Kapolei tops 'Aiea in OIA White showdown
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
MILILANI — Quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada rushed for 148 yards, including two long touchdowns, to lift No. 8 Kapolei over No. 9 'Aiea, 44-24, last night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference football at Mililani High's stadium.
The Hurricanes (6-0 OIA White, 7-0 overall), however, still need to beat Radford (5-1), a 21-14 winner against Kalaheo last night, in next week's regular-season finale to clinch the White title outright and gain the White's top seed for the four-team conference tournament the following week. If Radford wins and 'Aiea wins, there will be a three-way tie for first. With each of the three teams beating one but not the other, a coin toss would determine seeding.
'Aiea (5-1, 5-2) could have clinched the top seed with a win last night because it would have beaten all the involved teams and won all head-to-head tiebreakers. Na Alii play Moanalua next week.
The top two teams in the conference tournament advance to the first Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division II tournament.
Kaheaku-Enhada scored on option keepers of 77 and 59 yards.
But Kapolei's defense got five turnovers, including four interceptions, two by Kainoa Enhada, Kaheaku-Enhada's brother. The other giveaway from 'Aiea was a 3-yard fumble return for a touchdown by lineman Ben Kahalehoe after linebacker Bryan Padayao jarred the ball from running back Raymond Tauala.
Kapolei's other quarterback, John Medeiros, completed 17 of 26 passes for 220 yards, including TDs of 5 yards to Brandon Pieper and 52 yards to Charles Recamara.
'Aiea receiver Ben Ah Mook Sang caught TD passes of 15 and 13 yards from Kali Kuia.
Kapolei scored first on a 28-yard counter play by slotback Chaves Gamboa, but 'Aiea tied the game on the 15-yard TD pass to Ah Mook Sang.
Kaheaku-Enhada gave Kapolei a lead it would not relinquish at 14-7 with his 77-yard TD run.
'Aiea responded with a 33-yard field goal by Brandon Puckett, but Kahalehoe's fumble return for a TD with 2:45 before halftime gave Kapolei a 21-10 lead.
Kapolei opened the second half with three unanswered TDs to make it 38-10 with 8:52 left in the game. The margin was too much for 'Aiea to overcome despite two late TDs.
KAPOLEI (6-0, 7-0) 14 7 14 9 — 44
'AIEA (5-1, 5-2) 7 3 0 14 — 24
- Kap—Chaves Gamboa 28 run (Kerisiano Tuaniga kick)
- 'Aiea—Ben Ah Mook Sang 15 pass from Kali Kuia (Brandon Puckett kick)
- Kap—Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada 77 run (Tuaniga kick)
- 'Aiea—FG Puckett 33
- Kap—Ben Kahalehoe 3 fumble return (Tuaniga kick)
- Kap—Brandon Pieper 5 pass from Medeiros (Tuaniga kick)
- Kap—Charles Recamara 52 pass from Medeiros (Tuaniga kick)
- Kap—FG Tuaniga 30
- 'Aiea—Raymond Tauala 9 run (run failed)
- Kap—Kaheaku-Enhada 59 run (kick failed)
- 'Aiea—Ah Mook Sang 13 pass from Kuia (Tauala run)
RUSHING—Kapolei: Kaheaku-Enhada 5-148, Ikaika Tan 1-(minus 2), John Dela Rama 8-25, Chaves Gamboa 4-29, Darin Awong 1-0, Colin Dumlao 1-(minus-14), John Medeiros 5-(minus-6), Gilbert Brown 3-9. 'Aiea: Kuia 2-26, Tauala 14-56.
PASSING—Kapolei: Kaheaku-Enhada 0-3-0—0, Medeiros 17-26-1—220. 'Aiea: Kuia 24-52-4—180.
RECEIVING—Kapolei: Dumlao 5-60, Dela Rama 2-2, Gamboa 3-34, Bronson Pieper 4-61, Recamara 1-52, Jon Santiago 1-5, Travis Mori 1-6. 'Aiea: Jonathan Burgos 1-6, Alden DeMello 8-59, Ah Mook Sang 11-89, Tauala 1-14, Jabez Armodia 2-9, Ian Dela Cuesta 1-3.
JV: Aiea 14, Kapolei 14 (tie)
