A new look and a new attitude is emanating from the Kalaheo football team, but it’s still too early to call it a new era. The Mustangs delivered their second straight shutout Saturday, romping past Waialua 43-0 in an OIA Division II football game at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium.
“We deserve it,” said Kalaheo quarterback Noa Lapera, who threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns. “We start practicing at 3 every day and go all the way to 6:30. It all pays off. Now, we’re only looking at Pac-Five (on Saturday). That’s our next game. We’ll be working extra hard on Monday and hope to put our foot on the pedal. We got a shutout last week against McKinley and we’ll be looking for another shutout next week.”
The victory puts Kalaheo (2-2, 2-1) in the mix in the eight-team division. The Mustangs are looking up at only Kaimuki (3-0) and Pearl City (2-0).
Showing superb poise, Lapera went 11-for-15, and he was fortunate to have Jedaiah Borge in the backfield taking handoffs and lining up as a receiver. Borge scored the Mustangs’ first three touchdowns — on passes of 38 and 68 yards from Lapera and on a 28-yard run. Both Lapera and Borge went both ways and made plays in the defensive backfield, with Borge intercepting a pass later in the game.
Hunter Maiawa (tackle for loss), Alan Aber (sack) and Jordan Neufeldt also contributed in a big way for the Mustangs’ defense.
“The hard work we’ve been putting in as a team is beginning to pay off and the kids are beginning to buy into that,” Mustangs coach Darrell Poole said. “Hat’s off to our defensive coaches, led by Blaze Soares. He has brought a lot to the kids as far as attitude on both sides of the ball. It’s changed us as a team.”
Soares, the former Castle High and University of Hawaii standout linebacker, needs little introduction. He was known for his hard hits and nonstop aggressiveness.
Kalaheo, which picked up a second victory in a season for the first time since 2012, pounded for 199 rushing yards, with Jaden Amasiu going for 59, Carl Addy getting 50 and Borge netting 48.
“For the last two weeks, we really worked hard as a unit, and that’s what got us the win,” Borge said.
Waialua quarterback Justyce Lacar completed 11 of his 22 passes for 87 yards, but the Bulldogs did not sustain their drives. They got past midfield, barely, three times.
“We’re going back to the drawing board,” Waialua coach Lincoln Barit said. “Gotta regroup. Kalaheo was good. They’ve got some good coaches coming on, like Soares, who has the defense now. They’re well-disciplined. We’ve got to deal with some issues like attitude. Kalaheo deserved it.”
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GAME SUMMARY
Kalaheo 43, Waialua 0
At Skippa Diaz Stadium
>> Waialua (0-3, 0-2 OIA D-II) 0 0 0 0 — 0
>> Kalaheo (2-2, 2-1 OIA D-II) 16 20 0 7 — 43
Kalaheo — Jedaiah Borge 38 pass from Noa Lapera (Borge run)
Kalaheo — Borge 28 run (Reggan Eugenio run)
Kalaheo — Borge 68 pass from Lapera (kick failed)
Kalaheo — Kekoa Alana 25 pass from Laper (Eugenio pass from Alana)
Kalaheo — Carl Addy 8 run (run failed)
Kalaheo — Alana 4 run (Nicolas Sarji kick)
RUSHING — Waialua: Jonah Baker 3-7, Blitzen Benz 1-5, Makana Nahooikaika 1-3, Justyce Lacar 5-2, Jakob Lagua 1-1 Kyler Dicion 2-(minus-13). Kalaheo: Jaden Amasiu 9-59, Addy 8-50, Borge 3-48, Alana 9-39, Lapera 2-3.
PASSING — Waialua: Lacar 11-22-1-87, Dicion 0-1-0-0. Kalaheo: Lapera 11-15-0-210.
RECEIVING — Waialua: Dylan Yadao 5-42, Bronson Ventura 4-17, Kalawelo Kuehu 1-25, Justin Lorenzo 1-3. Kalaheo: Jordan Neufeldt 3-38, Alana 3-33, Borge 2-106, Isaiah Akiu 2-24, Addy 1-9.
