The Kapaa High School football team has already won the Kauai Interscholastic Federation title, but it’s not interested in coasting through the rest of the regular season.
The Warriors have two KIF games left, and the focus has shifted toward improving depth and execution. Coach Philip Rapozo is focused on keeping his team sharp headed into the state tournament.
The Warriors (5-0, 6-1) have a chance to focus on improving they face Kauai High School Saturday at Vidinha Stadium.
Rapozo said the combination of a talent-rich KIF conference, combined with the familiarity the three conference teams have, make each KIF game difficult.
The Warriors are vying for a second- or third-seed at state, which would mean they could host a home game and be in the semifinal of the now five-team tournament.
Having the home field advantage is critical.
“You not only have your home crowd supporting you, but you take away the other team’s home crowd, and you always want to play at home, and if you get that one home game, you automatically qualify for the state championship,” Rapozo said.
Rapozo hopes to give everyone a chance to play against the Red Raiders.
“It is essential having a backup that can do the do the job,” Rapozo said. “Luckily, we have some experience and feel confident if we need to play them, we have as good of a chance to win as if we play our starters. We have tremendous athletes all over the field on offense, and that play on defense and our athleticism allows us to do more on offense.”
The Red Raiders (0-4, 1-5) enter this game in search of their first conference win of the season, and they have one of the KIF’s biggest offensive weapons in wide receiver Malu Ralston.
Many of the KIF coaches see Ralston an NCAA Division prospect, and and say they must know where he is on the field at all times.
“He is one of the better athletes and better receivers in the league,” Rapozo said. “He is a playmaker, and he is making good plays, and they throw the ball and give us experience, and we are going to see a lot of passing, and that worked out well having them go through the playoffs.”
Red Raiders focus
on the future
The Red Raiders are playing for more than pride as they enter the final two games of the season against the Warriors.
Kauai High School coach Jason Apilado said football is a game of inches.
Throughout the season, Apilado’s team has fallen just shy of capturing a victory.
“Sometimes like I said as a coach, you look at every season, and when you have the graduating class, and another class it is a dynamic fight together, and are kids, and coaches are laying down the plans, instructions.”
Typically at the high school level, the majority of the game is played and won or lost, on the perimeter of the field. Kapaa’s big success has been part of their backfield utilizing dual threat Kahuna Davis, as both a runner and a passer, and their leading rusher, Bab Na-o.
Davis and Bab Na-o have accounted for the majority of the team’s yardage on the ground, and they were able to attack and move the ball effectively against a physical Waimea High School.
Both Davis and Baba Na-o have combined for a total of 738 yards and six touchdowns.
Na-o is averaging 7 yards per carrying, and Davis is averaging 6.3 yards.
The Red Raiders have been in the majority of their contests in the first half, but the young team is still learning.
The Warriors have already qualified for the state football championships.
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Jason Blasco, sports reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
