Posted on: Tuesday, September 23, 2003

Kaua'i enjoying football success

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By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lihu'e is still buzzing from Kaua'i's 26-12 win against 11-time defending Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion Waimea last Friday night.

Before that, the last time the Red Raiders beat the Menehunes was on Oct. 10, 1997, when most of this year's players were likely playing Pop Warner. In fact, the Red Raiders beat the Menehunes 2 of 3 during that regular season, as both finished 4-2. Waimea won a playoff for the overall title.

"Today was waiver day, so there were no students in school," fifth-year coach Kelii Morgado said. "But the principal made a big congratulations to the football program and the entire faculty cheered. When I passed by our volleyball teams (at practice), they cheered. There's a festive feeling on campus. Tomorrow (today) should be fun."

But junior quarterback Kekoa Crowell is cautious. There are two more rounds in the KIF season.

Kaua'i is 2-0, Waimea 1-1.

"A lot of people talked to us and praised us about beating them," Crowell said. "But we have to look to the next game. We have to beat them two more times. We have to forget this game and move on."

One reason for the Red Raiders resurgence is Crowell. He passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns against Waimea. In two games, he has passed for 622 yards and five TDs in Kaua'i's run-and-shoot system. But learning the offense used by the University of Hawai'i, and a number of O'ahu high schools, did not come easy.

"It was kind of difficult," Crowell recalled of his performance last year, his first year on the varsity. "It was a new experience, reading defenses and putting the ball in places where the receiver isn't even there yet."

Morgado said he likes the way Crowell has matured.

"Last year, he let good plays and bad plays linger and it affected his decision-making," Morgado said. "He worked on control over his emotions and understanding that you have to move on from one place to the next. I'm most proud of him in that respect."

Morgado believes Crowell has the potential to play at the Division I level. Although Crowell hasn't heard from any schools yet, he said he wouldn't mind playing for UH.

"I really think that physically, he has the skills at a young age," Morgado said. "Mentally, he's further along. He has a solid grasp of reading coverages and understanding the numbers game in running the offense."

Although the Red Raiders lost to Punahou, 32-7, in a non-league game Aug. 29, Buffanblu coach Kale Ane, a former NFL player, liked what he saw in Crowell.

"I was impressed with him," Ane said. "He's very athletic, throws a good ball and has good footwork."

Ane added that Crowell can still fill in his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame. Attending a summer camp also would aid him, he said.

Morgado said it is not only Crowell doing the job. He said receivers like Kevin Cadiente and Garen Itamura — each with 175 yards in receiving — and Justin Arakaki (102 yards) "are on the same page (as Crowell), reading coverages just as well."

Morgado said the offensive line of center Bronson Bacarro, guards D.J. Higashi and Aren Racca and tackles Justin Kashiwabara and Ivan Kuapahi are doing a good job of protecting Crowell.

"All 11 (players on offense) are getting the job done," Morgado said.

This week's games

Interscholastic League of Honolulu
Friday
At Aloha Stadium
Iolani vs. Damien, 4:45 p.m.
Punahou vs. Saint Louis, 7:30 p.m.
Byes—Kamehameha, Pac-Five

O'ahu Interscholastic Association
Friday
JV games at 5 p.m., varsity to follow 25 minutes after end of JV games
East
Kahuku vs. Farrington at Roosevelt
Roosevelt at Kailua
West
Nanakuli vs. Campbell at Mililani
Leilehua at Pearl City
Wai'anae at Waipahu
Bye—Mililani
White
Kapolei at Kaiser
Saturday
JV games at 4 p.m., varsity to follow 25 minutes after end of JV games
East
McKinley vs. Kaimuki at Kaiser
Bye—Castle
White
'Aiea at Waialua
Byes—Kalaheo, Kalani, Moanalua, Radford

Maui Interscholastic League
JV games at 4:30 p.m., varsity at 7:30 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium
Friday
Maui vs. Baldwin
Saturday
King Kekaulike vs. Lahainaluna
Bye—Pac-Three

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042