarter.
Red Raiders’ quarterback Andrew Passi connected with wide receiver Malu Ralston for a 36-yard gain and positioned the ball deep into Menehune’s territory, and the big play set up the 1-yard quarterback sneak by Passi, giving the Red Raiders a 7-0 lead with 1:21 left in the first quarter.
Tide-turning play
The Red Raiders controlled the flow of the game until Passi threw an interception to Barak Aviguetero, who scampered 44 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, which shifted the momentum of the game.
“This year we’ve been one block away on offense, and one play away on defense,” Red Raiders’ head coach Jason Apilado said.
With 10:01 left in the third quarter, Kawelo Huddy scored on a screen pass that made the score 14-7 with 10:01 left to go in the third quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, Ariki Cardejon finalized the scoring with another touchdown that gave the Menehune a 21-7 lead with 5:26 left to play in the game.
The Red Raiders attempted a late, fourth-quarter comeback and were unable to score after Keanu Fernandez intercepted a pass in the end zone.
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Jason Blasco, sports reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
