Kaiser's Fitou Fisiahi grinds out some tough yardage against Lahainaluna. Brien Ing | SL

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Lahainaluna's Makoa Filikitonga celebrates after an interception in the first quarter against Kaiser. Brien Ing | SL

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A trio of Kaiser players combine on a gang tackle against Lahainaluna. Brien Ing | SL

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Lahainaluna's Amateo Flores elevates to make a pass reception against Kaiser. Brien Ing | SL

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Kaiser's Thomas Leong hurdles a Lahainaluna defender on a run play. Brien Ing | SL

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Sat, Nov 16, 2013 @ War Memorial [ 6:00 pm ]

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Kaiser

20

Lahainaluna

9

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Kaiser (13-1-0)	7	0	13	0	20
Lahainaluna (10-1-0)	7	2	0	0	9

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Makoa Filikitonga 8 yd

Kahoalii Karratti 37 yd

Jared Rocha-Isalas 63 yd 1 TD

Fitou Fisiiahi 76 yd 2 TD

Taylor Kohler-Fonohema 7 yd

Thomas Buntenbah-Leong 30 yd

WAILUKU--The "Pursuit of Perfection" for Kaiser continues for another week.

Kaiser, the fourth seed in the First Hawaiian Bank Division II Hawaii High School Athletic Association, knocked out unbeaten and number one seed Lahainaluna, 20-9 at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. The Lunas were unbeaten with a 10-game winning streak prior to this game and the Cougars gave them their first season-ending loss. Also the Lunas, who were averaging just under 40-points per game, were held to a season-low 9-points for the game.

"We just happened to run into a team that was bigger, faster and stronger than us and I wish them the best of luck next week. I keep saying, they were the real deal and they really took it to us tonight," said Lahainaluna coach Garrett Tihada.

Fitou Fisiiahi, who was tackled in the end zone for a safety and fumbled the ball in Lahainaluna territory in the second quarter, bounced back to lift the Cougars over the Lunas in the second half. He finished the game with nine carries for 76 yards and two touchdowns. He also added seven tackles and two sacks on defense.

"My coaches told me every time we fall, we get back up. I felt sick and I have to get up and I cannot go down because my team is right here behind me. I thank everyone for helping me through my mistakes and I just love everybody here," said Fisiiahi.

Trailing 9-7 going into halftime, the Cougars and Fisiiahi shook off those first half set backs in the second half. His 44-yard touchdown put the Cougars up for the first time in the game and his 1-yard touchdown gave Kaiser breathing room for the rest of the game.

"It was about who wants it more and we wanted it more," said Fisiiahi.

"They were pretty distraught about that. At halftime, we said we're down by 2-points and we haven't played our style of football. We were trying to do something new: spreading it out, using the wildcat, we looked pretty good in practice, but we weren't executing so we went back to what we do: run the ball and play a physical style of football. Those guys are some warriors (Lahainaluna) and they're well coached and it was a tough ball game," said Kaiser coach Rich Miano.

The passing game was ineffective for both teams as Kahoali'i Karratti and Makoa Filikitonga combined for 6-of-20 passing for 45-yards. Instead both teams relied on their ground game.

The Lunas who rolled through the Maui Interscholastic League and averaged over 300 rushing yards per game, were held to a season-low 201-net rushing yards by the Cougars defense. The Lunas defense who only gave up less than 60-rushing yards per game, surrendered 275-net rushing yards to the Cougars.

"I think they were tired and worn down because they go both ways and we were able to wear them down," said Miano.

After Kaiser went three-and-out and punted, the Cougars were penalized for tackling the returner after he signaled for a fair catch. Ten seconds later, Jared Rocha-Isalas burst through the middle and rushed for a 49-yard touchdown, his PAT made it 7-0 with 6:56 remaining in the first quarter.

"First on defense, we started off slow and coach talked to us and told us to keep our eyes on them and focus," said Saole, who led the defense with 12 tackles.

"We're talking about alignment, assignment, technique, execution and finish. They were hitting us early up the middle with quarterback keepers and our game plan was to protect the perimeter because they seem to do so well on the perimeter because of their explosive plays. They gashed us some times and mixed it up real well. We made some adjustments at halftime and to give up only 9-points to these guys is a testament to our defense. When you look all year long, they don't give up many points and the defense and offense staff is very deserving and we got it going in the second half," said Miano.

The Cougars responded 16 seconds later. On the ensuing kickoff, Fitou Fisiiahi caught the kick and pitched it backwards to Thomas Buntenbah-Leong and he returned it 77-yards for a touchdown. Buntenbah-Leong had a team-high 19 carries and 91 yards.

After the Lunas defense forced the Cougars to go three-and-out and punt deep in their end zone, Lunas defensive lineman Connor Mowat tackled Fisiiahi as he was rolling left to kick in the end zone for a safety and the Lunas led 9-7 with 6:59 in the second quarter.

In the third quarter after a short Lahainaluna punt, Kaiser started on their own 47-yard line. Li'i Karratti completed a 7-yard pass to Curt Clivio to the Lunas 44-yard line, but was short of the first down. Facing a fourth-and-one, Fisiiahi rushed up the middle and ran it in for a 44-yard touchdown, but his 2-point run was stopped short  and the Cougars led, 13-9.

The Cougars defense forced the Lunas to punt again and after a very short punt, the Cougars started on the Lunas' 39-yard line. Canaan Saole was effective and he had runs of 13-yards and 24-yards and a 21-yard run to set up the Cougars on a first-and-goal on the Lahainaluna 1-yard line.

Although Thomas and Fitou are the primary ball carriers, Saole provided another spark and another dimension to the Cougar offense.

"Coaches told me to jump in get some reps and out of no where I just got used to running the ball and everything fell into place. It was the first time playing running back it went well," said Saole, who had 10 carries for 84-yards.

"Canaan is so tough and so fast and we've been experimenting with him in practice. He's a difference maker on offense, special teams and defense and he's playing fantastic for us," said Miano.

On the next play, Fisiiahi punched it in for a 1-yard touchdown and after Matt Sai's extra point, the Cougars led 20-9 with 2:53 remaining in the third quarter.

Both teams had trouble holding onto the football.

Lahainaluna's Jared Rocha-Isalas fumbled the ball and Kaiser's Ocean Ku-au recovered the fumble. On the next play, seven seconds later, Kaiser's Fisiiahi fumbled the football and Scott Isaac Medeiros-Tangatailoa recovered it for the Lunas on the 21-yard line.

After Kaiser called a timeout, Buntenbah-Leong who lined up as a wildcat, could not handle the snap and Lahainaluna's Bronson Kaina recovered the ball on the Kaiser 43-yard line.

The Lunas, relatively healthy coming into tonight's game, suffered multiple injuries throughout the game.

At around six minutes in the second quarter, Rocha-Isalas rushed for a 7-yard gain, but after he was tackled, he hobbled to the sideline. He was tended to by trainers and did not return for the remainder of the game.

"Anytime we have someone go down, it affects us," said Tihada, who did not want to make injuries an excuse. "Bottom line is, they were bigger and faster than us up front and we knew they were a real physical team. It came down to blocking and tackling and they were better than us tonight about that." 

Starting quarterback, Makoa Filikitonga left the game with an injury. He also doubles up as a defensive back and he had eight tackles, one sack and one interception.

With 4:22 left in the fourth quarter, Kiko Kohler-Fonohema lined up behind center to relieve Filikitonga. He rushed for a 19-yard gain, but was injured after a helmet-to-helmet hit. He tried to get up, but went back down as he was going toward the Lahainaluna sideline. It delayed the game and for precautionary reasons, he was loaded into an ambulance. He indicated he was alright after flashing a shaka to the crowd.

"They know how tough and resilient he is and he'll be fine," said Tihada.

Once play resumed, 29 seconds later, backup quarterback Kawika Kinimaka was injured after he was tackled awkwardly and his teammates had to carry him off the field. Chris Kaniho, who was called up from the JV team, finished the game.

Kaiser will be making it's first Division II State title game appearance and the title game will be decided between the third and fourth seeds in the tournament at Aloha Stadium on Saturday, November 23rd. Kaua'i, the third seed in the tournament, dethroned second seeded 'Iolani, 28-7 at 'Iolani's Kozuki Stadium.  

"We try to be outliers of how many hours they put in since the off season and how hard they train with Coach (Chad) Ikei and how hard they work on the practice field. To get to this final stage, I know it's not over yet, but it's definitely a reward for these guys for their hard work. I love these guys because of their work ethic, desire and drive," said Miano.