Kaiser running back Thomas Leong recorded 2 touchdowns including one 81-yard kick-off return in a OIA white conference semifinal match against Radford. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kaiser linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia cross the goal line for a touchdown after intercepting a pass against Radford. Kristen Izumigawa | Special to SL

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Kaiser's Matt Haili makes a successful pass reception in the end-zone from Melvin Kahunanui during a halfback option play. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kaiser running back Fitou Fisiiahi rumbles over a pair of Radford defenders for yardage within the red-zone during the first quarter. Fisiiahi rushed 9 times for 42 yards and 3 touchdowns in a OIA white conference semifinal match against Radford. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Fri, Oct 18, 2013 @ Kaiser [ 7:30 pm ]

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Radford

3

Kaiser

51

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Radford (7-3-0)	3	0	0	0	3
Kaiser (13-1-0)	7	28	16	0	51

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Kahoalii Karratti 81 yd

Cody Lui-Yuen 128 yd

Fitou Fisiiahi 42 yd 3 TD

Chance Cacatian 36 yd

Parker Higgins 57 yd

Absolom Henry 47 yd

It was defense and special teams that sparked Kaiser's 51-3 victory over Radford Friday night in the opening-round of the OIA White playoffs at Kaiser Stadium. The win advances the Cougars into the OIA White championship game where they will face Pearl City.

The Kaiser defense held Radford, averaging over 400 yards of total offense coming into tonight's contest, to 153 total yards, racking up 4 sacks and forcing 3 turnovers.

"Our defense kept hanging in their making plays like they have done all season long." said Kaiser head coach Rich Miano, "When you look at points scored against our defense they got a lot of pride, there is not very many. Nobody has taken the ball and driven down the field on our defense all year long."

Kaiser's special teams pitched in highlighted by a 61 yard kick return for a touchdown by Thomas Leong as well as 2 blocked punts and a safety.

Thomas Leong finished the night with 164 total yards and 2 touchdowns, amassing 109 kick return yards with 1 touchdown, 46 yards on 6 carries for another touchdown, and 1 reception for 9 yards. Fitou Fisiiahi added 3 touchdowns on 9 carries for 42 yards.

Radford quarterback Cody Lui-Yuen passed for 128 yards completing 19-of-37 pass attempts with 2 interceptions. Absolom Henry caught 7 passes for 47 yards and Justin Lugo caught 6 passes for 44 yards.

The Kaiser offense opened up the game with a 7-play 35-yard drive setup up by a 48-yard kickoff return by Thomas Leong. The drive was capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run by Fitou Fisiiahi, and Matt Sai's extra point gave the Cougar's an early 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, Radford would go 62 yards in 6 plays to setup Andrew Killen's 34-yard field goal, the Rams' only score of the night.

Kaiser's offense would struggle to get anything going on their next three drives which ended on a three- and-out, a fumble by Thomas Leong, and Radford's Jordan Pacheco intercepting Kaiser quarterback Kahoali'i Karratti's pass intended for Destin Moss in the end zone.

"I thought early our offense was sputtering." said Miano, "We couldn't really run the ball we weren't really throwing the ball."
Kaiser's defense would help get the offense going by sacking Cody Lui-Yuen and forcing a fumble which gave Kaiser the ball on Radford's 9-yard line. The Cougars would score 4 plays later on a 1-yard touchdown run by Fisiiahi.

Corner back Isaac Slade-Matautia intercepted Lui-Yuen's pass on Radford's next drive and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown giving the Cougars a 21-3 lead.

Kaiser scored two more times before the end of the first half on a 20-yard reverse pass from Melvin Kahananui to Matt Haili and a 6-yard touchdown run by Fisiiahi putting the Cougars up 35-3 at halftime.

Radford got the ball to start the second half, and on the Rams' first drive of the half Lui-Yuen would be picked off by Jeshua Bitanga setting up a 29 yard touchdown run by Leong.

Radford's offense went three-and-out on their next drive which forced the Rams to punt. Kaiser blocked the punt into the end zone where it was recovered by Radford for a safety. Leong returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards for a touchdown which capped off the scoring for the night.

"Radford came out here and really fought a good fight." said Miano, "We got some momentum right before halftime, they always play us tough and that's a well coached group with a lot of talented athletes and we're just happy to advance to this next round of the playoffs."