HANAPEPE — With three games left in the season, the Warriors secured their place in the state tournament. Kapaa High School’s varsity football team defeated Waimea, 28-0, Saturday afternoon at Hanapepe Stadium to win its second-consecutive Kauai Interscholastic Federation championship.
HANAPEPE — With three games left in the season, the Warriors secured their place in the state tournament.
Kapaa High School’s varsity football team defeated Waimea, 28-0, Saturday afternoon at Hanapepe Stadium to win its second-consecutive Kauai Interscholastic Federation championship.
“It feels good. But I also know that the guys I have behind me, that’s the guys that make this happen — the kids and the coaches,” said Warriors head coach Philip Rapozo. “Our coaches work so hard. They make my job easy.”
The Warriors special teams again made a big play. Senior defensive lineman Ola Tatofi got a hand up to block a punt and then recovered the ball on the opposing 18-yard line early in the opening quarter.
The play set up Kapaa’s first scoring drive, capped off by a 7-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Kurt Napoleon.
“It feels great. It feels good to get it done early and be able to prepare (for states),” Napoleon said. “This accomplishment means everything right now. I’m just proud of this whole team.”
“We still got to keep the pace. We cannot slow down. We just got to keep working harder,” he added.
Waimea had a shot to break Kapaa’s defensive scoreless streak in the fourth quarter. Two penalties called on the Warriors helped the Menehune get to the opposing 6-yard line.
On 4th down and 1, a pass by freshman quarterback Lacin Montemayor fell incomplete. The intended target was sophomore receiver Dylan Balaan.
“Everybody seen it. They were shutting down our run. Fourth and 1, not too many choices out there. When we make mental mistakes, we make ourselves one-dimensional. Your choices aren’t there,” said Menehune head coach Jason Caldeira about the play. “It didn’t work out, but that’s the decision I stick with. It’s a decision I stand by.”
“Congratulations to the Kapaa program and to coach Philip Rapozo,” Caldeira said about the victors. “They definitely deserve it. Just wanted to say ‘much respect.’”
Though Kapaa (6-0, 4-0 KIF) has captured its league title and has states to look forward to, Rapozo said this doesn’t mean the team can let up for its remaining games.
“We got to keep playing football. We got a lot more work ahead of us,” Rapozo said. “This is the beginning now. It’s preseason again for us, just with a different goal now. This was the first leg to that goal. That’s over, but we still got to get a lot better.”
Coincidentally, the win is also the second-consecutive in which Kapaa claimed the KIF title at Hanapepe Stadium.
“It’s funny and ironic because years ago, we couldn’t win a game in Hanapepe. Kapaa’s history way back, we had a hard time winning games over here,” Rapozo said. “We were always on the other side of that zero.”
Kapaa will next play on Saturday against Kauai High (1-5, 1-3 KIF) at Vidinha Stadium. The junior varsity game will begin at noon and the varsity will follow.
Waimea (3-4, 1-3 KIF) will host Kauai on Oct. 17 at Hanapepe Stadium for its homecoming.
1ST QUARTER
09:24 KAPAA Kurt Napoleon 7-yard run, Clifton Oliver PAT good, 7-0
00:03 KAPAA Leighton Moniz 3-yard run, Clifton Oliver PAT good, 14-0
2ND QUARTER
08:36 KAPAA Teili Fonua 22-yard reception from Kurt Napoleon, Clifton Oliver PAT good, 21-0
3RD QUARTER
06:07 KAPAA Kaohu Gutierrez-Kelly 4-yard reception from Kurt Napoleon, Clifton Oliver PAT good, 28-0
STAT LEADERS
KAPAA
Passing: Kurt Napoleon, 8-19, 91 yards, two touchdowns
Rushing: Kurt Napoleon, 11 carries, 70 yards, 1 touchdown
Receiving: Teili Fonua, 2 receptions, 31 yards, 1 touchdown
Defense: Trestin Alfiler, 7 tackles, 1 sack
WAIMEA
Passing: Lacin Montemayor, 5-16, 24 yards, 3 interceptions
Rushing: Keaka Wisneski, 3 carries, 23 yards
Receiving: Dylan Balaan, 2 receptions, 18 yards
Defense: Noah Simao-Raposas, 9 tackles
