When the Kapa‘a High School Warriors open the KIF 2003 football season this Friday, there will already be at least two representatives from Kaua‘i island who will be vying for part of the state football title later this year. Defending
When the Kapa‘a High School Warriors open the KIF 2003 football season this Friday, there will already be at least two representatives from Kaua‘i island who will be vying for part of the state football title later this year.
Defending KIF champion Waimea High School earlier this summer elected to represent Division II in the realigned state football scheduling, while Kapa‘a and Kaua‘i both elected to play in Division I.
This is the first time in recent KIF history that Kaua‘i has had more than a single representative to the state football playoffs.
Mindless of the controversy that swirls about these decisions, Waimea will automatically advance to their Division II berth leaving Kapa‘a and Kaua‘i to fight for rights to represent Kaua‘i’s Division I entry.
All of this represents a significance to Friday night’s KIF opener as the Warriors and Red Raiders will get to test their troops, and hopefully, gain an advantage towards advancing to the state playoffs.
Kapa‘a may have lost their contest to Kamehameha on Saturday night, but not without laying down. Working against a mere 18-yard showing in the first half, the Kapa‘a Warriors turned to their number 3 QB Bronson Yadao who made things happen for Kapa‘a.
Number 3? Starting QB Kai Lopez couldn’t. Number 2 QB Kalima Leong couldn’t. It was Yadao who made the 26-yard scoring hit to Brian Merkel to prevent a shutout. Totally, Kapa‘a reaped 56 passing yards, all in the second half.
On the ground, the Warriors showed nice running in the guise of Devin Machado who scored an earlier TD in their win against Waialua.
“He sure can run,” one of the sideline coaches noted of Frank Rivera, a junior who took one of the early touches in the Kamehameha matchup Saturday.
But, it was Lance Taniguchi-Fu who ended up with the 20-yard pickup (mostly in the second half) for Kapa‘a on nine carries. This kind of short charge is the difference between a first down or no against a quick Kaua‘i defense.
There was the spectacular Trevor Espina run, breaking out for a 30-yard pickup on a fourth-and-23 situation in the final quarter giving Kapa‘a a first down on a high risk gamble.
Isaac Miyashiro and Falcon Valeria sparked the Kapa‘a defensive units, homing in on Kamehameha’s Jason Rego who pounded out yard after yard.
Making all of this happen is head coach Wes Kaui who returns to command the 43-member Kapa‘a varsity squad with a capable staff comprised of Steven Kaui, Mahiai Naihe, Lawala Naihe, Paul Hurley, Solomon Torio, Cornel Lum, Sia Salausa, Ben Kuhaulua and Dan Sheldon.
Finally, the glue that holds everything together is the heart of team manager Tita Kuhaulua who does more than keep stats, keep the water bottles filled, and the numerous other odds and ends that need tending in the heat of battle.
Always finding time, Tita, whose dad Ben is one of the Kapa‘a coaches, draws on her experience of being a cheerleader to coax, encourage, and cajole the boys motoring to their peak form, sometimes peeking from between bodies of players and coaches on the sidelines.
Game time is 5 p.m. for the JV game with the varsity contest kicking off at 7:35 p.m.
The game will be aired live on KONG Am570 with Joel Pahukula, and televised on a delay basis on the JK Show with J Robertson doing the play-by-play.
Television airing is scheduled for Sundays following the Friday night contest on Channel 6.
