Kapaa holds off Damien to reach second straight Division I title game

Kapaʻa cornerback Eleu Keawe (2) celebrates with Brayden Bermoy (21) after returning a 22 yard interception for a touchdown against Damien on the first play of scrimmage in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I State Championships semifinals at Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex. CJ Caraang | SL

The Warriors heading back to the 'ship.

Kapaa jumped out to an early double digit lead, then held off Damien over the final three quarters to post a 31-26 victory in the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I State Football Championships.

"We heard all last week that we'll have a challenge and knowing we held our ground to the end, it's a big win, and builds our confidence heading into next week," said Eleu Keawe.

A tipped pass on the game's opening offensive play found its way into the hands of Keawe, who raced it back 22 yards to put the Warriors up 7-0 just 17 seconds into the contest.

"I seen the quarterback staring at me and the receiver, and then he (the receiver) tipped it, and once I got the ball I was gone," Keawe said of the play.

On the ensuing Monarchs' possession, a three and out forced a punt, which was promptly blocked by Sami Kauvaka, sending the ball into the end zone, where it bounced out the back for a safety, spotting the home team a 9 point cushion with 11:22 on the clock.

Kapaa's offense took the field following the safety and drove the ball 56 yards in 10 plays, which inlcuded the only pass attempt of the game, a 12 yard completion from Kaitin Mundon to Isaiah Kaaumoana-Lizama, a drive capped off by a 15 yard scamper on an end around by Kaisen Mundon that put the KIF champs up 16-0.

"That was absolutely huge," said Kapaa head coach Mike Tresler of the fast start. "We haven't been starting early and all of our prep is, we need to start early, jump on them early, don't let them get in the rhythm."

Damien got on the board at the 2:10 mark of the first when Alani Tuifua connected by Dreden Kaawaloa for a 12 yard score that made it 16-7, got a defensive stop to halt a 12 play drive for the Warriors, but saw that momentum halted when Brayden Bermoy picked off Tuifua for the second time in the game.

That turnover led to yet another sustained drive for Kapaa, capped off by a Mundon scamper into the end zone from 16 yards out that pushed the margin back to double digits.

Tuifua was able to close the gap prior to halftime, connecting with Wyatt Ho-Williams on a 37 yard bomb to make it 24-13, as the extra point attempt that followed was blocked, making it an 11 point margin at the intermision.

The teams traded scores in the third quarter, Mundon's two yard keeper and Tuifua's 18 yard option, but a 34 yard missed field goal for the Warriors at the 8:35 mark of the fourth was a missed opportunity.

Damien had its chances late to make a push, as a bad snap on a punt deep in Kapaa territory with 3:55 in regulation gave a golden opportunity at the Warriors 15 that was cashed in by the Monarchs via a 12 yard connection from Tuifua to Ho-Wiliams that cut the lead to five, but a failed two point try on the conversion meant a touchdown to win.

That chance would never come to fruition however, as the onside attempt by Damien was deftly smothered by Takazee Thomas, allowing for the Warriors offense to then do what it had done all game, run the ball with success.

Alakai Pigao-Mundon broke free in the second ary on a second and six rumble, but eventually was tackled after a 21 yard gain, but that carry, his 22nd of the game all but sealed it.

Pigao-Mundon finished with 83 hard earned yards and the same number of carries as Kaitin Mundon, 22.

"Such a workhorse and he's only a sophomore," said Tresler of Pigao-Mundon. "I wanted him to take that one to the house, that would have been ever sweeter for him."

Mundon had a game-high 114 yards on the ground, his fourth time eclipsing the century mark this season.

"He's ice and he's been great all year, his confidence is growing and he has great command of the offense," said Tresler of Mundon. "He's been a captain from day one and he's a gamer."

Damien was led by Tuifua, who finsihed with 232 yards and three scores, and Ho-Williams who hauled in 13 huge receptions for 178 yards.

"We had a whole gameplan for them, that's how good they are," said Tresler of Tuifua and Ho-Willams. "I can't say enough about those two it's so hard to coach against them, and we had to do it two years in a row."

The two teams met last year in the state semis, with the Warriors coming out on top 55-33.