HANAPEPE — Kaua‘i High School’s senior quarterback and team captain Trey Shimabukuro was banged up heading into Friday night’s road battle with the Waimea Menehune at Hanapepe Stadium. The likely Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation All-Star’s status was uncertain leading up to
HANAPEPE — Kaua‘i High School’s senior quarterback and team captain Trey Shimabukuro was banged up heading into Friday night’s road battle with the Waimea Menehune at Hanapepe Stadium. The likely Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation All-Star’s status was uncertain leading up to kickoff, but he was suited up in his No. 14, taking warm-up tosses alongside backup Kalena “Boom” Rodero Workman during pregame.
But it was Workman who was under center all night and proved to be very capable, leading the Red Raiders to a 34-10 road win as Kaua‘i moved to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in KIF play.
This was the Raiders’ fifth game in five consecutive weeks, something that coach Derek Borrero knew others would view as a negative, but he said in the preseason he thought his team would be “ripe and ready.”
After Friday’s contest, he has been proven correct.
Waimea came into the game having lost its first two games in the preseason, but had a week off to prepare for its KIF opener.
Kaua‘i started off strong as Cameron Largusa took the opening kickoff all the way back to Waimea’s 29-yard line. The short field was a welcome sight for Workman in his opening series for the Raider offense.
Workman’s first pass went to Kele Hanohano on a nine-yard pickup, to the 20-yard line. Waimea sniffed out a half-back toss to Hanohano later for a 10-yard loss, setting up a 3rd and 19 at the 26. Workman, out of the shotgun, threw a fade pass to the end zone’s front right pylon, which fell into the arms of Largusa for the game’s first score. Shea Shimabukuro’s extra point made it 7-0 with 9:09 remaining in the first quarter.
The Raiders forced a three-and-out on Waimea’s first possession and a short punt gave Kaua‘i the ball at the Waimea 38-yard line.
The Menehune defense stiffened up and forced a three-and-out after sacking Workman on third down. But they were unable to get their offense going and lined up to punt three plays later. A difficult snap forced Kaulana Waalani-Arroyo to tuck it and run, coming up well short of the first down. Kaua‘i took over deep in Waimea territory at the 24-yard line. Four plays later, Largusa hauled in another touchdown, outleaping defensive back Alex Palacio for a 10-yard reception.
The point after was true and the Raiders grabbed a 14-0 lead with 46 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Midway through the second, it was Waimea’s turn to work with a short field, starting its drive at the Kaua‘i 24-yard line after a botched punt. Three Taylen Acoba rush attempts brought up 4th and inches and the Menehune elected to put points on the board. Wyatt Taniguchi’s 32-yard field goal did just that and Waimea trailed 14-3 with 6:58 to go in the first half.
Largusa again came up with a big play, this time returning the kickoff to the 50-yard line. Paleku Yasay got into the action with a 17-yard run, followed by a 26-yard touchdown pass that Workman somehow placed over two Waimea defensive backs and into the numbers of Taran Tani, making the score 21-3 with 5:17 to play in the second quarter.
The Raiders employed their pooch kickoff, something they have been doing throughout the season, and this time had it pay off as Tani came up with the bouncing ball at the Waimea 26.
They were unable to capitalize when Shea Shimabukuro’s 23-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
Kaua‘i didn’t stay off the board for long when defensive back Niko Chow stepped in front of the Jenzen Cacal pass and returned it 18 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. Shimabukuro missed the extra point, putting the score at 27-3 with 2:25 left in the half.
Kick returner Waalani-Arroyo gave Waimea a much-needed boost when he fielded the ensuing kickoff on his own 9-yard line, weaved untouched through the wedge to the middle of the field, where he was hit but not knocked to the ground. Many Kaua‘i players stopped, thinking he was down, but Waalani-Arroyo stayed moving forward and kept going down the right sideline, avoiding two more tackles to complete the 91-yard touchdown return. The 27-10 score was how the first half ended.
Kaua‘i added to its lead midway through the third quarter when Workman capped a 52-yard scoring drive with an 11-yard touchdown run up the gut, making the score 34-10 with 8:39 left in the quarter.
Later in the third, Shea Shimabukuro picked off a James Dupree pass attempt to cut off a potential Menehune opportunity.
The turnovers continued when Workman made his first mistake of the night, throwing an interception to Waimea’s Chyson Soares. On the very next play, Kele Hanohano returned the favor, picking off Waimea’s Cacal.
Acoba hauled in another Waimea pick late in the fourth quarter, as the turnovers added up in the second half on the wet field.
The Raiders finally have a week off as Waimea will hit the road to take on the Kapa‘a Warriors on Friday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park.
