HONOLULU — Kapa‘a High School football exploded for 29 points in the second half on Wednesday to shut down Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy 51-0 at Farrington High School during the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II state football games.
The Warriors under head coach Michael Tresler sat on a 14-0 lead at the half behind scores from Kian Rapozo, Poki Tafea, Solomone Malafu, who broke open for a 22-yard romp to the end zone. Kala Velasco’s boot graced two of the touchdowns in the first quarter for the halftime bulge.
Conner Kitamura recovered a blocked punt in the end zone with just two minutes peeled off in the third quarter to start the second half fireworks, Sepuloni Tafea running in the Point After Touchdown.
The Warriors continued to rumble when quarterback Kapono Na-o adding a 4-yard score to close the third quarter.
Jaysten Pimental added a 15-yard score, and Poki Tafea pulled in a 7-yard aerial from Nakoa Kimi in the final quarter. Velasco’s boot iced the final three scores with successful PAT kicks in the shutout of KaMakani.
Kimi entered the aerial zone after Na-o went 0-3 in passes. He finished with two completions on two attempts and no interceptions for 12 yards, including the 7-yard touchdown pass to Tafea.
Offensively, Kapa‘a picked up 263 yards, 251 in rushing led by Na-o picking up 60 yards on 13 tries, Jerico Castro getting 46 yards on eight carries, and Rapozo picking up 34 yards and a touchdown in offense compared with 66 yards by HPA who outdid Kapa‘a on the airways with 67 yards received compared to Kapa‘a’s 12 yards, including the final quarter TD.
Defensively, Connor Payomo finished with six unassisted tackles, Malafu ended with five unassisted stops, Bob Tolenoa had three unassisted stops. Bruno Likio, Tolenoa, and Masaias Mersburgh also recorded sacks of the HPA quarterback.
With the victory, the top seed in Division II will meet the winner of the Kaiser, second seed, and Kamehameha Schools-Maui, third seed, for the DII title on Dec. 30 at Farrington High School on O‘ahu. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com. Mahalo to Scoringlive.com and Sportshigh.com for game information.
