Kapa‘a High School got on the board first, but was overpowered by the Kaua‘i JV squad in its 34-6 loss Friday. A Warrior fumble recovery in the red zone effectively stymied Kaua‘i’s opening drive that moved along through a combination
Kapa‘a High School got on the board first, but was overpowered by the Kaua‘i JV squad in its 34-6 loss Friday.
A Warrior fumble recovery in the red zone effectively stymied Kaua‘i’s opening drive that moved along through a combination of pass plays from QB Trey Shimabukuro and the ground pounding of Paleku Yasay.
But that exchange was only the first of three as the pigskin changed hands three times in as many snaps to set the pace for the game.
Kapa‘a opened the scorebooks when Jonathan Yam intercepted a Shimabukuro aerial on the Kaua‘i 41-yard line. The Warriors capped that drive with a 2-yard plunge into the end zone by Davin Chong with 1:30 showing in the first quarter.
That opening score only served to irritate the Red Raiders who came back to answer with four touchdowns by Yasay, the first coming early in the second quarter on a 15-yard scamper.
Taran Tani’s interception, his first of two in the game, on the ensuing Kapa‘a possession set up Yasay’s second TD, a 25-yard gallop at the 8:25 mark, just a minute and five seconds following his Raider ice-breaker.
Travis Koga set up the third score by pouncing on a loose pigskin at the Kapa‘a 29-yard line to set up the next scoring drive that saw Yasay tap paydirt on a 3-yard run. In the drive that ended at the 6:01 mark, Yasay took the pigskin on a 15-yard run to the Kapa‘a 3-yard line to set up the score.
Turnovers continued to plague the greenshirted Warriors as Jonathan Abigania corralled another loose ball at the Kaua‘i 36-yard line with 2:38 showing in the half.
Tanner Rivera pulled in a Shimabukuro air delivery on the Kapa‘a 48-yard line to set the stage for Yasay’s fourth TD, a 48-yarder with 1:10 showing in the half.
Point-after kicks by Arjay Honorato accounted for the 28-6 showing at the half.
Kaua‘i iced the victory late in the game, breaking up a defensive slugfest in the second half when Shimabukuro found Cameron Largusa on a 28-yard connection in the fourth period.
Kaua‘i travels to the Hanapepe Stadium Friday night to meet the JV Menehune, who watched the proceedings from the top level of the bleachers on the visitors’ side of the field. Kickoff is 5 p.m. followed by the varsity contest kicking off at 7:30 p.m.
Anahola Joel Pahukula and his statistician staff will be broadcasting the varsity contest on KQNG AM570.
