HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Explosive Kaimuki overpowers Roosevelt
A little thunder and lightning separated the two resurgent programs at the top of the Oahu Interscholastic Association White division.
The dichotomy of Kaimuki's offense proved too much for Roosevelt in a lopsided 34-13 win on the Rough Riders' homecoming night. The Bulldogs' diminutive dynamo, Justin Paderes, nickel-and-dimed the home team for 202 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns, often following blocks from a massive offensive line that had its way with the Roosevelt defense.
Kaimuki (5-1, 5-0) is in control of the division race.
The 5-foot-5 junior gained 116 rushing yards and a touchdown in the first half, and rebounded from a tweaked left foot to score again to help his team pull away in the third period.
"I gotta thank my linemen and my fullback (Tavita Aholeilei)," Paderes said. "That's how it's been the whole season. A lot of (people) do underestimate me. They think they can take me down easy, then they trip out."
A pair of Roosevelt gambles failed to pay off in the first half, preventing it from making up the disadvantage against the Kaimuki offensive line. Quarterback Kapono Kaiwi-Barrionnebo assisted Paderes with 70 yards through the air and a touchdown to Romnick Paguraya in the second half.
"Physically, they just beat us up, and that was very evident," Roosevelt coach Lester Parrilla said. "The big boys just ran us over."
Quarterback Kapono Kaiwi-Barrionnebo took the cue from Paderes and stormed through for a 1-yard touchdown with 4:32 left in the first quarter, set up largely by Paderes runs. The fullback marched into the end zone midway through the second quarter -- aided by a Roosevelt incompletion on a fake punt at midfield -- and put the Bulldogs up 13-7.
The Rough Riders (4-2, 4-2) answered the two-score hole with three big completions from Lowen Kahooilihala to Justin Otaguro. On fourth and inches at the 7 with 15 seconds left in the half, Kahooilihala lobbed a ball to running back Ranson Tuitama for Roosevelt's first score. Kahooilihala finished with 189 yards on 15-for-29 passing with two touchdowns and an interception.
Roosevelt recovered the ensuing onside kick, but failed to capitalize after a Kahooilihala dart to Lowen Furuta-Harada put the Rough Riders at the 11 with 7 seconds left. But they attempted to call a timeout they didn't have (according to the officials; the scoreboard displayed one Rough Rider timeout remaining) and the officials drained the clock as a result of the costly penalty.
Coach Lester Parrilla threw up his hands at the decision.
"I knew I called a couple, I knew I did that. I thought if we had that play, things could have swung our way. But they were the better team tonight."
Anuenue 7, Nanakuli 2
The Golden Hawks fell to Na Koa despite pulling off a fourth-quarter safety. The Na Koa were led by Kamaki Sherman who caught the only touchdown pass in the game.