KAPAA — Since falling short in the semifinals of last year’s Division II tournament, the goal was to get to the championship game. The ultimate objective is to be the first team in Kauai Interscholastic Federation history to bring a
KAPAA — Since falling short in the semifinals of last year’s Division II tournament, the goal was to get to the championship game.
The ultimate objective is to be the first team in Kauai Interscholastic Federation history to bring a football state championship to the Garden Isle.
Accomplishing just that is now at the fingertips of the Warriors.
“I think this is a well-anticipated game. Everybody through the preseason, after the preseason was done and by midseason, everybody projected that this matchup would come,” said Kapaa varsity head coach Philip Rapozo. “I think for the coaches, we worry about that more. The players just want to play football.
“That’s the great thing. They’re not concerned about they’re both undefeated. They just know that that’s the team that in the way of the prize,” he added.
Kapaa (9-0) will take on Radford of the Oahu Interscholastic Association today in the championship game of the First Hawaiian Bank Football Championships–Division II state tournament. The D2 title game is set for 4:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
Both Kapaa and Radford are unbeaten up to this point and are aiming to secure the first football state title in each school’s history.
“They (Radford) are a big, physical team, well-coached, and I guess you can say experienced because they’ve played in the stadium,” Rapozo said. “I think they’re just as hungry as we are. You know the saying, ‘Who wants it more?’ It doesn’t mean anything in this game. I think every team in this championship, the Division II and Division I teams, wants it more than anything else on Friday.”
Two of Kapaa starters, junior quarterback Kurt Napoleon and senior running back Kekoa Kaluahine-Cacal, were injured during last week’s semifinal game versus Lahainaluna of the Maui Interscholastic League. Rapozo said both have been cleared and will start today.
“Both of them are fine,” Rapozo said. “We feel good about that.”
Napoleon, who injured his wrist on his non-throwing arm in the opening drive against Lahainaluna, said though it was a letdown to get hurt in the semifinal game, he was glad to know he’s well enough to play for the title.
“It was a big relief. I was kind of worried that I wouldn’t be able to play this game, especially (because of) how hard we’ve worked starting from March,” the junior quarterback said. “I’m glad it’s not my throwing hand, otherwise I wouldn’t be playing this game. I’m just grateful it’s not my throwing hand.”
Kapaa defeated Lahainaluna, 24-0, and Radford (12-0) topped Konawaena of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, 48-46, to set up the Division II final.
Prior to last week’s game, however, the Rams have not given up more than 14 points in a game and have three defensive shutouts.
“For us, we got to rely on our speed. We also just got to play, like I said, execution,” Rapozo said about attacking the Rams’ defense. “We pretty much got to play mistake-free football. That’s always the goal in every game.”
“We’re here. We made it. We cannot waste this opportunity,” Napoleon added. “I don’t think being big is the key factor in football. I think it’s just a mindset — being able to get past that mental (block). Just looking past that and do what we’ve been doing this whole season.”
As for slowing down Radford’s offense, which averaged about 44 points a game this year including a 74-point performance in September, Rapozo said the defense has to do what he says the coaches have advocated all season — play assignments well.
Kapaa’s defense hasn’t given up points since the team played Lahainaluna in the preseason in August.
“Assignment football, man. That’s the biggest thing right there,” he said. “Everybody do their job. Don’t worry about the guy next to you. He’ll do his job. Trust the guy next to you, and do your job. If we do that, our defense will be in good shape.”
Warriors senior defensive lineman Ola Tatofi added the team has eased up on drills in practices this week to be healthy on Friday.
“We’re doing more mental reps than hitting because the coaches care about our bodies,” he said. “Just watching film and doing mental reps.”
“I’m feeling good. Excited. I’ve never played in Aloha Stadium in my life. This is the first time,” Tatofi added. “Our coaches tell us to just stay disciplined, and that’s what we’re trying to do. Just watch the key players, and everything will be fine after that.”
As for when the Warriors take the field under the bright lights of Aloha Stadium, Rapozo said he doesn’t expect his players to feel jitters come kickoff.
“We’ll get to the stadium early. We’ll do some walkthroughs, walk around the field and look at the stands. I’ll let them just get it all out before the game,” he said. “We’ll remind them, and we already are, it’s the same-sized football field that we play at Vidinha, Hanapepe and in Kapaa. It’s just a field with lines. It doesn’t matter what’s around it. Everything happens on the field. Let’s just play football — play Kapaa Warrior football.”
