HANAPEPE — Kapa‘a Eagles 14 under’s Nainoa Melchor broke open for more than 100 yards last Saturday to lead the Eagles to a 19-14 edge over the Kekaha Titans at Hanapepe Stadium.
Melchor ran for touchdowns of 40 yards and 64 yards, and booted a 26-yard field goal to wrap up the final contest of six games played in Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League action. Melchor also booted a pair of point after touchdown kicks to ice the Kapa‘a win.
The Titans answered when Ashtin Kinimaka-Aranio found Kemani Kia-Kinzie at the end of a 14-yard pass, and Jayden Sablan plowed a yard into the end zone, icing the touchdown with a successful PAT boot.
That was the second Eagles’ victory of the day following the 12 and under Eagles soaring to a 24-6 win over the Titans on shared touchdowns from Kaleb Panui (who received his own day from Mayor Derek Kawakami for his prowess on the baseball diamond), Takazee Thomas getting two scores of 5 and 13 yards, and a 44-yard breakout from Kaikea Miyashiro. Makaio Melchor added three successful PAT boots to the scoring.
Kekaha’s third loss of the day came on the 10 and under field when the Hanapepe Colts took a 25-6 win during the special eight-man format playing tackle on an 80-yard field.
The Titans got a 53-yard breakout from ‘Eleu Aguiar, only to have the Colts answer with four scores, including one when Kaleo Renaud pounced on a loose ball in the end zone. Other Colt scoring came from Logan Gonsalves on an 8-yard push, Jacoby Dotario opening up for a 13-yard run, and Caede Nitta pulling in a 31-yard scoring pass from Kimo Matsushima. Nitta also pulled in a PAT pass.
The Kapa‘a Eagles added its third win in the Cub class when the Eagles were a touchdown better than the Koloa Raiders, 18-12. In the second Cub class contest, Lihu‘e Patriots took a 32-20 win over the Hanapepe Colts.
Kekaha Titans picked up its sole win in the Bobcat contest when the Titans rolled over Kapa‘a, 30-0, on balanced scoring. Tolu Achuara opened the fireworks by pulling in a 38-yard pass from Chayden Aki, and followed that score by taking the ball from center and passing 44 yards to Teo Achuara.
Aiden Vea found the end zone at the end of a 45-yard scamper, and Andrew Apuna pushed four yards for Kekaha’s final score. Koa Wong pulled in a PAT pass, and Teo Achuara ran in a PAT.
KPWFL games move to the stadium at the Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex starting at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, with the final games kicking off at 3:30 p.m. so the stadium can be cleared by sundown because of the endangered-seabird fledging season.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
