Ka‘u’s big first half Saturday in Pahoa involved all the usual suspects.
Kupono Palakiko-Leffew ran 49 yards for a score, Cy Tamura caught two touchdown passes, including a 60-yarder, and quarterback Jordan DeRamos and Anthony Emmsley-AhYee hooked up for a pair of scoring strikes.
And having mastered the finer points of eight-man football, the Trojans continue to get a lesson in good sportsmanship. Coach DuWayne Ke pulled his first-team offense and defense during the second half of a 58-22 victory against the Daggers.
“It was hard for them, but I told them we were going to change it up big-time,” Ke said. “We put in the underclassmen and they had fun.”
Kaimanu Medeiros-Dancel added a 3-yard touchdown run as Ka‘u (3-0 Big Island Interscholastic Federation, 4-1), led 58-8 at the half.
The high-powered offense operated behind a three-man offensive line that was finally healthy and playing together for the first time this season.
“It was good to be back at full force,” Ke said.
Ka‘u finishes the regular season next Saturday against Kohala (2-1, 4-1) in Kapaau.
Wrapping up its first season on the gridiron since 2001, Pahoa (0-4, 0-6) put forth its highest-scoring game of the year. Joaquin Ridgway returned the game’s opening kickoff 80 yards for one of his two touchdowns, and Kawika Andrian picked up a fumble and scooted 94 yards for a score. It was the second consecutive game Ridgway took a kickoff back for a TD.
Ke said Daggers coaches came up to him after the game and thanked him for pulling his starters.
“That wasn’t necessary,” he said. “It’s all about camaraderie. Sometimes people forget we do this all for the kids.”