The Kapaa Warriors combine for a tackle against Lahainaluna's Enele Scanlan. Kapaa defeated the Lunas in the non-league matchup, 21-0. Glen Pascual | Special to SL

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If the Kapaa Warriors continue the trend that they have been following the past two years, they should be holding the Division II title at the end of the year.

The Warriors have advanced to the Division II state semifinals and state championship game in coach Philip Rapozo's first two years at the helm, but have fallen to the eventual champs in both appearances. With the past two winners, Iolani and Radford, in Division I this season, Kapaa is ready to bring the Garden Isle its first-ever football state title.

"I think our chances are good to play in the playoffs and get back to state championship," said Rapozo. "I know it's going to be harder this time, it's always harder to get back on top of the mountain than the first time, but I like our chances. We have a good coaching staff, great kids and great support. I think we're going to be good enough to get back and compete for a state title again in Division II."

Kapaa's defense received a lot of credit for the team's run to the state title game, having held opposing teams to no offensive touchdowns before meeting the Rams in the final. But Radford broke through the Warriors' defense and was able to shutout the Kapaa offense in the second half to win 30-16. 

As talented as Kapaa was on the field in 2015, Rapozo believes that his team could have been a lot closer and have a tighter bond that would have rallied the group in a tight situation.

"I think I would say we wasn't united as much," he said. "I'd say we didn't appreciate the word team as much as we should have. When your defense is so dominant, it's hard for the offense to get respect, and of course it has to be earned, but I think this year we have to carry each other more as far as helping each other out. I think if we can get tighter on that, we can be a lot better than we were last year as a team and a unit."

Rapozo added that his team wasn't ready for how physical the Rams were.

"We thought we would be as physical or even more physical as they were," said Rapozo. "Hats off to coach (Fred) Salanoa and his staff. They prepared well and brought it. No excuses for us. We just got to be ready for more physical teams this time around."

To help remedy this for a potential postseason run, the Warriors scheduled two non-league opponents from the Maui Interscholastic League in Maui High and Lahainaluna. Kapaa grinded out a 16-6 win over Maui in its season-opener, but got a convincing 21-0 road win against Division II contender Lahainaluna the following week. 

"We played a lot better against Lahainaluna. They're a really good team so I'm really excited for how we played against them," Rapozo said. "Our offense played a lot better against Maui. With two weeks in pads, you have to realize it's not going to be beautiful, but that extra week really made a difference for us. I think we can improve in all facets of the game still yet. If we can do that, we will be in good shape throughout the year."

While the Warriors will have to do it again with a lot of new faces at several positions, they do have a handful mainstays at key spots — LB Mana Kupihea, DT Kapena Texeira and OL Mo Unutoa — that are eager to lead the team back to the state championship game.

"It was an unbelievable experience. There's nothing that I can compare it to," said Kupihea. "Hopefully we can get back to there. It would be really nice to finish my senior year by bringing home the title to Kauai."

Some folks on Kauai feel that the Warriors were better on paper last year, but this year's group has a lot more untapped potential waiting in the wings. Rapozo estimates that there are about seven sophomores that will be starters or a key contributor this season.

"I think this is the best things that can happen to us," said Rapozo. "As the years go by, you can only get better. They don't have to wait to be seniors to lead the team. I'm very excited to have them with us. I think that kind of hurt us last year, we had a couple of sophomores that we could have really used."

Rapozo added that the method has already been proven with Kupihea and Texeira starting on the team as sophomores.

"I expect great things out of those two guys this year. Now it's their team now. They've been on this team already for two years. They've been to the playoffs, been to the state tournament. They have the experience to benefit the program in the long run."

Kupihea received mid-season Division II Defensive Player of the Year honors last season, but was quick to give credit to Texeira in the trenches.

"It's unexplainable because that guy is so good," Kupihea said on Texeira. "He can pick up two blocks and fill two gaps. It really makes us linebackers have a field day out there. He's so good that he can get off blocks, and make the plays that the linebackers should. He's going to be very good this year."

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker also added that the young players on the team have encouraged the upperclassmen to be at their best so that they don't fall out of the rotation.

"These young guys are really energetic and they just want to play. I was in their situation before. I wanted to play when I was a sophomore and I wanted to be always on the field. Knowing that they're hungry, that they're going to be there longer than I am, they're going to want to fight and make us seniors and juniors fight for jobs. 

"We have a lot of sophomores playing key positions. They have a lot on their shoulders, but they're going to pull through. They're going to be be big and they're going to step up."

Kapaa begins its Kauai Interscholastic Federation season Friday night against Kauai High.