Ground game propels Cougars to victory over Bulldogs in homecoming

Ground game propels Cougars to victory over Bulldogs in homecoming

Friday, October 18, 2024 @ Kaiser [ 7:00 pm ]

Final 1 2 3 4 Te Waialua (4-4-0) 0 0 21 021 Kaiser (6-1-0) 14 7 14 742

For once, there are no spoilers for Homecoming night.

Kaiser compiled 426 yards of total offense in a high-scoring win over Waialua, keeping pace with the OIA Division II standings with one game remaining in the regular season.

“It was a big win, especially because it was Homecoming. I can’t remember for sure, but I don’t think we’ve won (Homecoming) the last two years,” running back Dillon Reese said.

The Cougars’ running game totaled 291 yards and four scores, each from different ball carriers.

Aiden Leong scored from 27 yards out to start the scoring for the home team, and finished with 77 yards on seven carries before leaving with an apparent shoulder injury.

Jesse Shinagawa’s only carry was a 13-yard keeper for the score. He started at quarterback but switched back to receiver in the latter stages of the second quarter.

Brady Kim had 89 yards on 12 carries and scored the final score of the game from a three-yard run to make it a three-point game with 10:53 remaining in regulation.

Dillon Reese had a team-high 126 yards on 14 carries, and the majority of his total came on a 71-yard run up the middle that made it a 28-7 contest. He also added two catches for 61 yards.

Reese was quick to credit his offensive line for the team’s success on the ground.

“It was a great feeling, I have 100 percent confidence in my team, and it’s the direct line that creates that gap for us to get over,” Rees said. “I love these boys in my life, and I trust them.”

Kaiser found some success in the passing attack, with a pair of touchdown catches by Caleb Hamasaki, a one-handed catch from six yards for one score and the other with a 50-yard pitch and a hold of the end zone untouched, but overall he just finished. 7 of 17 passing for 135 yards.

Defensively, the Cougars shut down the Bulldogs in the first half, but gave up a number of big plays that helped the visiting team get back into contention. Waialua QB Emery Abilla also roared his way to 126 yards on 22 carries, as he consistently extended plays with his legs in the final two quarters.

Waialua’s passing attack completed just 11 of 29 passes, with 116 of its 180 total yards coming from two passes to Hayze Ramos, one for an 87-yarder from Abella and the other for a 29-yarder from Conan Redelberger, who came in to play for Abela’s spell, who needed a Sitting out of play after stopping due to injury.

In the end, Kaiser had an offensive answer for each of Waialua’s scores and the defense got a pick from Te Nohia-Santos in the final minutes to seal the win.

“I know we could have stopped them a lot more but we back them (Waialoa) and we back our secondary,” Isaku Sopoaga said in the second half. “We got the job done and that’s all that matters.”

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