The Hanapepe Colts Junior Midget team posted a 38-14 win over the Mexi Cali Zorros to earn the crown in the Southern Nevada Pop Warner Silver Bowl in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dec. 5. “We got to play just one game
The Hanapepe Colts Junior Midget team posted a 38-14 win over the Mexi Cali Zorros to earn the crown in the Southern Nevada Pop Warner Silver Bowl in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dec. 5.
“We got to play just one game because of the effort to get to Las Vegas,” said Hanapepe Colts JM coach Kyle Linoz. “We were one of the teams who traveled the farthest to get to the Silver Bowl so they gave us a bye and we got to play the winners.”
The Colts earned the eligibility by winning their division game during the Kauai Pop Warner Football League schedule along with the Lihue Patriots.
The Zorros earned eligibility by winning a 10-team playoff against teams from Arizona, California and Las Vegas.
“The game was fast-paced,” Linoz said.
The Colts scored in the first and second quarters and added more scores in the third and fourth periods. The Zorros made their scores in the fourth quarter.
Wailani Kawahalau led the Colts by rushing for three touchdown. Kawelo Huddy rushed for a touchdown and kicked three extra points.
Quarterback Kahanu Davis passed for a touchdown to Benjamin Sommer. Degan Davis, another Colt QB, passed to Wendell Batangan for a PAT and another to Makoa Vanaman for a PAT.
Following the game, the Colts presented goodie bags containing Kauai products to Zorros players, staff and families.
For many of the Colt players, this was the first time traveling to the Mainland. Linoz said the KPWFL student athletes were taken on an excursion to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus where they were given tours of the university’s athletic, dormitory, and academic facilities.
Following the championship game, the Colts spent a day at Lee Canyon, many of them enjoying snow for the first time.
Pam Arroyo, KPWFL president, said the Lihue Patriots were not as fortunate, dropping their match in Las Vegas, but managing to score against their opponents. The Lihue Patriots Junior Midget cheerleaders, competing in the Pop Warner National Dance and Cheer competition in Orlando, Florida, finished eighth in their division.
