KAPA‘A — The West O‘ahu Hammerheads exploded for four touchdowns in the second quarter en route to thrashing Kapa‘a Na Koa, 41-0, Friday night at the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium. Working under head coach Mike Ulufale, Hammerhead quarterback Jerome
KAPA‘A — The West O‘ahu Hammerheads exploded for four touchdowns in the second quarter en route to thrashing Kapa‘a Na Koa, 41-0, Friday night at the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium.
Working under head coach Mike Ulufale, Hammerhead quarterback Jerome Masiclat passed for one touchdown and tapped paydirt on a keeper. Ikaika Piceno notched two TDs on his own and the Hammerhead defense plucked two Shain Davis air balls to force the running clock.
Bruce Herbig, whose son plays with the Kaua‘i Bulldogs, was one of the fans in attendance, noting that both teams were evenly matched until late in the first quarter when the Hammerheads “kind of exploded.”
“Remember the 76-70 game against Waianae where the Kaua‘i Bulldogs came up short?” Herbig said. “These guys beat Waianae and ended up champions in their league.”
Masiclat first found Jayce Bantolina on a 72-yard hit in the second quarter with 7:53 showing in the half, gracing that score with a point-after run-in for the 14-0 bulge.
Piceno, putting the Hammerheads on the board in the first stanza with a touchdown, notched his second TD in the explosive second quarter when he broke to the outside, shedding Na Koa defenders and scoring on a 70-yard run with 3:48 showing in the half.
Josiah Mageo, who earlier in the period plucked a Davis pass for a 40-yard TD, did the point-after honors, plunging through the line for the 28-0 bulge.
But the Hammerheads were not done yet. Kainalu Fuller snared another Davis pass with 1:56 showing and ran the ball back 54 yards for the 34-0 halftime lead.
Undaunted, Na Koa came back for its share of bright spots as Austyn Carvalho-Toloai sliced off some yardage against the taller and bigger Hammerhead defense. Davis also added real estate on his option plays while on the other side of the ball, Kayden Palenapa-Likelio was bullish in his charge to Masiclat, netting a third quarter sack, and several key stops.
But the Hammerheads would not stop, Masiclat rolling out on a fourth-and-seven situation for the final score with 1:01 showing in the third quarter.
Isiah Gibson did the point-after honors triggering the running clock that saw both sides scoreless for the remainder of the match.
Ulufale and the Hammerheads rounded out its Kaua‘i tour with a match against the Kaua‘i Bulldogs, Saturday night at Hanapepe Stadium.
Brad Hiranaka, president of the KYF, said registrations for players and volunteers to help run the league are still being accepted through the www.kauaiyouthfootball.com website.
“Thank you players, parents, helpers, and supporters,” Hiranaka said. “Without you, there would be no Kaua‘i Youth Football.”
