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Saturday, November 18, 2000

Kahuku keeps scrappy
Waimea at bay

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By Glen Higa
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Cinderella danced in the second quarter.

But the Kahuku Red Raiders ran the Waimea Menehunes off the floor in the second half, waltzing away with a 43-17 victory in the Chevron State Football Championships at Aloha Stadium before a crowd of 6,092 last night.

A.J. Smith scored two touchdowns and five Red Raiders scored in a typically balanced Kahuku onslaught, which included touchdowns by the defense and special teams.

The Oahu Interscholastic Association champions advance to the semifinal round, facing Kaimuki next Friday at Aloha stadium at 5:05 p.m.

Waimea, the Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion, ended its season at 8-1 -- but not without putting up a fight against much larger and deeper Kahuku.

The Menehunes converted five turnovers into two Jesse Sablan touchdowns and a 32-yard field goal by Adrian Agan to cut Kahuku's lead to 12 points at halftime and send a large contingent from Kauai into a frenzy.

"We were faced with a mounting situation. But our guys haven't given up all year," Menehunes coach Jon Kobayashi said.

Sablan turned in another outstanding state tournament performance with 92 yards on 20 carries. He holds two state tournament records for rushing attempts from last year. "I feel great even though we lost. We gave it our best, no regrets," he said.

Kahuku followed its game plan in the first half then made adjustments at halftime to run the ball.

Mulivai Pula and Marcus Salanoa carried the load, combining for 103 yards on 14 carries.

Waimea used an eight-man front to stuff the Red Raiders' inside runs but it left them vulnerable on the perimeter.

The undersized Menehunes' defense hurried Kahuku's Inoke Funaki all night, sacking him three times and forcing four interceptions. Funaki did have some success, throwing two touchdown passes. One was a spectacular 72-yard completion to James Kammerer after Funaki eluded the grasp of two defenders.

"We didn't play too good, had some turnovers, but at least we got a lot of players in the game," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. "Our main concern was to come out of this game healthy."

Waimea (8-1)	0	17	0	0 -- 17
Kahuku (11-2)	29	0	1	0 -- 43

Scoring Summary

Kah--A.J. Smith 7 run (Solomon Lee kick)
Kah--Aaron Francisco 53 punt return (Lee kick)
Kah--Jonathan Mapu 14 fumble return (Bryson Au run)
Kah--James Kammerer 72 pass from Inoke Funaki (Lee kick)
Waim--FG Adrian Agan 32
Waim--Jesse Sablan 12 run (Agan kick)
Waim--Sablan 8 pass from Nikko Naumu (Agan kick)
Kah--Smith 3 pass from Funaki (kick failed)
Kah--Pula 17 run (Marcus Salanoa pass from Au)

Individual statistics

Rushing--Waim: Sablan 20-92, Joshua May 11-52, Jordon Dizon 7-28, Ikaika Cabral 2-7, Naumu 6-(minus 6). Kah: Salanoa 9-52, Pula 7-66, Funaki 8-36, Smith 5-40, Moors 1-10, Magic Atuaia 1-2, Colby Unga 1-0, Brenton Kaahu 1-6, Kekoa Kamakeeaina 1-13, Ferron Fonoimoana 1-0, Jarvis Kaka 1-(minus 7).

Passing--Waim: Naumu 3-6-1 for 84 yards. Kah: Funaki 9-18-4 for 152 yards, Fonoimoana 0-2-0 for 0 yards.

Receiving--Waim: Dane Koga 1-49, Aldon Emayo 1-27, Sablan 1-8. Kahuku: Ernest "Vai" Napaa 2-11, Kammerer 2-90, John-Rex Moors 1-19, Saia Hafoka 1-12, Ferron Fonoimoana 2-17, Smith 1-3.