We are roughly 2 minutes from the coin toss for the varsity matchup. Finally. This game won’t start until 8:25 p.m., probably, and won’t end until 10:45 or so. I’m expecting a balanced attack from Kamehameha, and if it skews one way, probably 60 percent running the ball by the Warriors. Waianae? I think they’ll keep it basic and run 70-30. That combination would make it a fast game… but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Waianae go contrary to expectation. That’s the prerogative of any new coach. The freedom to experiment to some extent.
The home team drives 80 yards in four plays, getting a 66-yard blast up the middle by Ezkiah Moniz-Hopeau for a TD. PAT bounces off the left upright. WAIANAE 6, KAMEHAMEHA 0, 10:31, first quarter.
Kamehameha drives 69 yards in nine plays. Boogie Yam looks sharp at QB, picking up a first down on a draw, directing the no-huddle march after Fatu Sua-Godinet goes from QB to WR. Kanoa Shannon scores on a 1-yard TD run. PAT pass incomplete. KS 6, WAIN 6, 7:43, first quarter.
Huge turn of events. A fake punt and pass by Kamehameha is nullified by an illegal procedure call. On the next snap, the ball sails over the head of punter Adam Stack. He retrieves the ball and tries to punt, but is snuffed. The ball ricochets into the end zone and is recovered by Waianae’s Jaylen Gonzales for a TD. WAIN 13, KS 6, 5:06, first quarter.
After offsetting penalties on the ensuing kick return — Sua-Godinet had a healthy return of 49 yards — Waianae kicks to Kumoku Noa, who returns the ball 84 yards to paydirt. SPEED. KS 13, WAIN 13, 4:39, first quarter.
Stack sends a third kickoff deep for a touchback. I timed his warmup punts at 4.55 and 4.58 seconds for hang time. Talented.
Stack nails a 31-yard FG from the left hash. KS 16, WAIN 13, 10:08, second quarter.
Waianae drives to the 22-yard line after a 23-yard scramble by QB Jaren Ulu, but a bad shotgun snap forced him to burn their final time out with :27 left. Two incompletions, including nice deep coverage by cornerback Koolau Feltman on WR Isaiah Freeney in the end zone, and then a fourth-down sack by Alema Kapoi, ends the threat.
Warriors open the third quarter with another nice drive. Stack taps in a 27-yard FG. KS 19, WAIN 13, 10:20, third quarter.
Kamehameha goes 51 yards and scores a TD in just 34 seconds. Yam connects with Noa for a 47-yard bomb. KS 26, WAIN 13, 8:43, third quarter.
Noa shines again with a 73-yard punt return for a TD. Waianae has used a new punter in the second half who has a better leg (36 yards per punt), but the coverage isn’t getting there. Noa made that look easy. KS 33, WAIN 13, 3:12, third quarter.
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Earlier…
Is it hot? Yeah, but not scorching. Just overcast and humid, probably around 85 degrees. For those of us who sat in traffic between Ko Olina and past Maili for a good 45 minutes (think there was an auto accident, three ambulance trips into town), arriving here is a blessing. There’s a reason why editor Jerry Campany calls this the most beautiful football stadium in the world. It’s all about the view, and with this overcast weather, the sunset promises to be classic.
FYI, Waianae’s renowned multi-media program is airing the game live on its streaming site, Ka Leo ‘O Waianae. No play by play, strictly video.
JV game kicks off in 45 minutes (5:30 p.m.) with the varsity to follow. An official game with normal special teams. After all of last week’s scrimmages, it’ll take a few minutes for me to get used to that again. Walter Young will make his debut as the head varsity coach for the Seariders. He’s a math teacher here. I saw recently retired coach Danny Matsumoto before the game. No moustache. Totally relaxed. Haven’t seen him that laid back ever.
Haven’t seen either team yet, so this will be a treat. Kickoff, I’m guessing, will be around 7:45 or 8 p.m.
UPDATE 5:30 p.m. The traffic I mentioned earlier is still slowing everybody down on the Leeward Coast. The referees just arrived for the JV game because of the traffic jam. Bumper-to-bumper logjam. Fun. Looks like the JV game might start a few minutes late. Not too bad.
UPDATE 5:40 p.m. The official timekeeper put 25 minutes on the warmup clock some time ago and now it looks like the JV game won’t start until roughly 5:50 p.m. Turns out one more official was still in traffic.
How Waianae coaches began their careers in the Prep Bowl and State Championship eras:
Danny Matsumoto: Beat Nanakuli 34-0 in 2000.
Leo Taaca: Lost to Saint Louis 32-7 in 1995.
Harry Mitsui: Beat Pac-Five 18-12 in 1985.
(Info courtesy of Jerry Campany)
JV update: Warriors 6, Seariders 0, 2:17, first quarter. Interception sets up a short drive by Kamehameha.
JV update: Warriors 9, Seariders 0, :13, first quarter. 32-yard FG by the Warriors.
JV update: Warriors 16, Seariders 0, 9:53, second quarter. Fumble by Waianae sets up a TD pass by the visitors.
JV update: Warriors 16, Seariders 8, 2:31, second quarter. After recovering a fumble, Waianae drives. Fourth and long, Seariders score on a 29-yard TD pass. PAT run good.
JV update: Warriors 16, Seariders 8, halftime. Waianae drove inside the 5 in the final minute, but came up empty.
JV update: Warriors 23, Seariders 8, third quarter. 64-yard TD run.
JV update: Warriors 23, Seariders 16, 1:17, third quarter. 30-yard TD run by Rico Rosario. PAT run by Rosario.
JV update: Warriors 29, Seariders 16, 1:30, fourth quarter. 30-yard TD run by Braden Akima. This came two plays after a Waianae fumble recovery was ruled after the play was dead near midfield.
JV update: Final, Warriors 29, Seariders 16.
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