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As far as the Kapolei Hurricanes are concerned, Saturday was Day 1 and they are unbeaten.
It’s true enough after a 46-0 rout of Waianae. No. 9 Kapolei limited the visiting Seariders to 36 total yards in the first half in a pristine defensive performance.
Kapolei is 3-2 overall and 1-0 in OIA Open Division play. Waianae dropped to 0-4 (0-2 OIA Open). Sophomore Noa Bailey was on target often enough, passing for 360 yards and three TDs. Two of his scoring strikes went to Ikari Stokes, 37 and 16 yards.
The ’Canes showed no ill effects of jet lag. They returned from a successful road trip, beating Downey (Calif.) 23-14 last weekend.
“The kids were excited about tonight, the first league game. The first four games were practice games, which is a good thing for us,” coach Darren Hernandez said. “We lost our quarterback (Christian Rapis) and Noa has really come along.”
The game plan was to run more, but Waianae’s front seven limited Kapolei to 67 rushing yards on 21 carries.
“We had kept it very close to the vest and we ran the ball (in earlier games), but this Waianae defense is very tough against the run,” Hernandez said. “We weren’t able to bust off big runs, but we’re very happy with Noa and his presence. He’s very calm.”
Kapolei’s defense came up with five interceptions and four sacks, three of them by Kevin Burkel.
After exchanging turnovers early in the game, Kapolei got on the scoreboard during its third series. Bailey’s screen pass to Stokes turned into a 37-yard TD with 3:41 left in the first quarter.
Moments later, Kapolei’s Junior Heloca hustled down the left sideline to recover a surprise onside kick at the Waianae 48. Four plays later, Bailey launched a spiral to Elijah Badoyen on a corner route, and Badoyen turned his over-the-shoulder catch into a 46-yard TD. Kapolei led 14-0 with 2:35 to go in the opening quarter.
Waianae’s best drive of the first half came up empty. The visitors drove to the 6, and on fourth down, the quarterback tripped as he dropped back to pass. Running back Kaai Tambaoan-Kaeo scooped the ball up, avoided the pass rush and lofted the ball to Zefften Thompson-Avilla, who nearly scored before being tackled at the 1.
Kapolei followed with a 14-play drive, aided by two Waianae offside calls. Micah Fonoti’s 24-yard field goal opened the lead to 17-0 with 2:40 left in the first half.
After limiting Waianae to 36 yards of total offense in the first half, Kapolei forced another three-and-out to begin the second half. Kapolei drove 57 yards in eight plays, scoring on a 16-yard toss from Bailey to Stokes, who was wide open at the goal line for his second TD. The Hurricanes led 24-0 with 9:04 to go in the third.
The home team tacked on a 32-yard field goal, Fonoti’s second, with 4:29 left in the third.
The ’Canes closed out the game with a pair of interception returns for touchdowns. One was by linebacker Bubba White on a 35-yard pick-6. The other was by highly recruited ’backer Peni Naulu, who raced 19 yards to paydirt with his pick. In between, freshman QB Mason Gomez connected with Keoki Kaluhiwa on a 21-yard scoring strike.
GAME SUMMARY
Kapolei 46, Waianae 0
At Kapolei
>> Waianae (0-4, 0-2) 0 0 0 0 — 0
>> Kapolei ( 3-2, 1-0) 14 3 10 19 — 46
Kapolei — Ikari Stokes 37 pass from Noa Bailey (Micah Fonoti kick)
Kapolei — Elijah Badoyen 46 pass from Bailey (Fonoti kick)
Kapolei — Fonoti FG 24
Kapolei — Stokes 16 pass from Bailey (Fonoti kick)
Kapolei — Fonoti FG 32
Kapolei — Bubba White 35 interception return (kick blocked)
Kapolei — Keoki Kaluhiwa 21 pass from Mason Gomez (kick blocked)
Kapolei — Peni Naulu 19 interception return (Fonoti kick)
RUSHING — Waianae: Kaai Tambaoan-Kaeo 10-16, Shaydan Lopes 9-(-6), Jonathan Nunes 3-0, Elijah Lujan 3-(-8), Zefften Thompson-Avilla 2-1, Joshua Nahulu 1-15,Shaun Kekahuna-Kailikea 1-2, Kevin Poepoe 1-(-1), Malik Brown 1-(-4). Kapolei: Ezekiel Waiolama 10-17, Bailey 1-8, Zion-Jabez Robello 4-49, Gomez 2-(-5),Christian Rapis 2-0, Dustin Lino-Adkins 2-(-2).
PASSING — Waianae: Lopes 12-24-4-95, Kevin Poepoe 1-3-1-3, Tamboan-Kaeo 1-1-0-4. Kapolei: Bailey 19-39-2-360, Gomez 1-2-0-22, Rapis 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — Waianae: Kenneth Joseph Jr. 7-47, Brown 3-9, Chad Pule 1-11, Thompson-Avilla 1-4, Laakea Lapastora 1-17, Lujan 1-14. Kapolei: Stokes 5-110,De’Zhaun Stribling 4-50, Sinai-Taheed Robello 3-52, Waiolama 2-48, Keoki Kaluhiwa 2-47, Sheldon McLeod 2-22, Badoyen 1-46, Zion-Jabez Robello 1-7.
* JV — Waianae 40, Kapolei 10
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