Wildcats – Message Sent
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Wildcats – Message Sent
Sports is all about sending messages. Opponents try to do it constantly… every pre-game quote, every hit, every play, every score…always trying to get into the other guys’ heads to win the mental battle.
The 2012 Wildcats must feel like the entire conference has been trying to send them a message all season long-
“Last year was a fluke…”
“We’re not gonna let you be successful, no matter what the cost…”
“We don’t really consider Konawaena a top-tier team…”
“We’re going to bring you back down to our level where you belong…”
This is also true in any part of life… when someone makes a decision to rise up and be the best they can be, the losers and wannabe’s try and pull them right back down.
When someone tries to send you a message, one way or another, you have to respond…
So far in 2012, when the arrows starting flying, the Wildcats chose to circle wagons and let their play on the field do their talking.
And they were talking loud and clear…
Message Sent
The Wildcats opened the 2nd half of their BIIF Conference schedule still feeling like it was us against the world…
Still feeling the physical and emotional effects of that brutal game against Kamehameha the previous week, Konawaena hit the road against another confident, big, physical team in the Honoka’a Dragons.
The Dragons were still stinging from watching Konawaena clinch the BIIF Conference title on their home turf last year… They were determined not to let the Wildcats walk off their field with another victory on their last home game of the season.
…and they had had every reason to be confident coming off a 55-7 beat-down of HPA the previous week.
Dragons strike first
The Wildcats didn’t start out like world-beaters. They looked flat…emotionally and physically spent. And the Dragons took advantage of it.
After recovering a fumble on the Wildcats opening drive, the Dragons quickly turned that into a 3-o lead.
On the Wildcats next possession, the Dragons picked off a Karratti pass and took it 22 yards to the endzone.
Suddenly, the Wildcats found themselves facing a 10-0 deficit after the 1st quarter. The offense was struggling. 4 straight incompletions and very little from the running game either.
But in a sign of things to come, Karratti scrambled to his left on a broken play and ran 40 yards up the sideline before diving into the endzone.
The refs said he stepped out of bounds on the 12, but it didn’t matter. The spark had been lit…
Time to Respond…
“We didn’t think we were going to lose,’’ said Karratti, “We’re pretty confident.”
Ok, enough messing around. The Wildcats fully understood that even 1 more loss and their dreams of finishing in the Stadium could evaporate.
So when the 2nd quarter started, the Wildcats beat off the cobwebs and went to work.
Only it looked more like a blur… so try and keep up.
QB Li’i Karratti, 6 straight completions. RB John Kamoku finishes it off with a 2-yard touchdown.
Down 10-7.
On the kickoff, WR Kenan Gaspar stripped the ball lose then recovered the loose ball for a turnover. Less than a minute later, Karratti rewarded him with a 23-yard TD strike.
Up 14-10.
Honoka’a ensuing drive, another forced turnover by the Wildcats.
2 plays later, Karratti hooked up with Domonic Morris for a 26-yard TD.
Up 21-10.
Another Dragon turnover.
Minutes later, it was Dishon Cho on the receiving end of another Karratti TD pass.
Up 27-10.
And then with less than a minute left in the half, Karratti hooked up with Gaspar for the 2nd time of the quarter for another TD.
When the dust had settled, the Wildcats had blitzed the Dragons for 34 unanswered points to go up 34-10.
Message sent.
Wildcats- Message Delivered.
The 2nd half was more of the same.
The Wildcats would add 2 more rushing touchdowns by Bubba Ellis-Noa (1 yard) and Dishon Cho (19 yards) to make the final score 49-10.
It was the kind of balanced offensive game that Coach Walters loves to see… because it shows how dangerous they can be.
Karratti enjoyed all kinds of time behind his revamped O-line and finished with 171 passing yards on just 12 completions (to 5 different players, Chase Takaki leading the way with 4 receptions), with 4 touchdown passes (to 3 different receivers).
The rushing attack balanced it out with 204 yards on the ground. John Kamoku led the way with 91 yards on just 14 carries with 1 TD. Bubba Ellis-Noa and Dishon Cho each added 35 yards and a TD apiece.
But it wasn’t just about the offense…
… because the defense would just absolutely turn out the lights on the Dragon’s offense.
Let me just stop here a minute and talk about this Wildcat Defense lead by Coaches Brett Walters and Dave Karratti.
Due to their high-powered offense, this defense doesn’t get much attention. They kinda sit back out of the spotlight… and just do all the dirty work. Like forcing turnovers. Like stopping 1/3 of Honoka’a rushes behind the line of scrimmage.
They just keep coming. They are flat-out relentless.
Against the Dragons, 6 players recorded 5 tackles or more. Mike Rabara, Makoa Chapa, Kawika Kealoha, Ryan Torres-Torioka, Laimana Grace, Evyn Yamaguchi.
4 players had interceptions. Mikey Rabara, Evyn Yamaguchi, Kenan Gaspar and Eric Edumund.
3 players recovered fumbles. Makoa Chapa, Laimana Grace and Kenan Gaspar.
They only allowed 98 yards of total offense.
After the game, Dragons Head Coach Embernate had this to say,
“We looked like a millions dollars last week,’’ (referring to a 55-7 victory over HPA), “This week — 10 cents.’’
Don’t feel too bad Coach…
Because…
This defense has only allowed 26 points in 6 BIIF games so far. That’s 4.3 points a game.
Couple that with an offense that’s averaging 53 points a game… and you have a team that can respond to any message from any opponent.
No wonder the “next generation” of Wildcats is already looking up to the current one. Pay close attention boys, you’re watching a championship team…
It’s all about the Message…
If the Wildcats have anything to say about it, this won’t be the last message they send this year… (I just know Iolani is checking their rear-view mirror…)
But as good as they are, these young warriors know they can’t take any week… any game… any play… or any second for granted.
Why not?
Because their Coaches, lead by Head Coach Cliff Walters, are pretty good at sending messages, too.
“Start and Finish in the Stadium”
“Keep your eyes on the Prize”
Message sent.
Message received.
Attention Wildcats Fans-
Stay up to date all the way back to the Stadium!
– 2012 Konawaena Wildcats Game Scores & Recaps –