Kapaa running back Shain Davis stretches to break the plane for a second quarter touchdown scamper against Waimea. Manuel Henriques | Special to SL

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Kapaa running back Shain Davis stretches to break the plane for a second quarter touchdown scamper against Waimea. Manuel Henriques | Special to SL

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Kapaa became the second team in the state to clinch a state berth with its 17-9 win over Waimea at Hanapepe Ballpark Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors, ranked No. 3 in the ScoringLive/OC16 Division II Power Rankings, also claimed their second Kauai Interscholastic Federation title in the state tournament era. The last time Kapaa claimed the league championship was in 2011.

"It feels really good. We had our minds set on this and all of our hard work finally paid off. I'm just thankful for the win," said first-year Kapaa coach Phillip Rapozo. 

Leading the Warriors (5-1, 5-0 KIF) in the victory was running back Shain Davis with 94 yards and two first-half touchdowns. Davis, the team's leading receiver, also added two catches for 27 yards.

"He played real good and he ran the ball really well," Rapozo said on Davis. "He ran the ball in the trenches hard. Most of his yardage was in the trenches."

Kapaa's win over the Menehunes (1-5, 0-5) was its closest league game this season. The Warriors had outscored their league opponents 127-13 in their first four regular season games. Rapozo hopes playing in a tight game will pay dividends in the state tourney. 

"This win is going to help us in the state tournament. This game Waimea came out a lot better in the second half. I have to give them credit. They came to play and I think this is going to help us out in the postseason because we had to play a whole game," said Rapozo.

Winning the league championship also had special meaning to the Warriors. Kapaa dedicated its season in honor of late assistant coach Dean "Big Daddy" Petro who passed in March after a five-year battle with cancer. Rapozo described Petro as someone who loved the game so much that he would come to practices with his chemo hooked up. 

"The kids wanted to dedicate the season for him so we did. We're happy to win the championship," said Rapozo. "The scene at the end of the game was beautiful. There was a double rainbow as time was running out." 

The Warriors also have decals on their helmets in honor of Petro.

Leading the game in tackles was linebacker Austyne Carvalho-Toloai with nine. Other defensive standouts include linebackers Mosese Fifita (seven tackles) and Mana Kupihea (six tackles, sack, fumble recovery).

Kicker Noah LaMadrid kicked a 43-yard field goal and was 2-for-2 on PATs in the win. 

Kapaa hopes to wrap up an undefeated regular season with a win over Kauai on Oct. 25. 

"The kids and the coaches are shooting for an undefeated season. We want to finish the season with a bang heading into the postseason. It's going to mean a lot to do that," said Rapozo.