LIHU‘E — Losing so many players from last season’s Division II runner-up squad did not have a visible effect on the Red Raiders, as they came out quickly and held on late for a 27-15 victory over the Kamehameha-Big Island
LIHU‘E — Losing so many players from last season’s Division II runner-up squad did not have a visible effect on the Red Raiders, as they came out quickly and held on late for a 27-15 victory over the Kamehameha-Big Island Warriors in Saturday night’s preseason opener at Vidinha Stadium.
The Kapa‘a Warriors headed off island to notch a pair of victories in their junior varsity and varsity openers, picking up the afternoon pair against Kalani at Kaiser High School. The JV came away with a 45-14 win, while varsity rolled to a 54-0 final.
The Waimea Menehune came out on the short end of a 42-14 finish against 2009 Div. II semifinalist Hawai‘i Prep on the Big Island, one of the favorites to make a run an Aloha Stadium appearance. Alika Emayo got the Menehune on the board in the fourth quarter with an 80-yard touchdown run, followed by a 47-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Tangalin. Emayo had 27 carries for 180 yards on the night.
Both Kapa‘a and Waimea will head back to Kaua‘i for their second preseason matchups this weekend. Kapa‘a will be at home Friday against Lethbridge from Canada, Waimea will be in Hanapepe on Saturday to face Hilo.
Kaua‘i High School, coming off a 10-1 season and perfect 6-0 Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation record, got standout performances from Shea Shimabukuro and Kele Hanohano, its new starting quarterback/running back duo. Shea takes over under center from all-KIF performer Trey Shimabukuro, while Hanohano gets the full-time duties this season after the departure of Paleku Yasay.
Hanohano’s dominant night consisted of 228 yards rushing, 345 all-purpose yards.
Kaua‘i got on the board first with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Darren Acoba. Shimabukuro faked to the running back, rolled right and hit his receiver crossing across the middle. Acoba took it to the pylon for the season’s first score.
Hanohano had aided the drive by first returning a punt 32 yards into Kamehameha territory, then picking up 24 yards on a run up the middle.
Head coach Derek Borrero showed confidence in his new unit’s grasp of the offense, as the team went to the no-huddle early in the contest. They also added a shotgun look while lining up a running back behind the quarterback, as well as a two-back look in the shotgun with one back deep.
After a missed extra point, Kamehameha immediately took back the lead on an 89-yard kickoff return by Tavon Pegues. The Warriors faked the PAT and ran in the two-point conversion to grab an 8-6 lead with 6:37 left in the first.
The Raiders struck back as Shimabukuro again used the play action to confuse the Warriors defense. He faked to the back, then rolled left with another back in an option look. The quarterback kept the ball and used a good block from his wide receiver to rumble 61 yards for the go-ahead score.
Caitlyn Rapozo came on for the extra-point duties and remained in that role the rest of the night as Kaua‘i took a 13-8 lead.
The Raiders added to it with a solid drive, resulting in a three-yard touchdown plunge by Hanohano. Wide receiver Kevin Reyes had a 21-yard reception and Austin Oshiro had a 19-yard catch to convert a third down. Kaua‘i led 20-8 with 1:11 to play in the first quarter.
After another Kamehameha three and out, Hanohano added to his night with a 65-yard touchdown to up the lead to 27-8 at the 11:35 mark of the second quarter.
The gap was narrowed late in the half as Kamehameha took advantage of a Kaua‘i fumble on its own 20-yard line. A 20-yard strike from Kyan Catton to Pegues made it a 27-15 game with 2:05 to play in the second.
Kaua‘i was not as sharp in the second half, with a missed field goal, a lost fumble and two passes thrown that likely should have been intercepted, but the Raiders’ defense continued to stifle Kamehameha’s offensive unit.
Neither team added to its first-half total, though the Warriors managed to force an Acoba fumble and return the recovery to the Kaua‘i 23-yard line, but a penalty and a sack ended their scoring chances as the Raiders took over on downs.
NOTES: Shimabukuro took almost all the snaps, except for a short period when he was banged up, as Hanohano took a few, as did Trey Aguano… Kaua‘i’s Michael Kahoekapu-Cruz got into the backfield on numerous occasions and recorded multiple sacks. Kaimana Wilson and Cameron Bargamento also got to the quarterback for losses.
