OIA Football
Fisiiahi, Leong help Kaiser thump Radford, 48-7


   



Fri, Aug 30, 2013 @ Radford [ 7:30 pm ]


Final 1 2 3 4 T
Kaiser (13-1-0) 13 15 20 048
Radford (7-3-0) 0 7 0 07

An anticipated OIA White matchup turned into a one-sided contest.

Kaiser, No. 4 in ScoringLive's Division II Power Rankings, handed Division II No. 2 Radford its first loss of the season, 48-7 at John E. Velasco Stadium. The Cougars won last year's matchup 33-14 and it was the second year in a row the Cougars gave the Rams their first loss of the season. Kaiser improves to 2-1 overall, 2-0 in the White while Radford drops to 3-1 overall, 2-1 in the White.

Kaiser's Kahoali'i Karratti finished the game 12-of-15 passing for 274 yards and 3 touchdowns. Fitou Fishiiahi rushed for 103 yards on 13 carries and 2 touchdowns. Thomas Leong also added 50 yards on 6 carries and 1 touchdown and 3 catches for 89 yards and 1 touchdown.

"The offense is establishing an identity. We wanted to be balanced with Fitou and Thomas running the ball. Li'i we, knew he was capable of that kind of game and he keeps getting better and better each week and he's understanding what we're doing offensively," said Kaiser coach Rich Miano.

"Our plans were to run the ball, but when they creeped up we just hit them over the top. Our receivers were catching the ball, the line was blocking and the running backs were good so it came together," said Karratti.

Kaiser quarterback Kahoali'i Karratti found Melvin Kahunanui for a 28-yard touchdown to get the Cougars on the scoreboard first.

Radford went three-and-out and Kaiser took over on its own 30 yard-line. 6 plays and 70 yards later, Fitou Fisiiahi punched it in for a 1 yard touchdown.

Coming into the game, quarterback Cody Lui-Yuen threw for 908 yards and 12 touchdowns in the Radford's first three games. However, Kaiser intercepted him 3 times and limited Radford to 197 yards of net offense.

"Cody is really good and also their two receivers (Absolom Henry) and (Jameson Pasigan). We knew that they are capable of explosive plays so we wanted to limit that, so the defense did a great job," said Miano. 


Following Melvin Kahunanui's interception, the Cougars took advantage and Fisiiahi ran it in for a 12 yard touchdown and Leong's 2-point run made it 21-0 early in the second quarter.

"I would like to thank my O-linemen for playing a hell of a game," said Fisiiahi.

Radford marched down the field 70 yards aided by Kaiser penalties. On a third-and-goal, Lui-Yuen scrambled and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Reid near the corner of the endzone, which turned out to be the Rams' only score of the game.

The speedy Leong scored on a 7 yard run to put the Cougars up, 28-7 with a minute 28 seconds before halftime.

Coming out of the half, after Radford went 3-and-out, Karratti passed it to Leong on a screen and Leong took it to the house for 69 yards. 27 seconds later, Makaio Hopeau-Lampitoc intercepted a Lui-Yuen pass and returned it for a 36-yard touchdown and the Cougars went up big 41-7.

Radford's Chance Cacatian fumbled the ball and Kaiser's Nicholas Lebeck recovered the fumble. Karratti immediately found Trevin Kahunanui on a fade route for a 43 yard touchdown.

From their own 20-yard line Lui-Yuen started off the drive with 11 and 9 yard passes to Kaimi Mercado and Jameson Pasigan. However, on the next play, he threw his third interception of the night to Cody Kim.

"We worked really hard for the past two weeks after the Kalani game. Right now we will celebrate the game tonight, but we got to get back to work and prepare for Waialua," said Fisiiahi.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




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