Waimea finishes strong, edges Kaua’i

Precision, efficiency and execution helped the Kaua’i football team claim the 2003 KIF title with a 5-0 record.

On Friday night at Vidinha Stadium, it was a different story for the Red Raiders on their Homecoming for most of the first half of the conference finale.

Waimea took advantage of two Kaua’i turnovers in the first 24 minutes of action in building a 20-0 lead.

However, the Red Raiders stormed back in the second half and cut the margin to seven points in the fourth quarter before Waimea’s defense forced two critical turnovers to seal the deal en route to a 20-13 win.

On their first possession of the game, Kaua’i turned the ball over as Kekoa Crowell’s initial pass was intercepted and the Menehunes cashed in on the miscue.

Jordan Dizon fired a 46-yard scoring pass to Casey Barba on a trick play to give Waimea (4-2 in the KIF) a 7-0 edge.

The Menehunes extended the edge out to 13 points after John Palacio (6-of-24 passes for 108 yards and an interception) hit Justin Estes with a 7-yard touchdown pass at the 8:41 mark of the second quarter.

Less than a minute later, the Menehunes’ cushion moved out to 20 points after Lanikai Kanahele rumbled in from five yards out.

The Red Raiders (5-1 in the KIF) got on the scoreboard early in the third quarter as Kevin Cadiente scored from eight yards out to cut the Waimea margin to 14 points.

Kaua’i then closed the gap to seven points at the 9:30 mark of the final period when Crowell (12-of-35 passes for 201 yards and 3 interceptions) plunged in from 1-yard out.

The Red Raiders had two possessions inside the Waimea 50-yard line in the final minutes of the game but could not get on the scoreboard.

For the game, the Red Raiders totaled 274yards while Waimea finished with 196 yards.