KAPAA —Kapaa High School football kept its undefeated string of victories alive on Saturday with a convincing 58-9 victory over Waimea High School in a Kauai Intersch0lastic Federation football game played at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex.
The Warrior football program added to its homecoming celebration with a 34-7 junior varsity win over the visiting Menehubne.
Feuled by the momentum of the JV win and the excitement of homecoming in the air, the varsity Warriors claimed its first score of the evening within the first 10 ticks of the contest when quarterback Evan Daligdig connected with Kaimana Chong for a 66-yard scoring pass.
In a departure from the traditional Micah Rapozo point after touchdown (PAT) boot, Kapaa went to running back Naina Simmons for a two-point conversion for the early 8-0 bulge.
Waimea, with its sideline ranks peppered with jeans and shorts, answered on the next possession with a field goal by Shayden Ranis-Alameda Dela Cruz from the Kapaa 9-yard stripe after its attempts to break into the end zone against the Warrior defense came up short.
The game clock showed 2:58 remaining in the first quarter — sufficient time for Kapaa to peel off another touchdown when Daligdig hit the end zone at the end of 2-yard charge with 26.9 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. Rapozo returned to do the PAT boot for the 15-3 Kapaa lead at the buzzer.
Kapaa continued to churn, claiming two touchdowns in the second, third and fourth quarters, while the Warrior defense held Waimea scoreless until the fourth quarter when Menehune running back Jayden Sablan broke out of the black defense and dropped at the Warriors’ 1-yard line. Waimea signal caller Kyka Linoz claimed the score.
The second attempt at the PAT boot was blocked by Kapaa.
Leading 44-9 in the fourth quarter, Warriors’ Kamalei Gonzalves took the ensuing kickoff for a 65-yard scoring return. Bryden Sugai-Salvador did the 2-point conversion for the 52-9 lead with 8:26 remaining in the contest.
That was enough time for Kapaa to score another touchdown, when Keanu Na-O charged for 2 yards and the final Kapaa score with 44.9 seconds showing on the game clock. The PAT attempt failed.
Waimea closed the books on its 2024 season with an 0-6 league showing, 1-7 overall.
Kapaa, the KIF division leader with a 5-0 record, 5-2 overall, will face Kauai High School, 3-2 in the league, 3-4 overall, on Saturday at the Red Raiders homecoming game at Vidinha Stadium. The JV contest kicks off at noon, followed by the varsity game starting 30 minutes after the JV game.
