KAPA‘A — The Lihu‘e Patriots’ Brayden Farias had the biggest stop of the day, Sunday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium. Farias, playing both sides of the ball for the Lihu‘e Junior Midgets, tripped up the Kapa‘a Eagles quarterback
KAPA‘A — The Lihu‘e Patriots’ Brayden Farias had the biggest stop of the day, Sunday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium.
Farias, playing both sides of the ball for the Lihu‘e Junior Midgets, tripped up the Kapa‘a Eagles quarterback in the end zone with just 39 ticks remaining in the half.
That resulted in a safety for a 2-0 Lihu‘e bulge, breaking up a 0-0 stalemate and becoming the margin of victory.
The intense defensive slugfest kept fans on both sides of the field engaged and coaches and players working at their maximum.
Kapa‘a got some bright spots when Brooks Bethel brought back a strong punt return, and the Eagles’ prime ball carrier, Johnny Levinthol, found some holes before being injured late in the game.
Similarly, the Patriots JM got strong ball-carrying performances from Keenan Kaluahine-Arroyo and Kekoa Kaluahine-Cacal.
The Patriots’ JM win gives them a 4-0 record in the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League and 8 points, while the Eagles suffered their first loss, dropping to 3-1 and 6 points for second place as the league wrapped up its first round.
Koloa, taking a 28-20 edge over Kekaha, Saturday at Hanapepe Stadium, fills in third place at 2-2 and 4 points, while Kekaha drops to 1-3 and 2 points. The Hanapepe Colts, enjoying a bye over the weekend, are still looking for their first win at 0-4.
During the Saturday JM encounter, Neno Costales put Kekaha on the board first on a 21-yard run early in the first quarter.
Koloa answered when Lopaka Ventura, putting four touchdowns on the board for Koloa, answered on a 7-yard charge, Jenson Hanohano giving Koloa the lead with the point-after kick, 8-6.
Then, with 1:45 remaining in the first quarter, Ventura struck again, this time on a 29-yard touchdown run with Hanohano, ending 2-4 in PATs, giving Koloa a 16-6 margin at the end of the first period.
Two scores in the final 17 seconds of the first half saw Ventura reap his third TD, this one a 70-yard return of a fumble recovery with 17 seconds showing.
But on the ensuing kickoff, Caleb Abergas took the pigskin on a 75-yard return with no time showing for the 22-12 Koloa lead.
Kekaha came back in the third period when Kyrus Rapacon found the end zone on a 5-yard charge with Jordan Baptista scoring the PAT kick for the 22-20 deficit at the 2:11 mark.
Ventura put the game away at the 5:39 mark in the final period by finding paydirt following a 61-yard romp for the 28-20 final.
Earlier Saturday, the Koloa Junior PeeWee scored three first-quarter touchdowns for its 19-0 win over Kekaha.
Ryan Banasihan found the end zone on a 10-yard run with less than a minute peeled off the game clock, followed by Brayden Miyamoto recovering a fumble and returning the ball 60 yards for Koloa’s second score at the 8:24 mark.
With 4:27 showing in the first period, Noah Sasil added a 26-yard scoring run, Noah Thompson running in the point-after for the 19-0 final.
With the win, Koloa improves to 3-1 in the standings, tied with Hanapepe and Kapa‘a. All three teams boast 6 points apiece.
Kekaha drops to 0-4, while Lihu‘e Patriots JPW, suffering a 25-0 loss to Kapa‘a, Sunday, drops to 1-3 and 2 points.
Cade Halemanu came up with two second-half touchdowns to lead the Eagles JPW in that win in Kapa‘a.
Dusten Ramseyer-Burdett opened the scorebooks in the first period with a 5-yard run at the 6:03 mark, followed by Halemanu opening the second half on a 1-yard scoring charge with 2:35 showing in the third quarter.
Tyus Camalliri pushed the Eagles ahead on a 39-yard scoring run with no time showing in the third.
Halemanu passed to Leslee Aki on the point-after for the 19-0 lead after three quarters.
With 5:49 showing in the game, Halemanu added another goal, this one a 14-yard run at the 5:49 mark for the 25-0 final.
Lihu‘e hosts Koloa at Vidinha Stadium, Saturday to open the KPWFL Second Round.
The Mitey Mites kick off at 7 a.m. followed by the JPW starting at 9 a.m. and the JM kicking off at 11 a.m.
Sunday, Hanapepe hosts Kekaha in two games at the Hanapepe Stadium.
JPW kicks off at 1 p.m., followed by the JM starting at 3:30 p.m.
Paul Pancho, president of the KPWFL, said the annual Pop Warner Cheer competition is scheduled for Oct. 17 at the Clem Gomes Gym at Waimea High School.
