LIHU‘E — The Lihu‘e Patriots Junior Pee Wee brought the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League to the final game before earning the JPW championship, Saturday. “Hats off to the boys,” said Lihu‘e JPW coach Teddy Arroyo during Wednesday’s practice at
LIHU‘E — The Lihu‘e Patriots Junior Pee Wee brought the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League to the final game before earning the JPW championship, Saturday.
“Hats off to the boys,” said Lihu‘e JPW coach Teddy Arroyo during Wednesday’s practice at Isenberg Field. “The boys knew they had to get past Hanapepe Colts to get the title, and they did it.”
The 28-0 win was a true team effort with Ryland Peahu, Damien Thomas Butac, Keala Iwasaki and Christian Manera each contributing a touchdown and Aaron Renaud kicking two successful point-after boots.
“Hanapepe is a tough team,” Arroyo said. “They are well-coached and are much-improved from the start of the season. The boys didn’t take them lightly.”
For the Kapa‘a Eagles JPW, they could only sit and watch as they enjoyed a bye on the final week of regular season play in the league.
“It was hard for them because they couldn’t do anything,” Arroyo said. “They were leading the standings heading into the game and their fate was in our hands.”
A Hanapepe win over the Patriots JPW would give the title to Kapa‘a who held 13 points over Lihu‘e’s 12 points entering the stadium. A Lihu‘e win would give the title to the Patriots, and a tie would have forced a playoff this weekend.
The win gives the JPW title to Lihu‘e with a 7-1 record and 14 points to Kapa‘a’s 6-1-1 record and 13 points.
“This was a tough league and very competitive,” Arroyo said. “Kekaha (ending in third place) was tough, giving Kapa‘a its only tie in the season. We told the boys, all the teams are tough.”
Arroyo said the JPW win is the first title for Lihu‘e in nine years and credit should go to not only the players, but his staff of assistant coaches, the parents and the community.
“Hats off to all these people,” Arroyo said. “People like Lihu‘e Pop Warner Association president Lilane Corpuz, the assistant coaches, and my wife all make my job as head coach so much easier.”
Arroyo said Kaua‘i High School coach Derek Borrero has been supportive and was appreciative the players had an opportunity to work with Kaua‘i High School players during a Red Raider-hosted Speed and Quickness clinic prior to the season.
“That was really good for the kids,” Arroyo said. “They got a close-up look at what the high school players work with. That was good because all of these kids are potential future Red Raiders.”
With the win, Lihu‘e JPW will represent Kaua‘i in a playoff on O‘ahu, Nov. 29 at Aloha Stadium starting at 11:30 a.m.
“We’ll find out Sunday if we play either Ewa Beach, or Kahalu‘u,” Arroyo said. “The winner of the Nov. 29 game moves to Florida where they will represent Hawai‘i at the Pop Warner Super Bowl. These kids will do a fine job of representing Kaua‘i.”
Arroyo said if the Patriots are successful on O‘ahu, the team will leave for Florida on Dec. 5, leaving its leaders with just about a week to fundraise.
“We were lucky,” Arroyo said. “We met with the parents before the season, and after they all agreed that we should plan on advancing, we started with a patele sale.”
During the season, the Patriots had a car wash and recently, a Krispy Kreme sale. Those were in compliance with the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League and Arroyo added that the league will lend some support to get the team and equipment to Florida.
“This is really stressful to the parents and the community,” Arroyo said. “Especially in these tight economic times. But the community has been wonderful and supportive of these players.”
Arroyo said anyone wishing to help the team can call Corpuz at 635-6783.
