HANAPEPE — Friday night’s game in Hanapepe could not be described as anything else but a thriller. Both the Kapa‘a Warriors and Waimea Menehune defenses played fantastic — not allowing any points to be scored through the first three quarters of play. It took fourth quarter heroics and more fantastic defensive plays to cement Waimea with the 14-7 win over the Warriors.
An 11-play, 77-yard drive from the Menehune finally broke through to get points on the board and put Waimea in a commanding position early in the fourth quarter.
The drive was propelled by running back Kyren Rapacon who carried the majority of the workload on the ground for the Menehune with 140-yards rushing on 30 carries, both Kyrus Rapacon and Darrin Fernandez had big carries late in the drive for Waimea as well. Finally the drive was capped off by a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Hazzard McDougall to tight end Koa Luce-Yamamoto. Kicker Wyatt Taniguchi was able to convert the extra point, which gave the Menehune a 7-0 lead.
Both defenses would tighten up yet again, until the Kapa‘a Warriors were able to capitalize on a Menehune fumble, which left the Warriors at the Waimea 33-yard line. Aided by a 12-yard shovel-pass from quarterback Fresno Masaniai to running back Cory Somera-Payomo and a 17-yard scamper by Masaniai, the Warriors found themselves at third and goal with less than three minutes to play.
Masainiai would drop back to pass from 5-yards out and find wide receiver Reece Hickse-Whetsel in the back corner of the endzone for the score. Kicker Jonathan Paleka would go on to convert the extra point tying the game at seven a piece.
Just when it appeared to be a brand new ball game, Paleka kicked off from his own 40-yard line, which was received by defensive back Destin Miguel at the Waimea 10-yard line. Miguel appeared to be heading straight up the field until he suddenly changed directions and headed toward the sideline and turned the corner for a miraculous 90-yard touchdown, which would completely change the outlook on the game. Taniguchi would convert the extra point making it 14-7 in favor of the Menehune.
The Kapa‘a Warriors would get the ball back trailing by seven, but with enough time to attempt to go for a tie. Masaniai would open the drive up by completing a 12-yard pass to wide receiver J.J. Alonzo for the first down. Then with the ball on its own 43-yard line, Masaniai would drop back to pass and sling the ball down the right side of the field, only to watch Waimea defensive back Derek Callejo pluck the ball from the air and effectively negate any chance of a Kapa‘a comeback leaving he Waimea Menehune with the win and a three-way tie for first place.
Oddly enough Kapa‘a led in most offensive categories including first downs and passing yards, but Waimea won the turnover battle only turning it over once compared to the three for Kapa‘a. Waimea was also dominant on the ground racking up 163-yards of total rushing.
Paleka had a rough night kicking for the Warriors as he missed a 36-yard field goal short while kicking into the wind in the second quarter. He then missed a 40-yard field goal wide left late in the third quarter, which could have changed the outcast of the game for Kapa‘a.
Masaniai threw for 163 yards passing on 10 of 21 attempts with a touchdown, but also had two interceptions.
Una Masaniai, Dustyn De Silva and Shiloh Begley were some of the stand out defenders for the Warriors.
For the Menehune defensive unit, Nohili Kahepuu was around the ball often and tallied nine total tackles. To go along with his touchdown return Miguel also came up with a crucial interception as well.
The win takes the Menehune to 1-1 on the season, setting up a three-way tie as Waimea sets up for a rematch against the Kaua‘i High Red Raiders (1-1) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
The Kapa‘a Warriors fall to 1-1 and have the bye as they also prepare for the Red Raiders on Saturday Sept. 29 at 4:30 p.m.
• Rick Killeen, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext.237) or sports@thegardenisland.com.
