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2008 SPRING PREVIEW
Kapolei Football Kicks Off Spring Program As ‘QB-High’
Midweek article by Jack Danilewicz It didn’t take the Kapolei football program long to establish itself as Quarterback High of the Hawaii prep football scene, with three former signal callers currently on college rosters. Hurricanes coach Darren Hernandez wouldn’t have it any other way. Indeed, it is the rare quarterback that slips under his radar in the years before he enrolls at the school. “We don’t wait for them to come to us,” said Hernandez, who has tutored Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (Naval Academy), Brad Padayao (Eastern Oregon University) and Jon Medeiros (UH-Manoa), among others, in recent years at Kapolei High School. “Quarterback is too important of a position. We try to identify quarterback prospects as early as possible. I go over to the middle school and ask their P.E. teachers who can throw. We usually start out with five (when they arrive as freshmen at Kapolei), and we end up with three or four.” Not surprisingly, solidifying the quarterback position was among the team priorities as it began spring football practice Monday. In junior-to-be Noah Pascua (5’10 170) and sophomore-to-be Trent McKinney, Hernandez is confident his team will have plenty of skill behind center as they look to replace last year’s part-time starter and all-around standout, Mason Koa. (Who is headed on scholarship to New Mexico Military Institute to play QB). Pascua split time his sophomore campaign with Koa and fared well, throwing for 750 yards and six touchdowns. McKinney was a member of the JV last fall. “Noah has experience running and throwing the ball for us,” said Hernandez, who led Kapolei to a 7-4 record last year. “Trent is 6 feet, 175 pounds, and he’s really going to be a good player. Those two are both capable, and they’re ahead of the pack right now.” Whoever emerges as the starter will have the luxury of being surrounded by a talented veteran cast that includes RB/SS Cyril Ontai III (5’11 210), OL/DL Stan Hasiak (6’6 320), FB/TE/LB/TE Chad Lopati (6’2 240), WR/DB Kalani Brackenridge (6’0 175) and OL/DL Luke Spencer (6’3 260). Division I colleges are recruiting all five of them. “We’re excited about this senior group, and our JV had a solid season, and we have a bunch of them coming up, so hopefully we can put it all together.” Ontai III leads the way on defense. A starter since his sophomore year, his assertiveness help set the tone for Kapolei."Our opponents probably think he’s been around forever,” Hernandez joked. “He’s come into his own as a player, and we’re expecting a lot from him.” Hasiak, who has 10 scholarship offers, will play both ways in the trenches, while Lopati, who has 6 offers, will play a variety of positions. thunder 1 CLICK HERE TO ORDER KAPOLEI GEAR!!! Hey Kapolei Fans!! You can now buy Kapolei Hurricanes Football Sportswear Online!! Click the link below to check out this cool new feature:
2007 SEASON REVIEW HURRICANES END WINNING SEASON WITH LOSS TO GOVERNORS, WHO ADVANCE TO STATE TOURNAMENT
By Paul Honda Farrington 37, Kapolei 19 At Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex
Far--Apelu Sooalo 7 run (Lutua Folaumahina kick)
RUSHING -- Kapolei: Koa 3-17, Bryan Tabion 5-16, Pascua 4-16, Trent McKinney 1-9, Keli'i Aki 1-7, Shenon Moore 4-7, Chase Alcott 1-2, Jason Recamara 3-(-5). Farrington: So'oalo 28-138, Noga 7-30, Iu 6-17, Vaina 1-9, Robert Molina 1-4, Cameron Matautia 1-(-4), Smith 2-(-20). Friday, March 14 Missed extra point leads to Waianae win, 14-13
By Billy Hull Ben McQuown made sure Kapolei wouldn't fit the Cinderella slipper for the second week in a row. McQuown rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown and sealed Waianae's second straight trip to the OIA Red championship game by converting a fourth-down run with less than a minute to go as the Seariders held off Kapolei 14-13 last night at Aloha Stadium. The Seariders will try to win their first OIA crown in 10 years Friday at 8 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. "It has been such a struggle for us all year," Waianae coach Daniel Matsumoto said. "We just need to remain consistent. That's what we've struggled to do." McQuown, who began the year at quarterback, separated his shoulder during the season and missed Waianae's 28-7 victory over Kapolei less than a month ago. Back, but not fully healthy, McQuown kept Kapolei's defense guessing, gaining most of his yards on stretch plays where he would bounce outside and get around the Hurricanes' cornerbacks. "That Kapolei team we beat 28-7 wasn't the same team we played tonight," McQuown said. "(The quarterback change) was a good thing for our offense." After busting out of the gates to a 14-0 lead, Waianae had to hold on as Kapolei scored 13 unanswered points to pull within one. Kapolei opened up its playbook late in the third quarter, as Mason Koa threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to senior Chase Alcott, who got behind the Seariders secondary on a post route. It was Kapolei's first pass attempt of the game longer than 20 yards, as Alcott came down with the long pass just before the defensive back could get in the way. But after a penalty on the extra-point attempt, Kevin Tanaka's kick from 29 yards out bounced off the left upright as Waianae remained ahead 14-13. The side judge called “interlocking legs”, a rare call that almost never affects the extra point. Hernandez was dumbfounded that such a call was made in a game of that magnitude. "When you get a call like interlocking legs, it hurts," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said, shaking his head in disbelief. "It's an obscure call." With the Hurricanes backed up to their own 12-yard line, Matsumoto thought Kapolei might try for the 2-point attempt instead. "We were expecting them to go for 2 from there," Matsumoto said. "It's too bad they missed the kick because it was just slightly off. It had the distance." Koa, who finished with 158 total yards, led Kapolei's march down the field inside Waianae's 30-yard line with 3 minutes remaining. Two negative runs and a penalty backed Kapolei up and his fourth-down pass attempt sailed out of bounds, giving Waianae the ball back with 2 minutes remaining. The Hurricanes never saw it again. "Right now we have to lick our wounds, come back, and hopefully make states with a win next week," Hernandez said. The winner of the third-place game on Saturday will receiver the OIA's third and final state tournament berth. Kapolei, which became the first Oahu team in more than a decade to win a game at Kahuku last week, has never qualified for the state tournament. OIA RED PLAYOFFSNo. 4 Waianae 14, No. 6 Kapolei 13 At Aloha Stadium
Wain--BJ Jelf 4 run (Glenn Wain kick)
RUSHING -- Kapolei: Koa 16-73, Cyril Ontai 10-37, Bryan Tabion 7-21, Alcott 1-3, Kelii Aki 2-1, Shenon Moore 2-(-4). Waianae: McQuown 11-132, Johnathan Abell 11-44, Jelf 7-23, Danny Kekoanui 3-22, Bronson Panui 1-18, Toagamalu Brown 1-8, Justin Kauwalu 7-5, team 1-(-1). Sunday, October 28 Kapolei stuns No. 2 Kahuku; 'Canes "Shock the World" KAHUKU — Vowing to "Shock the world," the Kapolei High School football team carried out its mission last night, stunning defending state champion Kahuku, 14-7, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinals. It was Kahuku's first home loss since 1999 and first home loss to a Hawai'i team since 1996. Ironically, in 1996, Kahuku was shut out at home 24-0 by Campbell-and you guessed it-Darren Hernandez was the Head Coach. "This is awesome," said Kapolei defensive lineman Kalei Awong, who made a key fumble recovery on his own 12-yard line with 5:03 remaining. "It's the best feeling in the world."The Hurricanes, which finished fourth in the OIA Western Division, improved to 7-3 and will face West runner-up Wai'anae in Saturday's semifinal at Aloha Stadium. The game time has yet to be determined.The East champion Red Raiders, ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, end their tumultuous season at 6-3."Kapolei played a great game, hat's off to them," said Kahuku coach Reggie Torres, who has been under intense scrutiny all season and withstood a partial team boycott of practice earlier this month. "It's my fault as head coach; we need to find better ways to get the team ready."The Hurricanes stepped up on defense, holding the Red Raiders to 195 total yards, including just 58 in the first half. But Kahuku also was its own worst enemy, losing three fumbles and being penalized 10 times for 110 yards.Still, the Red Raiders were driving for a potential game-tying score and advanced to the Kapolei 34-yard line with under 90 seconds left. But after quarterback Jray Galeai gained only three yards on a keeper before being tackled inbounds, he spiked the ball on third-and-7 with 1:17 remaining as Kahuku was out of timeouts.On fourth down, a pass to the left sideline was incomplete and the Hurricanes proceeded to take a knee twice to run out the clock."I always felt if our defense came together and played like it was capable of, they could carry this team," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "They played as a unit, as one heartbeat."Kahuku's only score came on St. John Lessary's 69-yard punt return for a touchdown with 9:22 left in the first quarter.The Hurricanes tied it with 26 seconds remaining in the quarter after Keli'i Aki's 39-yard scamper down the left sideline on an option pitch.Kapolei recovered a fumble on the Red Raiders' 5-yard line with a minute left in the half, and Cyril Ontai ran it in from the 2 on second-and goal to help the Hurricanes take a 14-7 halftime lead.After that, it was all defense, as Hernandez had predicted. At the bottom of the team's defensive game plan sheet, the last sentence was written in bold letters:"Shock the world 10/26/07." KAPOLEI (7-3) 7 7 0 0—14KAHUKU (6-3) 7 0 0 0— 7 Kah — St. John Lessary 69 punt return (Lessary kick)Kap — Keli'i Aki 39 run (Kevin Tanaka kick)Kap — Cyril Ontai 2 run (Tanaka kick) RUSHING — Kapolei: Ontai 6-25, Bryan Tabion 3-6, Mason Koa 10-(minus-23), Noah Pascua 1-6, Aki 6-43, Shenon Moore 2-23, Chase Alcott 3-9. Kahuku: Junior Mata'afa 4-33, Lessary 7-17, Jray Galeai 9-63, Keliki Unga 5-17, Dustin Akiyama 4-3, AJ Atuaia 6-23.PASSING — Kapolei: Koa 4-6-1—70. Kahuku: Galeai 5-15-1—42.RECEIVING — Kapolei: Shaydon Akuna 1-20, Nate Dixon 2-37, Tyler Kukahiko 1-13. Kahuku: Mata'afa 2-7, Unga 1-9, Willie Ching 1-9, Jordan Kamae 1-17.
Kapolei beats Kailua, advances in OIA playoffs KAPOLEI — Lyle Santiago intercepted two passes in the final two minutes, the second one with 22 seconds remaining, to help Kapolei rally past Kailua, 14-7, last night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association first-round playoff action.The Hurricanes improved to 6-3 and will travel to defending state champion Kahuku (6-2) for a quarterfinal game on Friday.Kailua's season ends at 3-6.With the score 7-7 midway through the fourth quarter, the Surfriders blocked a 41-yard field-goal attempt and gained two first downs running the ball, advancing to near midfield. But on second-and-11 from their 43, the Surfriders tried a pass over the middle that was overthrown. Santiago caught the ball at his 40, then zig-zagged his way 35 yards to the Kailua 25."We were in a three-man zone, and I was the only safety back there," said Santiago, a junior. "I was just looking, looking for the opening, and then I saw it."Four plays later, fullback Cyril Ontai ran into the end zone on a dive play from 4 yards out. Jason Tanaka's extra point made it 14-7 with 56 seconds left.Kailua returned the ensuing kickoff to its 36, then gained 33 yards on the first play when quarterback Kale Sumner completed a 10-yard pass near the right sideline to Jackie Uemoto, who then lateraled the ball to Brandon Adviento.Adviento ran it all the way to the Kapolei 31 before being tackled.But after an incompletion on first down, Santiago stepped in front of a short pass to the left sideline and the Hurricanes took over with 22 seconds remaining. The Surfriders had only one timeout remaining, and Kapolei took a knee to run out the clock."We just had to stick together and not give up," Santiago said. "After the (hook and lateral), we said, 'Forget it, just stop them now.' "The Hurricanes' defense had been opportunistic all night, allowing 193 yards rushing but also coming up with four turnovers."I think our defense had one of those 'bend-but-don't break' nights," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "They played tough and made big plays when they had to."Kailua marched 64 yards in just seven plays on its first possession, scoring on a 25-yard catch-and-run from Sumner to Bubu Naki. Kaimi Sarkissian's extra point made it 7-0 with 7:29 left in the first quarter.But the Surfriders would not get near the end zone again.Late in the second quarter, Sumner was hit just before releasing a throw and linebacker Maverick Satele scooped up the loose ball and ran it about 25 yards to the Kailua 5. On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Mason Koa completed a play-action pass over the middle to Shayden Akuna. Tanaka's extra point tied it with five seconds remaining. "Our defense did an admirable job, but we weren't able to finish drives on offense," Surfriders coach Gary Rosolowich said. "It's the same problem we've had before, but unfortunately this is the playoffs and you don't get another chance." KAILUA (3-6) 7 0 0 0— 7KAPOLEI (6-3) 0 7 0 7—14 Kai — Bubu Naki 25 pass from Kale Sumner (Kaimi Sarkissian kick)Kap — Shayden Akuna 1 pass from Mason Koa (Kevin Tanaka kick)Kap — Cyril Ontai 4 run (Tanaka kick) RUSHING — Kailua: Kaleo Wong 9-41, Brandon Adviento 10-82, Sumner 4-14, Lowen Tynanes-Perez 8-34, Kenny Ellis 1-14, Joshua Ferrigno 1-8. Kapolei: Chad Lopati 2-(minus 2), Keli'i Aki 3-17, Tim Brown 1-2, Bryan Tabion 4-36, Koa 10-36, Jason Racamara 7-48, Chase Alcott 4-37, Ontai 5-10, Moore 1-1.PASSING — Kailua: Sumner 6-13-2—91. Kapolei: Koa 4-5-0—60, Noah Pascua 2-2-0—9.RECEIVING — Kailua: Ferrigno 1-10, Naki 2-53, Ellis 1-17, Kaimi Sarkissian 1-1, Jackie Uemoto 1-10. Kapolei: Koa 1-9, Tyler Kukahiko 1-6, Akuna 1-1, Nate Dixon 1-15, Moore 1-0, Kalani Omoto 1-38.
Wai'anae clinches 2nd in Red West, 28-7 WAI'ANAE — The O'ahu Interscholastic Association's wild, wild Western Division regular season finally came to a conclusion last night, with Wai'anae steamrolling visiting Kapolei, 28-7, before a crowd of about 2,200 at Raymond Torii Stadium.The victory locked up second place in the West for the Seariders, who are ranked No. 8 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media. Wai'anae, 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the West, earned a first-round bye in the playoffs and probable home field advantage in the quarterfinals week after next.The loss knocked No. 8 Kapolei (5-3, 3-3) down to fourth place, meaning the Hurricanes will host a first-round game next week against either Castle, Kailua or Kalaheo.It also means the end of the season for 'Aiea, which also is 3-3 in the West but ends up sixth after head-to-head tiebreakers with Campbell, Kapolei and Leilehua.Campbell, which would have been eliminated with a Kapolei victory, now ends up third and earns a first-round bye via the tiebreakers.A loss last night would have pushed Wai'anae down to fifth and forced the Seariders to travel for a first-round game next week. But punishing work on the line of scrimmage wore the Hurricanes down and helped stretch a 7-0 lead through three quarters into a 28-0 advantage with 3:30 remaining in the game."Like our coaches always say, the game is usually won on the line of scrimmage," said Wai'anae senior guard Richard Nansen, who helped the Seariders grind out 210 rushing yards. "Whoever dominates that will probably win the game."Wai'anae established its running game early, marching 63 yards in nine plays and scoring on BJ Jelf's 8-yard quarterback keeper with 1:58 left in the first quarter. Glenn Wain's extra point made it 7-0.Kapolei hung tough and that's how the score stood until early in the fourth quarter, when Jelf scored on a 9-yard keeper. The extra point attempt was blocked.Fullback Jonathan Abell scored on a 17-yard run up the middle to help put the Seariders up, 21-0, with 7:53 remaining, and tailback Justin Kauwalu's 9-yard TD run and Wain's extra point made it 28-0 with 3:30 left.Kauwalu led a balanced rushing attack with 88 yards on 16 carries."They're very physical in the trenches, more physical than us," Hurricanes coach Darren Hernandez said of the Seariders. "We made a valiant effort, but our defense was on the field way too long and eventually they wore us out. Their line did a hell of a job, and they just played old-school Wai'anae football and ran right at us. And even on offense, we couldn't muster anything."Kapolei, which was held to 126 total yards, finally scored on Noah Pascua's 13-yard run with under a minute remaining. "It's fun to watch our players execute what we practice during the week," Seariders coach Danny Matsumoto said. "I thought BJ stepped up and did a good job in his first start, too. Hopefully we can keep up the intensity for the playoffs." KAPOLEI (5-3, 3-3) 0 0 0 7 — 7WAI'ANAE (6-2, 4-2) 7 0 0 21 — 28Wai — BJ Jelf 8 run (Glenn Wain kick)Wai — Jelf 9 run (kick blocked)Wai — Jonathan Abell 17 run (Jelf run)Wai — Justin Kauwalu 9 run (Wain kick)RUSHING — Kapolei: Chase Alcott 3-27, Keli'i Aki 6-36, Mason Koa 11-(minus-35), Noah Pascua 5-33, Bryan Tabion 4-13. Wai'anae: Abell 3-21, Jelf 9-48, Kauwalu 16-88, Danny Kekoanui 9-50, Shawn Brooks 2-3.PASSING — Kapolei: Koa 4-8-1—18, Pascua 5-12-1—34. Wai'anae: Kekoanui 0-1-0—0, Jelf 6-15-2—83.RECEIVING — Kapolei: Aki 3-9, Kalani Omoto 2-13, Cyril Ontai 1-6, Alcott 3-24. Wai'anae: Abell 1-19, Kauwalu 2-20, Kekoanui 2-9, Wain 1-35.
Hurricanes Handle Rams this time around 36-20!! KAPOLEI 36, RADFORD 20 The Kapolei Hurricanes had payback on their minds all week versus a Radford Rams squad that came into their stadium last year and beat them 37-7. This time, it was the Hurricanes who returned the favor. Mason Koa, who had a dismal outing last season with 5 interceptions-came up big for the Hurricanes. Koa rushed 16 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns, and caught five passes for 83 yards and one score as the visiting Hurricanes beat the Rams in an OIA Red West game. Koa also passed for 67 yards. KAPOLEI (5-2, 3-2) 6 16 8 6—36RADFORD (0-7, 0-5) 0 12 0 8—20 Kap — Mason Koa 17 run (kick failed) Rad — Donnigtay Campbell 60 fumble return (kick failed) Kap — Koa 15 run (Koa pass from Noa Pascua) Kap — Koa 9 pass from Pascua (Shaydon Akuna pass from Koa) Rad — Shawn Putnam-Curry 25 pass from Epa Maika (run failed) Kap — Chad Lopati 3 run (Kalani Omoto pass from Koa) Rad — Ezekiel Pulou-Falaniko 36 pass form Maika (Maika run) Kap — Cyril Ontai 6 run (run failed) RUSHING — Kapolei: Chase Alcott 2-1, Koa 16-149, Jason Recamara 2-0, Keli'i Aki 5-16, Shenon Moore 4-5, Pascua 4-minus 10, Chad Lopati 3-13, Kelvin Perreira 1-minus 1, Bryan Tabion 3-8, Curtis Donald 2-5, Ontai 3-9. Radford: Leon Hazley 6-2, Maika 7-15, Luke Failauga 1-4, Pulou-Falaniko 3-3, Mosiah Manuma 1-0, Dustin Ramelb 1-0, Team 1-minus 20. PASSING — Kapolei: Koa 5-11-0-67, Alcott 0-1-0-0, Pascua 10-18-3-138. Radford: Maika 15-37-1-233. RECEIVING — Kapolei: Omoto 2-16, Moore 3-34, Koa 5-83, Akuna 1-8, Recamara 1-5, Aki 1-9, Nate Dixon 2-50. Radford: Putnam-Curry 7-103, Deshawn Robinson 1-7, Manuma 2-42, Pulou-Falamiko 3-71, Jared Victorino 2-10.
Kapolei Defense Rises Up to Blank the Mules on Homecoming!! Triple-threat Mason Koa and a relentless defense led Kapolei over visiting Leilehua, 21-0, last night in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West football game.Koa accomplished the rare feat of leading his team in pass attempts (19), receptions (4), receiving yards (75) and rushing attempts (13).Kapolei's defense had four interceptions, forced three punts and got Leilehua to turn the ball over on downs three times.Leilehua gained only 170 total yards."I'm just real proud of the defense," said Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez. "Not only the defense. The offense, when they had their opportunities they got it done. A great team effort all around. I'm proud of these boys, a lot of heart tonight. I love these guys."Koa completed 10 passes for 76 yards and had 17 yards rushing."My O-line. I thank them," said Koa, a senior quarterback and wide receiver.Hernandez added: "He took the opportunities that presented themselves. He made the most out of everything. An all-around great effort by Mason."Koa caught all of his passes from Noah Pascua, who finished 6 of 10 for 87 yards.Koa also had an 80-yard quick kick punt on third-and-26 from the Kapolei 2-yard line in the third quarter."We practice that quick kick because Mason is the punter," Hernandez said. "We kind of baited them into thinking we were going to throw it on third down. He hit it perfectly and that was the thing we really needed. The momentum was about to shift in their favor."Leilehua quarterbacks combined to go 9 of 30 for 102 yards, with most of the production coming late in the game."The secondary was great," Hernandez said. "They were trying to pick on a couple of guys. We feel our back seven really is the strength of the 'D.' And tonight the D-line stepped it up."Kapolei took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards on 11 plays, capped by Chad Lopati's 9-yard run.Later in the first quarter, the Hurricanes took advantage of a 10-yard punt by driving 40 yards on four plays. Koa scored on a 2-yard sneak with 1:18 remaining to make it 14-0.A 12-yard pass from Koa to Shaydon Akuna late in the third made it 21-0.The Mules used two quarterbacks in the first half and neither completed a pass. Their only completion was a double pass from running back Rico Newman to Elijah Manaea which went for 38 yards. Leilehua gained only 68 yards in the first half. Kapolei had 118. LEILEHUA (3-3, 2-2) 0 0 0 0— 0 KAPOLEI (4-2, 2-2) 14 0 7 0—21
Kap — Chad Lopati 9 run (Nacho Martinez kick) Kap — Mason Koa 2 run (Martinez kick) Kap — Shaydon Akuna 12 pass from Koa (Martinez kick)
RUSHING—Leilehua: Kaipo Kea 6-(minus 4), Bronson Pausa 2-3, Rico Newman 7-53, Kaipo DeRego 4-16. Kapolei: Koa 13-17, Chase Alcott 4-38, Noah Pascua 4-(minus 17), Lopati 2-10, Shenon Moore 9-93, Keli'i Aki 2-7, Jason Recamara 4-19, Cyril Ontai 1-3, Curtis Donald 1-4, Bryan Tabion 1-13, Kelvin Perreira 2-8, team 1-(minus 30). PASSING—Leilehua: Kea 8-18-3—66, DeRego 1-12-1—8, Newman 1-1-0—38. Kapolei: Koa 10-19-0—76, Pascua 6-10-0—87, Alcott 0-1-0—0. RECEIVING—Leilehua: Elijah Manaea 2-45, Edieson Dumlao 4-32, Allan Macam 1-8, Allan DeGuzman-Pacheco 2-12, Sean Kinington 1-15. Kapolei: Koa 4-75, Alcott 3-27, Tyler Kukahiko 1-7, Recamara 3-10, Akuna 1-12, Moore 2-11, Aki 1-10, Daniel 1-11.Kukahiko 1-7, Recamara 3-10, Akuna 1-12, Moore 2-11, Aki 1-10, Daniel 1-11.
Kapolei Falls in the Ewa Sun 'EWA BEACH — In the famous afternoon heat of the arid 'Ewa plain, this Gatorade shower was refreshing.Especially for Campbell High School football coach Tumoana Kenessey, whose Sabers earned their first victory of the season yesterday by holding off visiting Kapolei, 19-12.Campbell improved to 1-2-1 overall and 1-2 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Western Division. Kapolei, ranked No. 10 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, fell to 3-2 and 1-2 with its second straight loss.The Hurricanes had a golden opportunity with 1:07 remaining in the game when a low Campbell punt hit the up-back, giving Kapolei possession at the Sabers' 23-yard line. But after a false start and two incompletions, Sabers defensive back Cory Freitas made an interception at his 5-yard line with 40 seconds left and Campbell was able to take a knee twice to run out the clock."It feels good (to win), because we're having a tough season," Freitas said of the Sabers, who saw their non-league opener canceled due to thieves stealing copper from stadium lights and a game at Wai'anae forfeited after an on-field fight against 'Aiea. "Our coaches prepared us well, and the (defensive) line kept telling us to keep our motivation up."On the series before the botched punt, the Hurricanes had gained a first-and-goal from the 9, but came up empty after a run for no gain and three incompletions."We had so many chances, but we just didn't capitalize," Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. "We're at a crossroads right now, we've lost a little bit of our edge. We need to regroup and go back to the drawing board." The Hurricanes also were hampered early in the game when starting quarterback Mason Koa began to suffer from leg cramps. He moved to receiver and finished with six catches for 56 yards, but the cramps bothered him throughout the day, Hernandez said. Koa didn't see much action after the beginning of the 3rd quarter. The Sabers took a quick 13-0 lead midway through the first quarter after Samson Anguay's 8-yard touchdown run and Fa'afetai Tuvale's 15-yard TD scamper. The second extra-point attempt went wide right.Kapolei answered with Noah Pascua's 1-yard quarterback sneak, which was set up by Shenon Moore's 49-yard run.But the Hurricanes' extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving Campbell ahead 13-6 with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter.Kapolei closed to 13-12 on Pascua's 9-yard TD pass to Koa on a fade route, but its two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.Kevin Newcomb's 1-yard quarterback sneak put the Sabers up, 19-12, with 7:54 left in the game, but the extra-point attempt was hooked left.The lead held, although Campbell's misfired punt suddenly gave Kapolei one final hope."It was just one of those weird accidents," Kenessey said. "Our punter wasn't back far enough, and the up-back was too close to him."On the interception play, Pascua was under heavy pressure from defensive linemen Chris Fuga and Keli'i Christian and linebacker Bronson Alfafara-Pires, and threw the ball sooner than he wanted to a waiting Freitas."I was thinking, 'Please, no more downs (for Kapolei),' " Kenessey said. "I'm happy it's over." KAPOLEI (3-2, 1-2) 6 6 0 0 — 12CAMPBELL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||