HANAPEPE — Working in front of a strong contingent of Buckeye Union supporters wearing a variety of supporter wear patterns, the Hawks from Buckeye, Arizona struck early on Saturday, and held off a challenge put on by the host Waimea High during a preseason football contest at Hanapepe Stadium, 38-21.
The Hawks’ victory was led by Darius Haskin and Shamar Parker each scoring two touchdowns, and kicker Rolando Negrete adding a 21-yard field goal in addition to booting five point after touchdown (PAT) kicks. The Hawks’ defense added a score in the second stanza when Lasana Keita recovered a fumble and ran the pigskin back eight yards for the 28-7 Buckeye lead with less than two minutes showing before halftime.
Waimea, the defending Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II state champion, got a late start after being held scoreless in the first 12 minutes of play and facing a 14-0 deficit.
Menehune Wesley “Kamu” Santiago corraled a loose pigskin on the Menehune 20-yard line in the final two minutes of the first quarter to set up Waimea’s first strike that came in the second quarter following a strong running performance by Santiago that advanced the ball to the Hawks’ 29-yard line at the period’s end.
Kaili Arakaki took the ball into the Hawks’ red zone to open the second quarter, and delivered the pigskin at the end of an 11-yard scoring run to cap the drive. Rhazian Tacub-Taniguchi delivered the PAT boot for the 14-7 Buckeye lead.
The Menehune were quiet until the final quarter, when they scored a pair of touchdowns to end the night.
Facing a 38-7 hole, Nohili Ragragola sparked life into the Menehune ranks by fueling the drive following Negrete’s field goal, and capped the drive by charging 20 yards for the score that came with just 5:44 showing on the game clock. Tacub-Taniguchi’s kick split the uprights for a 38-14 deficit.
After stopping the Hawks at the Waimea 48-yard line on the ensuing kickoff, the Menehune took over to score the final TD on the night when Xailen Niheu-Kamaka did the honors on a 4-yard surge into the end zone with less than a minute showing in the game. Tacub-Taniguchi’s boot finished the night’s scoring.
Waimea opens its Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season by hosting Kapa‘a High, Kaua‘i’s sole Division I team, on Sept. 9 at Hanapepe Stadium. The junior varsity contest kicks off at 4 p.m. with the varsity contest starting 30 minutes after the completion of the JV game.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Source: The Garden Island
Be First to Comment