Defending champ Waimea might get challenge from Kapa'a, Kaua'i
| • | 2001 KIF schedule |
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
"This year is going to be a war," is how Kapa'a coach Gordon Muramaru describes the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation football season.
Waimea has won 11 straight championships, eight under coach Jon Kobayashi, but Kaua'i and Kapa'a showed signs in preseason of being capable of challenging the Menehune.
In preseason, Kaua'i beat defending Maui champion Maui High and Kapa'a did not allow a touchdown.
After an opening loss, Waimea torched defending Big Island champion Hilo 45-0.
"You have to favor the 11-time defending champions because they believe in themselves . . . but I believe anything can happen," said Kaua'i coach Keli'i Morgado.
Because there are only three teams, Kaua'i plays a triple round robin for a total of six league games.
KAPA'A WARRIORS
• 2000: 4-4 overall, 3-3 KIF
• Coach: Gordon Muramaru, 2nd year, 4-4
• Top players:
RB/DB Dahson Gonzales (5-10, 180, Sr.)
DL/RB Isaiah Sarsona (5-8, 170, Sr.)
QB/FS Dustin Mundon (5-10, 160, Jr.)
DL/OT Kaulana Poe (5-10, 190, Sr.)
DL/RB Isaiah Sarsona (5-9, 180, Sr.)
DL/OG Jonah Bond (5-10, 200, Sr.)
OG/LB J.R. Davis (5-4, 180, Sr.)
OG/LB Bradley Wakuta (5-5, 180, Sr.)
OT/DE John Freepartner (5-10, 190, Sr.)
FL/LB Allen Iloreta (5-4, 165, Sr.)
TE/CB Dustin Maglinti (5-9, 140, Sr.)
FS/FL Jud McRoberts (5-7, 150, Sr.)
OT/DL Keoki Rapozo (6-0, 230, Sr.)
FB /LB Tyler Wakuta (5-4, 170, Sr.)
FS/WR Randy Lawrence (5-10, 150, Sr.)
DE/RB Beau Marchino (5-9, 155, Sr.)
C/LB Andrew Baltazar (5-8, 190, Jr.)
WR/DB Frank Poe-Ho'oikaika (5-6, 140, Sr.)
DE/RB Byron Mundon (5-10, 175, Sr.)
CB/WR Keola Wichimai (5-11, 170, Sr.)
• Outlook: The Warriors have 24 seniors, most of whom have played together since junior varsity, and return 16 starters from 2000. Alvin Sasil coaches the defense, which did not allow a touchdown in two preseason games. Kapa'a lost to King Kekaulike, 3-0 in the rain and wind in upcountry Maui, then shellacked Honoka'a of the Big Island in Lihu'e, 35-2.
• Fun facts: Gordon Muramaru is the brother of Mid-Pacific baseball coach Dunn Muramaru. He's a big city boy (Roosevelt) who moved to Kaua'i 10 years ago. Kapa'a was the last team to break Waimea's stranglehold on KIF championships, winning the title in 1987, '88 and '89 under Wayne Watanabe, Gordon Shibao and Glenn Hayashi. . . . Former UH stars Kendall Goo and Bernard Carvalho both played at Kapa'a.
KAUA'I RED RAIDERS
• 2000: 0-8 overall, 0-6 KIF
• Coach: Keli'i Morgado, 3rd year, 4-12-1.
• Top players:
OLB/R Rejis Canales (5-8,165, Jr.)
RB Jameson Smith (5-8, 175, Sr.)
QB Kamo'i Refamonte (5-9, 150, Sr.)
DL Jerrick Amaki (5-8, 205, Jr.)
MLB Dustin Goias (5-7, 165, Sr.)
OLB Bransen Zeffiro (5-9, 175, Sr.)
CB Daniel Fajardo (5-6, 150, Sr.)
WR Brysen Semana (5-9, 140, Sr.)
• Outlook: Kaua'i showed impressive speed in defeating defending Maui champion Maui High 21-13 on Maui in its opening preseason game, then lost to Hawai'i Prep of the Big Island 14-7 in Lihu'e. "That was a good wakeup call," coach Keli'i Morgado said. ...
Kaua'i uses the only run-and-shoot offense on run-oriented Kaua'i and Morgado thinks that gives his team an advantage. "It changes what (Kapa'a and Waimea) have to do in preparing for us. Our passing game is not quite there yet, but we had a very good summer and we're moving in the right direction. ... I believe anything can happen . . ."
Kaua'i has 10 starters from last season and 15 returnees on its roster of 32.
• Fun facts: Kaua'i scored more points in its opening game against Maui than it scored in all eight games last season. Keli'i Morgado is the younger brother of former St. Louis and Linfield noseguard Paki Morgado.
WAIMEA MENEHUNE
• 2000: 8-1 overall, 6-0 KIF, eliminated in state quarterfinal
• Coach: Jon Kobayashi, 9th year, 45-2-1 in KIF (lost 14 games overall)
• Top players:
OL Abraham Apilado (6-1, 305, Sr.)
QB/K Adrian Agan (5-7, 170, Sr.)
RB/DB Chesley Barba (5-4, 134, Sr.)
DL Brandon Malama (5-3, 150, Sr.)
LB Gary Mata (5-7, 170, Soph.)
DB Tim Chang-Wo (5-7, 180, Sr.)
DB Dane Koga (5-4, 130, Jr.)
RB Rayson Cacal (5-10, 170, Jr.)
LB Jordan Dizon (6-1, 230, Soph.)
DL Mark Ruiz (5-10, 220, Sr.)
DE Ikaika Cabral (5-8, 170, Sr.)
• Outlook: In his second varsity game, junior Rayson Cacal ran for five touchdowns against Hilo as Waimea won 45-0. "We regrouped and our performance was a lot better" than in a 24-14 loss to Punahou the week before, coach Jon Kobayashi said. That's not good news for the rest of the KIF, which has seen Waimea win 17 championships in 22 years.
The Menehune have only 30 players, but "a great bunch of seniors," eight of whom are returning two-way starters, Kobayashi said. "We expect lot of big things out of them."
Waimea will start 10 sophomores and juniors, including two sophomore linebackers. Kobayashi noted that Kaua'i High beat defending Maui champion Maui High, but said, "We have a good chance if we play heads up and out-gut our opponents."
• Fun facts: Waimea has won 11 straight KIF championships, including eight under Jon Kobayashi, a Waimea alum. The Menehune also won seven titles in eight years between 1979 and '86 under Thomas Rita, Pat Perreira and Jim Kitamura.
