KAPA‘A — California’s Coronado High School handed host-team Kapa‘a High School its first loss of the season last night as the Islanders won 21-0. The game ended the Warriors’ series of preseason games. In the first quarter, Islanders’ Keith Englehart
KAPA‘A — California’s Coronado High School handed host-team Kapa‘a High School its first loss of the season last night as the Islanders won 21-0.
The game ended the Warriors’ series of preseason games.
In the first quarter, Islanders’ Keith Englehart intercepted a long pass thrown by Warrior starting quarterback Chavis Kupihea. Englehart rushed 25 yards to give the Islanders good field positioning. A few plays later, Islanders quarterback Mason Mills pitched to his running back Kyle Brown for their first touchdown of the game.
Both teams had no further scores until two seconds left in the second quarter when Mills threw an 18-yard pass to tight end Blake Malkemus.
The Islanders opted not to attempt the extra point, but instead successfully ran the two-point conversion.
The last-minute plays obviously didn’t phase them because they faced a similar situation towards the end of the game. With 40 seconds left, on the quarterback keep, Mills rushed two yards on the play for their final touchdown of the night.
But both teams had trouble holding onto the ball. They combined for a total seven fumbles.
Kapa‘a’s Joseph Velasco had a good game coming up with two interceptions, one being a 45-yard return.
The game almost ended on a penalty against the Warriors when Kapa‘a was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct call during the remaining seconds.
The clock ran out, but Kapa‘a was granted one more play. They were unable to capitalize on it and the game was over.
Kapa‘a will play in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season opener next week when it plays Kaua‘i High School at the Vidinha Stadium in Lihu‘e.
• Lanaly Cabalo, sports editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.