HANAPEPE – In the time it takes for the referee to reach for the yellow hanky in his back pocket, Kapa’a players and fans swung from ecstasy to empty. In that split second, one man in a striped shirt stripped
HANAPEPE – In the time it takes for the referee to reach for the yellow hanky
in his back pocket, Kapa’a players and fans swung from ecstasy to empty.
In
that split second, one man in a striped shirt stripped Warriors running back
Dahson Gonzales of a 66-yard touchdown run. It was an effort that would’ve tied
Friday night’s KIF battle between Kapa’a (1-2, KIF) and Waimea (3-0) at seven –
extra point assumed – with four minutes remaining in the game.
But holding
was the call. And in that instant, the KIF season, for all intents and
purposes, ended.
The Menehunes’ Ikaika Cabral drove the ball in for an
insurance TD with under one minute remaining to leave the final score 14-0.
Junior Chesley Barba scored Waimea’s first touchdown, a three-yard sweep,
at the 9:32 mark of the second quarter.
The performances of each team’s
featured running back and defense were the evening’s prevailing themes.
As
usual, Waimea proved nearly impenetrable early, holding Kapa’a to just 12
first-half yards. But Gonzales, behind the stellar play of the Warriors’
offensive line, found a hole or two in the second half. The junior finished
with 56 yards on 16 carries. It was Waimea’s fourth shutout of the
season.
Equally as impressive was the Warriors’ defense. Waimea running
back Jessie Sablan, making his first appearance of the 2000 KIF season, did
rumble 120 yards on 27 carries, but not without a fight. The Menehunes gained
199 yards total on the night.
As crushing as the holding penalty was for
Kapa’a, the Warriors must look elsewhere for their downfall – turnovers. Kapa’a
fumbled six times, losing three, and quarterback Dustin Mundon was intercepted
twice.
Magnifying the pain, two of Kapa’a’s fumbles slipped free inside the
15-yard line. The second led to Barba’s score.
Of course, Waimea was not
without mental mistakes. The Menehunes were penalized 12 times for 80 yards on
the game. But 11 of those flags were thrown in the opening half, allowing
Kapa’a decent field position often.
Cabral rushed 10 times for 28 yards.
Josh May, the Menehunes’ first option with Sablan sidelined, carried once for
two yards.
Waimea QB Nikko Naumu ended 2-of-11 for 43 yards. Mundon was
1-for-8 for 17 yards.
Waimea 14, Kapa’a 00
Waimea 7
0 0 7 14
Kapa’a 0 0 0
0 00
Scoring summary
Waimea – Chesley Barba 3 run; A.
Agan kick
Waimea – Cabral 4 run; A. Agan kick
The Vital
Stats
Team Stats Menehunes Warriors
1st Downs
8 9
Total Yards 199 102
Rushing
43-156 29-85
Passing 2-11-0-43
1-8-2-17
Punting 7-35 6-32
Fumbles-lost 1-0
6-3
Penalties-Yards 12-80 5-40
By DENNIS FUJIMOTO,
Staff
