Sophomore running back Kalena Harder carried 20 times for a game-high 98 yards with three touchdowns to lead Kapaa past Lahainaluna in a Division II state semifinal. Glen Pascual | Special to SL

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Athlete of the Week: Kalena Harder, Kapaa football
Against Lahainaluna Saturday afternoon, Kalena Harder showed everyone else what his coach already knew: he can play.

In just his second varsity football game, the sophomore running back carried 20 times for a game-high 98 yards. Harder found the end zone three times in the 24-0 win that propelled Kapaa to this Friday's First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II State Championship.

"I'm not surprised by his performance; I wanted him up (on the varsity) from the beginning of the year but he felt like he wasn't ready so I didn't force him," Warriors' coach Phillip Rapozo said.

As a freshman on the JV last year, Harder "dominated the league," Rapozo said.

"I think one game he had six touchdowns. It was like a man playing amongst boys," he said.

Rapozo got Harder to agree to move up to varsity for Kapaa's final regular-season game this year against Waimea three weeks ago.

Harder caught a touchdown pass in that game in limited playing time, but when Kekoa Kaluahine-Cacal went down with an injury in the first quarter of Saturday's game against the Lunas, Harder was thrust into the spotlight.

"He got his opportunity because our starting running back got a little banged up so we put Kalena in and Kalena did his job," Rapozo said. "We had him in the game plan because we run multiple backs and we don't have just one guy, but he just got more carries than he would have if Kekoa was healthy. I'm glad it all worked out."

Harder scored on a 9-yard run in the second quarter to help the Warriors take a 12-0 lead into halftime and added TD runs of 9 and 3 yards in the third quarter.

"He's a very patient runner, he reads his blocks really well, he has great vision, he has good lateral movement and he has breakaway speed," Rapozo said of Harder.

Rapozo commended Harder's maturity to be able to step into a state semifinal game as a sophomore.

"He's always been that way, he just didn't know it," Rapozo said. "I think it's just that he wasn't sure of himself. Everybody else around him, all the varsity and JV coaches knew he was good enough to play at the varsity level."

In addition to Kaluahine-Cacal, starting quarterback Kurt Napoleon also left with an injury early in the game, which only made Harder's production all the more important.

"That was big for us that he kind of controlled the flow of the offense and then we a sophomore quarterback come in and he did a heck of a job, too," Rapozo said of Teili Fonua. "It was like we didn't lose much a step with our backup quarterback. He's a different type of quarterback, but he does his job good. The sophomores showed us that they can do the job."

The transition from both Harder and Fonua was aided by the fact that the Warriors use identical schemes on both the JV and varsity levels.

"It makes it much easier for them because all the plays are the same, so when they come up to the varsity it's just a matter of getting adjusted to the speed of the varsity," Rapozo said. "Everything is the same on offense and defense. Of all the sophomores we brought up Kalena is the guy that on the first day adjusted to the speed automatic. It didn't even phase him. Everybody else had to get adjusted to the speed of the game, but he just blended right in."

Rapozo describes Harder as a "humble kid."

"He's very respectful, very quiet. He just does his job and is not a flashy guy, doesn't celebrate a lot or anything," said Rapozo, who added that he expects both Kaluahine-Cacal and Napoleon to be available this week.

Kapaa, the top seed in the six-team tournament, will meet second-seeded Radford for the state title at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.

FOOTBALL
Kesi Ah-Hoy, Kahuku — Rushed 40 times for 142 yards in a win over Waianae

Logan Canda, Konawaena — Had 12 tackles, including a sack, in a loss to Radford

Jeremiah Casuga-Brock, Konawaena — Made seven tackles, intercepted a pass and scored on a 66-yard fumble return in a loss to Radford

Austin Ewing, Konawaena — Threw for 272 yards and five touchdowns on 21-of-36 passing in a loss to Radford

Ace Faumui, Radford — Caughed a touchdown pass and rushed for another score in a win over Konawaena

Jaylen Gonzales, Waianae — Made 13 tackles in a loss to Kahuku

Algene Kelekolio, Konawaena — Caught a touchdown pass and rushed for another score in a loss to Radford

Pesa Lefau, Kahuku — Made 10 tackles in a win over Waianae

Saitaua Lefau, Saint Louis — Caught four passes for 102 yards with a touchdown and rushed for another score in a win over Mililani

Kayson Mahiai, Konawaena — Caught two touchdown passes in a loss to Radford

Francis Mailo, Waianae — Had 10 tackles and recovered a fumble in a loss to Kahuku

Vavae Malepeai, Mililani — Rushed 33 times for 266 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Saint Louis

Jalen Olomua, Mililani — Made nine tackles, including one for loss, in a loss to Saint Louis

Kodi Ongory-Mathias, Radford — Rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries in a win over Konawaena

Thomas Reid, Radford — Caught five passes for 135 yards and a touchdown in a win over Konawaena

Keala Santiago, Kahuku — Had three tackles, intercepted two passes, including one for a 32-yard score, in a win over Waianae

Jalen Saole, Saint Louis — Had three tackles, intercepted two passes and broke up two others in a win over Mililani

Isaac Slade-Matautia, Saint Louis — Made seven tackles, including one for loss, forced a fumble, broke up a pass and scored on a 66-yard fumble return in a win over Mililani

Jayce Smalley, Saint Louis — Made four tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Mililani

Tua Tagovailoa, Saint Louis — Threw for 375 yards with three touchdowns on 15-of-18 passing and rushed for 55 yards on seven carries with two other scores in a win over Mililani

Ola Tatofi, Kapaa — Had eight tackles, including five for losses, three sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a win over Lahainaluna

Ronson Timbreza, Saint Louis — Made five tackles and intercepted two passes in a win over Mililani

Kalakaua Timoteo, Mililani — Caught seven passes for 157 yards with three touchdowns in a loss to Saint Louis

Dylan Toilolo, Saint Louis — Made 11 tackles, including a sack, and forced two fumbles in a win over Mililani

Ivan Uphold-Pante, Lahainaluna — Had 10 tackles, including two for loss, in a loss to Kapaa

Jordan Walker, Radford — Had four tackles, including one for loss, recovered two fumbles and returned one for a 47-yard score in a win over Konawaena

Kaimana Young, Saint Louis — Had two sacks in a win over Mililani