LIHU‘E — Facing a 28-0 deficit in the fourth quarter Saturday, a lone touchdown by Kaua‘i High prevented a shutout by the Kapa‘a High Warriors during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football games at Vidinha Stadium.
Taking the kickoff resulting from a 15-yard touchdown run by Kapa‘a’s Keanu Na-O, the Red Raiders capped 70-yard drive with a 2-yard charge by quarterback Racen Pegeder with just a little more than five minutes remaining in the game that was played earlier in the day in order to have its festivities honoring 13 Red Raider seniors following regulation play ahead of nightfall.
Kaua‘i High School senior Austin Renaud did the point-after touchdown honors for the 28-7 final arithmetic.
But the fireworks were not over with five minutes remaining on the game clock.
At the 3:18 mark, Kapa‘a’s Moli Pahulu plucked a Pegeder pass and ran the pigskin back 30 yards to paydirt. Unseen by the ball carrier, the Warriors were assessed a blocking behind the back infraction and the touchdown was called back to the Raiders’ 39-yard line.
Kaua‘i senior Reyson Goais-Abrigo plucked a Kapa‘a airball on the Warriors’ second attempt at the end zone, and the Red Raiders were rejuvenated with 3:13 remaining in the contest.
The Red Raiders drove to the Warriors’ 46-yard line, where Jayden Yamashita snuffed any remaining Kaua‘i hope of scoring by intercepting a Pegeder pass on the Kapa‘a 33-yard line before the clock ran out.
Earlier in the contest, Kapa‘a scored two touchdowns in the first half, and added another pair of scores in the second half to spoil Kaua‘i’s senior festivities.
Warrior quarterback Kapono Na-O opened the scoreboard on a short keeper touchdown run in the second quarter, and a long punt return by Nainoa Simmons-Kaohelauli‘i saw Kapa‘a take a 14-0 lead into the locker room at the break.
A key defensive play came when Warrior Eli Keoho stripped the ball from the Red Raider ball carrier and ran the captured pigskin to paydirt to open the fourth quarter that meant a 20-0 bulge after the PAT kick failed.
On the ensuing kickoff, Kaua‘i fumbled the return, with Kapa‘a recoving the fumble on the Raiders’ 24-yard line to set up the final Kapa‘a score that came with Keanu Na-O carrying the ball to paydirt.
Kaua‘i next travels to Hanapepe Stadium to meet Waimea High School, which will be celebrating not only its senior game, but Homecoming as well. Kickoff time for the junior varsity game is scheduled for noon, with the varsity taking the field 30 minutes following the completion of the JV contest.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
