4:43 p.m.
Saturdays are a beautiful thing in prep football. Why? JV kickoffs at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium are at 3 p.m. If this were Friday game, it would be the usual 6 p.m. JV kickoff with a late varsity game to follow.
Daytime football. Most excellent.
A lot of folks have been looking forward to this game. Kapolei will bring its hard-nosed, run-first attack. The Kahuku smashmouth flavor is courtesy of new offensive coordinator Darren Johnson, who featured the I-formation set at both Kailua and Kahuku.
Farrington? For all the spread sets and nifty tweaks they’ve displayed this year, it’s power football between the tackles that the Governors are still best at. They’ve got depth and variety at running back, too, from bulky cannonball Freedom Alualu to shifty Ranan Mamiya.
A lot of this contest will come down to Kapolei’s first-year quarterback, Alton Julius. Gifted athlete, 6-1 and 210 pounds, and the learning curve at his position is steep. If he can deliver with some consistency — he showed plenty of promise in last week’s tough loss at Kahuku — the ‘Canes will be tough to stop.
First quarter
Kapolei left tackle Viliamu Auwae (6-6, 275) is out for today’s game due to a concussion. Meanwhile, former Mililani player Tamatoa Silva is suited up to play today for Farrington. No word on if he’s actually eligible — OIA rules require a minimum of 10 practices — so we’ll see soon enough.
TOUCHDOWN, KAPOLEI. Ty-Noah Williams hauls in a 29-yard bomb from Alton Julius. This came shortly after Farrington declined a chop-block penalty against Kapolei, which gave the Hurricanes fourth-and-1. They converted and hit the touchdown pass one play after that. PAT kick by Julius is wide. Kapolei 6, Farrington 0.
TOUCHDOWN, FARRINGTON. Ranan Mamiya on a tear. He rips a 64-yard cutback run on the Govs’ first play from scrimmage, the scores two plays later on a 7-yard burst. Governors 7, Hurricanes 6.
Note: The scoreboard here is broken, so time is being kept on the field. We can’t see it at all.
Second quarter
TOUCHDOWN, FARRINGTON. There he goes again. Mamiya pulls in a 12-yard catch and run to set up his 21-yard touchdown run. Governors 14, ‘Canes 6.
TOUCHDOWN, KAPOLEI. On the ensuing kickoff, Tristan Centeio slices through the right side for a 94-yard touchdown return. WOW. Kapolei’s 2-point attempt: After each team calls time out, Kapolei whistled for illegal procedure and then Julius is sacked by Breiden Fehoko. Great coverage by the Govs secondary. Governors 14, ‘Canes 12.
TOUCHDOWN, FARRINGTON. On the ensuing kickoff, Mamiya bounces off tacklers for an 89-yard touchdown return. Governors 21, ‘Canes 12, 5:10. (The timekeeper on the field has a microphone and now we can actually hear her clearly.)
TOUCHDOWN, KAPOLEI. Julius delivers a 27-yard bomb to Naliko Kea. The PAT kick is short. Governors 21, ‘Canes 18.
Halftime: Farrington 21, Kapolei 18.
Third quarter
TOUCHDOWN, FARRINGTON. Govs take the first possession of the second half and drive for a 1-yard touchdown run by Challen Fuamatu. Govs 28, ‘Canes 18.
TOUCHDOWN, KAPOLEI. The ‘Canes convert four times on third down, finishing the drive off with a 15-yard strike from Julius to Kea in the back of the end zone. Julius is looking more and more comfortable, especially on play action. Pass to Kea on the PAT is also good. Govs 28, ‘Canes 26.
FOURTH & 8, Kapolei ball on the Farrington 36-yard line, 1:30 left. Julius’ pass attempt is incomplete, a little wide for the receiver on an out pattern. Farrington ball, 1:24.
any updated scores/plays