Lightning strikes Saints in finals

The Eastern Lighting clinched the championship in the 2013 CFLA Youth Football Warrior/Midget League after pounding the Northern Saints in the finals, 37-0, last Saturday at the Airport Field.

Quarterback Donavid Ada made four touchdown passes, while runningback Jose Camacho scored four TDs, and wide receiver Matthew Kapileo and tight end Kimo Angailen added one TD apiece to help the Lightning ease past the Saints.

The Lightning struck in the second quarter after an uneventful first quarter. Kapileo put the Lightning on the board when he received 12-yard TD pass from Ada right in the opening minutes of the second period. The eventual champion then earned an additional point off a kick from Camacho, who finished what Kapileo started, logging the Lightning’s next four TDs.

Camacho’s streak of TDs started around the third minute mark of the second canto when he rushed for a touchdown toward the center field off a pass from Ada (around 15 yards). The second TD came less than a minute later after wide receiver Vincent Laniyo gained 20-plus yardage. Then, entering the last three-minute mark of the second period, Camacho ran for another TD (18-yard) with the Saints defenders chasing him down the left sideline. The Lightning runningback’s fourth and last TD was recorded under the one minute mark of the second frame as he received a 15-yard TD pass from Ada on the third down and ran the remaining yards for commanding 31-0 lead.

Down by a big margin, the Saints failed to start a comeback bid in the third, as they remained scoreless after failing to complete long passes and running into the Lightning’s defensive units, which combined for 90 tackles.

The Lightning was also scoreless in the third canto, but recovered quickly with another TD in the first play of the final period. Ada and Angailen teamed up in the conversion with the quarterback eluding Saints defenders and spotting the latter near the right corner for the 25-yard TD pass.
Now ahead by 37 huge points, the Lightning spent the remaining minutes of the finals playing tough defense and occasionally attempting for TDs against the Saints, who continued to struggle with their offense as they either fumbled on passes or were tackled.

With the lopsided win, the Lightning was hailed champion of the inaugural league. CFL board chair John Blanco presented the championship trophy to Lightning head coach David V. Ada Jr. Jaime Martinez (defensive coordinator), Al-Lee Terry (offensive coordinator), and Jay Tilipao are the other members of the Lightning coaching staff, while completing the team’s roster are Austin and Joseph Ada, Augustine and Juan Carlo Aguon, Quinton Deleon Guerrero, Jonah Hahn, Michael Jones, Adrian Kileleman, Joseph Magofna, Vincent Manahane, Gabriel Martinez, Jerwon Moded, Luis Ogo, Anthony Palacios, Ryuta Onuki, Alvin Pua, Gregorio Sablan, Anthony Tenorio, Kermenes Terry Jr., and Kobe Tomokane.