LIHU‘E — Saturday was the Kaua‘i version of the Super Bowl, said Bob Caset, state director of Alumni Football USA, at Vidinha Stadium.
Thousands of people, just as they did last Friday, filled both sides of the stadium which has a capacity of approximately 5,000 people, to watch the alumni football squads of Waimea and Kaua‘i High schools battle.
“I never realized Kaua‘i people would receive this so well,” Cazet said following the 43-0 romp of the Waimea troops over the Kaua‘i alumni. “Last week, we raised about $11,000 for the youth, and this week, it’s close to the same amount. Next year, we’ll plan it so each team can play each other at least once. The only catch is they need to realize they are making money to help the youth.”
Cazet said he didn’t know how the funds would be distributed, but heard recipients mentioned include the Kapa‘a Pop Warner Association, Project Grad, and others.
Tita Kuhaulua, whose father and brothers played in the Kapa‘a alumni game, said she felt some money was going to the Kapa‘a High School athletic program.
In addition to the proceeds being distributed to youth programs, the Saturday night food booth proceeds benefited the Kaua‘i All Girl Rodeo Association.
Waimea, with its 43-0 win over Kaua‘i wrapped up a successful Alumni Football USA tour through Kaua‘i following its 7-6 edge over Kapa‘a last Friday when Sean Jardin’s foot gave Waimea the margin of victory with a successful point-after boot in the final seconds of the game played before a near-capacity crowd at Vidinha Stadium.
Arthur Brun, the game announcer, said Waimea finished the Alumni Football USA tour with a perfect 2-0 record while Kapa‘a and Kaua‘i ended 0-1.
Saturday night, Jardin not only did point-after kicks, four in all, he also scored a touchdown in the third quarter, one of two notched by Waimea en route to its win. On that play, Jardin took the handoff for a four-yard charge through traffic, twisting his body in an arch to ensure the ball getting over the end zone plane with 1:52 remaining in the quarter.
Waimea asserted itself early, capping its first series of the night, fueled by Moses Fiero peeling off scores of yards, when Kai Boy Reyes got the nod for the three-yard charge into the end zone with 12:06 showing on the period.
Jardin booted the point-after for the 7-0 bulge.
Fiero got his chance for a score in the second quarter when he peeled off 49 yards for a score at the 10:39 mark, Jardin failing on this PAT for the 13-0 mark.
Coach Dino Petro of the Kaua‘i alumni felt certain the play was going to be called back on the yellow flag, but the penalty was against Kaua‘i for facemask and the touchdown stood.
With Waimea alternating its signal callers between Alan-Michael Gaspar and Niko Delos Reyes, Delos Reyes made connection with the end zone in the final 49 seconds of the first half, connecting with Kawika Smith for a 21-yard score.
Jardin booted the point-after for the 20-0 halftime lead after Smith’s touchdown was set up on a fumble recovery by Keanu Rull on the Kaua‘i 21-yard line.
Delos Reyes came back in the third quarter to connect with Micah Bermoy, the Waimea alumni special teams person, on a three-yard scoring hit with 4:26 showing in the frame, Jardin doing the PAT boot for the 27-0 lead before getting his chance to the end zone on the four-yard charge at the 1:52 mark.
Jardin’s score came on a defensive play when Cliffton Callejo plucked a Kamoi Refamonte pass on the Kaua‘i 18-yard line.
On Jardin’s score, Kenny Estes, former University of Hawai‘i Warrior football standout as a safety, was called on for the point-after, the ball going wide, but Estes, getting his share of carrying the ball on the ground, got his chance on the scoreboard when he booted a 43-yard field goal early in the fourth period for the 36-0 lead.
Aina Emayo capped the victory with less than four minutes remaining, touching the end zone and getting Jardin to do the PAT honors.
Visit www.alumnifootballusa.com for more information, or for game footage of the Kapa‘a-Waimea game from last week.
