[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
Kailua quarterback Ranson Kepa was dropped by Waimea's Bryson Taroma last night. The Kauai team upset the OIA power.
Kailua eliminated LIHUE >> Waimea made Kailua's trip to Kauai a nightmare last night, beating the Surfriders 24-21 at Vidinha Stadium.
Waimea wins 24-21 to reach the semifinals
and end the Surfriders' season once againBy Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comThe Menehunes (8-1) fought off a wild comeback to advance to the semifinals of the Chevron State Football Championship on Friday and ended Kailua's season.
Tyson Fernandez intercepted a Ranson Kepa pass in the end zone with 32 seconds left to finish off the Surfriders, who were desperately trying to eke out another score.
"I told the boys we had to suck it up (just before the interception) and Tyson came up big with that interception when we needed it," Waimea coach Jon Kobayashi said.
The Menehunes won it with defense, forcing four first-half turnovers, including three that led to touchdowns. They easily controlled the night's turnover battle, 6-1.
The Surfriders (9-3), who breezed through most of the Oahu Interscholastic Association season by physically dominating their opposition, couldn't do that to the smaller Kauai Interscholastic Federation champions.
"We made a lot of mistakes," Kailua coach Darren Johnson said. "A lot of mistakes, too many mistakes, especially in the first half."
The Menehunes were in complete control in the first half after an early Kailua score and went into the lockers at halftime with a 24-7 lead.
But Kailua drove for two long scores in the fourth quarter and almost had another. The running of Nathan Leaver and the passing of Kepa to Kealii Kalahiki and David Kaihenui kept the chains moving for the Surfriders. Kepa threw TD passes to Dylan Linkner and Kalahiki to cut the deficit to three points, 24-21.
With less than a minute to go, Kailua marched, but on second-and-goal from the Waimea 9, Kepa was chased by two Menehunes and rolled right before Fernandez stepped in front of his bullet in the end zone. Fernandez ran the ball out to the 1, and the Menehunes ran two quarterback sneaks to seal the deal.
"I was just concentrating on stopping the ball," Fernandez said after the victory. "I was just playing my job, never giving up. This means a lot to us. We trained a lot all year and we'll be training and practicing hard for the next game, too."
It was Waimea's second victory over Kailua in first-round state tournament games on Kauai. The Menehunes also beat the Surfriders in 1999 and are now 3-3 at states.
The Menehunes got a 37-yard field goal from Cory Rita in the first half before Gary Mata's fumble recovery led to their first TD -- Jordon Dizon's 1-yard run. Dane Koga made it 17-7 with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown. Koga's second interception made it possible for Dizon's second 1-yard TD and a 24-7 bulge.
After a scoreless third quarter, Waimea was on its heels as Kailua drove almost at will in the dramatic fourth quarter.
"We should never have let that happen (having to come back)," said Johnson, whose team placed second in the OIA. "We've fallen short twice (to Waimea) now. We should have done some things better and we should have played 48 minutes of football and not just 24 minutes.
"I'm not going to compare Waimea to the teams we've played. We played some real good teams in the beginning of the season and some real good teams at the end. I will say Waimea is a good football team and they played better than us tonight."
Waimea 3 21 0 0 - 24 Kailua 7 0 0 14 - 21 Kail- Bradley Ching 16 pass from Ranson Kepa (Albert Kaleo kick)
Waim- Cory Rita 30 FG
Waim- Jordon Dizon 1 run (Rita kick)
Waim- Dane Koga 25 interception return (Rita kick)
Waim- Dizon 1 run (Rita kick)
Kail- Dylan Linkner 10 pass from Kepa (Kaleo kick)
Kail- Kelii Kalahiki 14 pass from Kepa (Kaleo kick)RUSHING - Kailua: Nathan Leaver 14-50, Kepa 11-20, Eric Sua 7-19, Kalahiki 3-(-4). Waimea: Dizon 23-64, Pomaikai Chang Wo 5-29, Jon Palacio 4-9, Koga 1-(-4).
PASSING - Kailua: Kepa 18-37-6-241. Waimea: Palacio 4-11-0-107.
RECEIVING - Kailua: Kalahiki 5-80, Ching 5-66, David Daihenui 4-46, Linkner 2-21, Bronson Kamaka 2-28. Waimea: Tyson Fernandez 2-77, Austin Alquiza 1-20, Dizon 1-10.
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