LIHUE — Koloa Redskins’ Elijah Henderson hit the hole for a 65-yard gain open the fourth quarter on a high note Saturday during the Junior Peewee Level II championship game against the Ewa Saints at Vidinha Stadium.
Facing a 16-0 deficit, the Redskins need the uplifting play, but could only settle for a touchdown as quarterback Chet Pimsaguan kept the ball on a 1-yard dive for the score. The point-after snap was muffed and the Koloa JPW team had to settle for a 16-6 loss in its bid to advance to the national Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Florida, during the first week of December.
The Saints did not hesitate in getting on the scoreboard, capping its opening drive when Yoshi Furtado dove the final half-yard into the end zone with about half of the quarter chewed up on the clock. Nuu Contrades, the Saints’ quarterback, did the point-after boot for the 8-0 read with 5:07 showing on the clock.
Through the drive, the Saints were masterful, utilizing its mandatory players to satisfy the game requirements, and on third down situation, called on its first offense to gain the first down.
“We’ve been practicing since Aug. 1,” said Ewa coach Guyes Galdeira. “We didn’t know anything about Koloa, or what to expect. We get the boys to practice for anything because you can’t predict who you’ll play. It starts Aug. 1 and we prepare the entire season.”
The Saints added its second touchdown in the second quarter when Contrades hit Devon Tauaefa on a 14-yard scoring pass, Tauaefa pulling in the pigskin and getting upended at the stanchions, staying on the ground.
Contrades did the point-after boot for the 16-0 lead at the break. Tauaefa left the stadium by ambulance following his touchdown catch.
“We made some slight adjustments,” Galdeira said. “Contrades is our quarterback, but after Tauaefa’s injury, had to also work as middle linebacker.”
Elijah Henderson did the bulk of the Koloa offense, being severly limited by the Ewa defense in the second half until the fourth quarter when K0loa capitalized on Henderson’s breakout with a touchdown.
“He killed us in the first half,” Galderon said. “It was a matter of adjusting during the half. We moved Gooman Brock from noseguard to defensive tackle and that worked. But Koloa is a good team. They’re physically strong up front similar to the Koolauloa Red Raiders whom we defeated last week to get here.”
With the victory, the Ewa Saints will pack their bags and head to Orlando for the national Pop Warner Super Bowl, representing the Westcon region in the Junior Peewee, Level II.
