The ninth-ranked Kapaa football team put forth a prolific offensive performance in its 55-33 win over then-No. 9 Damien Friday night, but much of it was set up by its defense. 

The Warriors recorded six takeaways, which they turned into 28 points, to separate from the Monarchs in their First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I semifinal matchup at Farrington's Edward ‘Skippa' Diaz Stadium at Kusunoki Field. 

Among the defensive standouts for Kapaa Friday was senior defensive back Nash Burkart, who tallied 7 ½ tackles and forced a fumble. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound third-year starter also made key contributions on special teams, most notably his 82-yard kickoff return for touchdown in the second quarter. 

"Nash is such a dynamic player," Warriors coach Mike Tresler said of Burkart, a cornerback who also plays wide receiver. 

"We try to get the ball in his hands as much as possible because he just makes plays for us. He makes people miss and he makes big plays," Tresler added. 

Although Damien was able to post 496 yards of total offense, quarterback AJ Tuifua was intercepted four times. Kapaa's defense also forced and recovered a pair of fumbles, including a key strip by Burkart late in the third quarter. 

Tuifua completed a long pass over the top of the defense to Champ Buffet that went for 64 yards. Buffet was able to get behind Burkart to make the catch, but Burkart was able to chase him down and jarred the ball loose. 

"The guy ran a cross from the other side and I didn't see him because we were playing cover-3 (zone), so that's my quarter, but I saw him catch it on top of me and I was just like, ‘No, there's no way he got behind me. I didn't even see him. I need to make up for this,' so I ran as fast as I could and caught up to him, saw him sticking the ball out when he would stride on that side and I just came over with my right hand and ripped it out," Burkart described. 

Tresler recalled the play from his perspective on the sideline. 

"I don't know what he was doing and what he was looking at earlier, but that's just total effort to run it down and tomahawk the ball out and getting us that turnover, that was huge," Tresler said. 

The fumble was recovered by Brayden Bermoy and gave the Warriors possession at their own 3-yard line. 

"Nash's effort was tremendous and I think along with our entire defense, their effort was what we expected and how we coach them to be. They weren't perfect at all in their assignments, for sure, but their effort was great," Tresler said. 

Burkart earned All-Kauai Interscholastic Federation recognition as both a defensive back and a special teams player as a junior last year. Tresler said that Burkart's success has not come without some serious sweat equity. 

"He goes away summers and goes to camps — his uncle is a coach at Sacramento State. The guy comes back just on fire," Tresler said. 

Burkart played quarterback growing up in the youth league on the Garden Isle. For the Warriors he serves as a lockdown cornerback, as well as the team's punter and kick/punt returner. 

"His teammates know his explosiveness and how dynamic he is, so they get excited when he gets opportunities, especially on punt return and kickoff return. He raises the level of their game and gets them excited because they know that if they do their job, he has the ability to take it to the house. On defense he's a great cover guy and overall they look to him to make plays," Tresler described. 

Kapaa held a 15-7 lead after the first quarter Friday, but Damien pulled to within a point after a Tuifua touchdown pass with 6:43 left in the second stanza. However, Burkart seized the momentum back in favor of the Warriors when he took back the ensuing kickoff for an 82-yard touchdown return. 

"I saw it was kind of a shorter, high kick and I thought, ‘This is perfect because this will give my front and back line time to set up their blocks and get a little more upfield. I caught it around the 20(-yard line) and was waiting a little bit for my blocks to set up and right when it set up, it opened up the perfect hole and I ran right through and scored," Burkart said. 

Burkart said that he scored on a punt return earlier this season, but Friday marked his first kickoff return for touchdown all year. 

"He didn't get much opportunities in the (KIF) season, but when he did he made the most of it," Tresler expressed. "He attacked it perfectly, caught it on the run and our guys timed up their blocks and gave him the crease that he needed — and he didn't need much — but he read it perfectly, slipped through to the sideline, two guys had an angle on him but he turned on the afterburners and took it all the way."

Given Kapaa's offensive success Friday night — it capped eight of its 12 possessions with touchdowns — Burkart was forced to punt just twice and averaged 38 yards per boot. He pinned the Monarchs inside their own 10-yard line with his 48-yard punt early in the fourth quarter. 

Tresler noted that Burkart's athleticism and versatility also allows him to play safety in the defensive secondary when needed. Burkart is an accomplished track and field athlete and an all-league performer in the high jump, long jump and triple jump events. 

"He's long and with his track background as a jumper he can get up high, which is advantage for us because if they throw that fifty-fifty ball, even if he's not in decent position, he's so long and explosive that he can get up and pick it off. With him, we're pretty confident that we'll win more of those battles," Tresler said. 

As a kickoff returner, Burkart came up with three returns for 115 yards Friday and helped the Warriors to an average starting position of their own 40-yard line. 

"Everybody on the team turned it up and so that was part of our success, they were great in their effort all game long and Nash's effort every play was what we needed. He made a lot of good tackles and on special teams as well, his effort was tremendous. He was a threat and he affected them on kickoffs, which gave us great field position on offense, even when he wasn't returning the ball," Tresler said. 

Burkart noted that he was a freshman promoted to the varsity squad for the 2021 postseason, when Kapaa won the Division II state championship. 

"There were a bunch of us that got pulled up our freshmen year and a lot of us seniors are out here every day working hard and trying to get that koa trophy. I feel like not just me, but all the seniors, we all play a big role on the team," he said. 

The Warriors (8-2) will try to claim their first state title at the D1 level when they meet No. 9 Konawaena (10-2) in the championship game Saturday night. 

"We're peaking at the right time and we hope to continue it. These guys are just having fun and that's what it's all about. We have a workmanlike approach to everything that we do, so we can't wait for that opportunity," Tresler said. 

Kickoff is scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. at Mililani's John Kauinana Stadium and will follow the D2 state final between No. 15 Kaiser (10-2) and No. 13 Kamehameha-Maui (8-3) at 4 p.m. 

FOOTBALL

Sylas Alaimalo, Damien — Caught 12 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown and ran for 77 yards and another touchdown on 14 carries in a loss to Kapaa 

Keenan Alani, Konawaena — Threw for 359 yards and five touchdowns on 20-of-36 passing without an interception in a win over Leilehua 

Tevyn Apo, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored on kickoff returns for touchdowns of 89 and 90 yards in a win over Roosevelt 

Brayden Bermoy, Kapaa — Made 10 total tackles, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in a win over Damien 

Syren Burley, Kapaa — Made three tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Damien 

Zedekaiah Campbell — Ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries in a win over Roosevelt 

Chaz Corona, Kauai — Made 7 ½ tackles in a loss to Kaiser 

Evan Daligdig, Kapaa — Threw a touchdown pass and ran for two touchdowns in a win over Damien 

Keawe Davis, Roosevelt — Caught 12 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui

Kamalei Gonsalves, Kapaa — Caught a 42-yard touchdown pass and recorded an interception in a win over Damien 

Kaikea Hueu, Kamehameha-Maui — Ran for 124 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in a win over Roosevelt 

Funaki James-Fainga, Konawaena — Made 4 ½ tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Leilehua 

Titus Joaquin, Kamehameha-Maui — Made 3 ½ tackles, including 2 ½ sacks, in a win over Roosevelt 

Mikemund Jose, Kauai — Made 7 ½ tackles, including one for a loss, in a loss to Kaiser 

Kolt Kahoohanohano, Kamehameha-Maui — Made 2 ½ tackles, intercepted two passes, returned one 49 yards for a touchdown, and broke up another pass in a win over Roosevelt 

Braden Liua, Leilehua — Made 10 total tackles, including one for a loss, in a loss to Konawaena 

Samisoni Mafi, Kaiser — Made five tackles, including three for losses and two sacks, with one pass break up in a win over Kauai 

Elias Malapit, Konawaena — Caught a touchdown pass and made 6 ½ tackles, including 2 ½ for losses and one sack, in a win over Leilehua 

Moli Pahulu, Kauai — Made 7 ½ tackles, including two for losses and one sack, and forced a fumble in a loss to Kaiser 

Kaden Paoa Itamura, Kauai — Made three tackles, intercepted two passes and broke up two others in a loss to Kaiser 

Ryan Peters, Kapaa — Made 2 ½ tackles and scored on a 30-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Damien 

Kai Potts, Kauai — Kicked field goals of 27 and 39 yards in a loss to Kaiser 

Hiwa Satta-Ellis, Konawaena — Made six tackles, including 2 ½ for losses and 1 ½ sacks, in a win over Leilehua 

Dayton Savea, Damien — Caught seven passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kapaa 

Keola Seumanutafa-Bryant, Leilehua — Make 7 ½ tackles, including three for losses, in a loss to Konawaena 

Nainoa Simmons, Kapaa — Ran for 261 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries in a win over Damien 

Bennett Strobel, Leilehua — Threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-37 passing without an interception in a loss to Konawaena 

Austin Takaki, Konawaena — Caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown and recorded five tackles, one interception and two pass break ups in a win over Leilehua 

Aliimalu Tan, Konawaena — Caught nine passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Leilehua 

Takazee Thomas, Kapaa — Made 6 ½ tackles, recovered a fumble and broke up two passes in a win over Damien 

Romeo Tubon, Leilehua — Caught nine passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Konawaena 

Kayden Yap, Kamehameha-Maui — Kicked field goals of 45 and 33 yards and converted six extra points in a win over Roosevelt 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Declan Beckette, Iolani — Scored 22 points in a win over Kekaulike

Keaka Bennett, Le Jardin — Scored 20 points in a win over McKinley

Levi Damo-Agcaoili, Damien — Scored 24 points in a loss to Waianae

Bromo Dorn, Seabury Hall — Scored 31 points with seven rebounds, seven steals, four assists and one block in a win over Kapaa

Dylan Kobayashi, Kalani — Scored 26 points with seven rebounds, five steals and three assists in a loss to Nanakuli 

Logan Mason, Mid-Pacific — Scored 24 points in a loss to Mililani and scored 20 points in a win over Lahainaluna

Kailikea McCabe, Lahainaluna — Scored 20 points in a win over Roosevelt 

Davis Mitchel, Castle — Scored 14 points with 14 rebounds and one assist in a win over Hawaii Baptist

Maddox Pung, Kailua — Scored 25 points in a win over University Lab and scored 21 points in a win over Nanakuli

Tanoa Scanlan, Punahou — Scored 21 points in a loss to Leilehua

Matthew Shigetani, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kaiser 

Thomas Tucker, Waianae — Scored 21 points in a loss to Hanalani

Tyree Wilson, Leilehua — Scored 20 points in a win over Punahou

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Breyanna Alfonso, Island School — Scored 29 points in a win over Kalaheo

Khloe Bicoy, Molokai — Scored 20 points in a win over Hana

Destiny Dupree, Lanai — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kohala

Myah Galdeira, Kailua — Scored 21 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Akemi Kawamata, Mililani — Scored 17 points in a win over Kamehameha II

Sophia Kisch, Kalaheo — Scored 17 points in a loss to Island School

Telia Laeli, Honokaa — Scored 27 points in a win over Kealakehe and scored 21 points in a win over Waiakea 

Emma Mangalao, Sacred Hearts — Scored 17 points in a win over Kaimuki

Rhea Nobleza, Moanalua — Scored 17 points in a win over Nanakuli

Kylie Oshita, University Lab — Scored 20 points in a win over Waianae 

Leila Paraoan, Kapolei — Scored 25 points in a win over Castle

Kaya Texiera, Waiakea — Scored 19 points ina  loss to Honokaa

Tori Tokuda, Mid-Pacific — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kailua