KAPA‘A — Kapa‘a High quarterback Kapono Na-O kept the ball on two touchdown runs and threw for another on Saturday to lead Na Koa, a term used by game announcer Fig Mitchell, to a 49-0 shutout over ‘Aiea High School Na Ali‘i during a nonleague preseason football contest at the Bryan J. Baptiste (BJB) Sports Complex.
The Warriors lost little time getting the scoreboard lit, capitalizing on the first possession when Na-O cradled the pigskin for a 4-yard score with 8:12 showing in the opening stanza. The point after touchdown (PAT) boot was made by Kamalei Gonsalves, who ended kicking PATs on four of Kapa‘a’s seven touchdowns.
With the score coming in the first four minutes of the contest, Mike Tresler and the coaching staff used that as a demonstration of Kapa‘a’s control of the game and exercised the depth of its roster. That included an interception for a touchdown by Nash Graham in the third quarter.
Waikahekili Makepa, doing primary rushing duty for Kapa‘a, opened the scoring in the second half with a 5-yard charge to pay dirt with 5:00 showing on the game clock.
Gonsalves booted the PAT for the 28-0 go-ahead that stood until Nash plucked the ‘Aiea airball and ran the pigskin back some 40 yards for the score that came with 4:42 showing in the third quarter. Micah Rapozo was brought in for the PAT boot that saw the quarter end with a 35-0 Kapa‘a advantage.
Following the Warriors’ first score, Na Ali‘i had a shot at the scoreboard when they drove the ensuing kickoff to inside the Kapa‘a 30-yard line before coming up empty on a field goal attempt.
Kapa‘a brought in Evan Daligdig for its final two scores that came in the fourth period. The first was a 10-yard scoring pass to Kaimana Chong, and the second was a 25-yard keeper play. Successful PAT boots by Rapozo ended the scoring at 49-0.
The Warriors will next be on the field at the BJB Sports Complex on Saturday, when they host St. Louis II in a varsity contest. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
Following that matchup, Kapa‘a will open the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football season on Sept. 2, when the Warriors host Kaua‘i High. The junior varsity game kicks off at 4 p.m. The varsity contest starts 30 minutes ater the JV game at BJB Sports Complex.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
