LIHU‘E — What’s a little rain when there has been no football for nearly two years?
The Kapa’a High School Warriors churned out a 47-0 win over the Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders Saturday during the teams’ first meeting since the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation resumed football on Oct. 16.
Playing in light rain that soaked the players and a good-sized, umbrella-wielding audience, the Warriors’ scoring explosion was paced by two touchdowns apiece by Jericho Castro and Kian Rapozo. Defensively, the Warriors held the Red Raiders to just a handful of yards.
Kaua‘i responded with a strong defensive effort in an attempt at corralling the big Warrior machine by plucking a handful of pass interceptions and fumble recoveries. These fruits came up empty as the Kaua‘i offense could not capitalize on the turnovers.
Kapa‘a created a strong start in the rain by scoring twice in the opening quarter, the first score coming on its opening drive when the Warriors capped the drive that coughed up a first down with a 32-yard score from Rapozo. Kala Velasco booted the point-after-touchdown, his sole effort in the rainfest, for the 7-0 bulge with 8:48 remaining in the stanza.
Rapozo recorded his first of two touchdowns in the next Kapa‘a series, capping a long drive with a 44-yard run to the end zone after breaking through the Kaua‘i defense. Malafu did the two-point PAT honors for an early 15-0 lead.
The rain continued and slowed play on the soggy field, limiting Kapa‘a to just one score before the break. Rapozo found the end zone at the end of a 17-yard run with 9:58 showing in the half, and Malafu pounded his way for the two-point PAT to give Kapa‘a a 23-0 lead as the squad took a well-deserved break from the rain.
The Warriors scored twice in the third quarter after having one score, a 30-yard run by quarterback Kapono Na-O, called back on an infraction.
With 7:45 remaining on the game clock, Kaikea Tandal broke into the end zone on a 3-yard run. A pass attempt for the two-point PAT came up empty for the 29-0 Warrior edge.
The Warriors were not done yet, as Rapozo scored his second touchdown with just 13 ticks showing in the third quarter on a 30-yard run, with Malafu adding the two-point PAT.
The quarter ran out, but the Kapa‘a scoring machine continued to ramble in the early minutes of the final quarter when the Warriors generated a safety after the snap to Kaua‘i kicker Andrew Renaud slipped into the end zone and Renaud covered it at the 10:36 mark.
Tyrus Alao marked the final Kapa‘a score on a 1-yard charge into the end zone, with Malafu pounding through the pack for the 2-point PAT for a 47-0 final read that came with 3:43 showing on the game.
With two games under its belt and no points allowed to either Waimea or Kaua‘i, the Warriors host Waimea for its second meeting of the season Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. The junior varsity contest kicks off at noon with the varsity contest following 30 minutes following the completion of the JV contest.
