A new quarterback, a new offense, a stifling defense and some pass protection.
Either Jeckyl fed the Kauai Cowboys his famous Hyde potion, or the team which started the Hawaii Football League at 0-3 have figured a way to mold a successful football program in just one week.
New gun Andre Kamanao completed 17 of 42 passes for 317 yards on Saturday to lift the Cowboys to a 30-6 drubbing of the Kihea Heat and its first win of the regular season.
The Cowboys, who never led in a game this year until their first touchdown on Saturday, improved to 1-3; the Heat fell to 1-2.
Having Kamanao at the helm breathed new life into an otherwise stagnate Cowboy offense. His arm was money. His accuracy impeccable, and his presence allowed for Kaua’i’s previous quarterbacks, Kia Hale and Terry Noice, to make big plays on the receiving end.
Noice caught 7 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown; Hale caught five passes for 66 yards and one touchdown; Kawika Parangan caught one pass for 73 yards and one touchdown; and Keoni Ah Loo caught two passes for 37 yards.
Kamanao was given more time to breathe from a much improved offensive line, and the Cowboy’s defensive line swarmed the Heat offense, causing shanked throws to turn into interceptions.
Marshall Ah Loo was the recipient of three of those interceptions, each of which he ran back for sizeable gains.
The scoring didn’t start until the second quarter.
Kamanao threw a beam to Kia Hale from 11-yards out to score the game’s first touchdown. A two-yard throw to Hale completed the extra-point attempt, and the Cowboys led 8-0 with 5:48 remaining in the half.
Moments later, Marshall Ah Loo ran back an interception for 47-yards, and the Cowboys were back in the red-zone.
From there, Al Ah Loo took a lateral pass 12-yards into the end-zone for the Cowboy’s second score of the day.
Kaua’i led 16-0 after Noice’s reception for extra points.
The Cowboys weren’t through scoring in the second half.
A 57-yard bomb from Kamanao to Noice landed Kaua’i back in Heat territory – this time on the three-yard line. Noice finished off the scoring for the half with a clutch touchdown reception, and the Cowboys rolled to 22-0 lead.
The Heat had an answer in the third period – a 22-yard touchdown run which closed the gap to 22-6.
But the Cowboys wouldn’t roll over.
A 29-yard reception to Hale and a clipping penalty on Kihea wasn’t enough incentive for a touchdown.
No matter, only one play following a turnover on downs, Marshall Ah Loo stunned the Heat quarterback for a sack and put two more points on the board for Kaua’i.
And since the Cowboys were reeling over their new-found offensive success, they figured they ought to seal the deal – this time with a 73-yard touchdown reception to running back Kawika Parangan.
The Cowboys will take their new-look football team to the Big Island next Saturday to face the Waiakea Rage at 1 p.m.
