Ground game propels Cougars over Bulldogs in Homecoming win

Rayden Aoki | SL

For once, no spoilers on Homecoming night.

Kaiser piled up 426 yards of total offense in a high scoring win over Waialua, to keep pace atop the OIA Division II standings with one game remaining in the regular season.

"It was a huge win, especially because it was Homecoming," said running back Dillon Reis "I can't remember for sure, but I don't think we've won (Homecoming) for the last two years."

The Cougars' running game accounted for 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 lone carry was a 13 yard keeper for a score. He started a quarterback but moved back to reciever in the latter stages of the second quarter.

Brady Kim had 89 yards on 12 carries and scored the game's final score from three yards out to make it a three score game with 10:53 left in regulation.

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

Reis was quick to credit his offensive line for the team's success on the ground.

"It felt great, I have one-hundred percent trust in my team, and the o-line is ones that create that gap for us to run through," said Reis. "I love these boys with my life, I trust 'em."

Kaiser found some success with the passing attack, with a pair of touchdown grabs by Caleb Hamasaki, a one-handed grab from six yards out for one score and the other a 50 yard pitch and catch to the end zone untouched, but overall completed just 7 of 17 passes 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 the contest. Waialua QB Emery Abilla also scrambled his way to 126 yards on 22 carries, as he consistently extended plays with his legs in the final two quarters.

The passing attack for Waialua completed just 11 of 29 passes, with 116 of the 180 yard total coming on two passes to Hayze Ramos, one for 87 yards from Abilla and the other a 29 yarder from Konan Riddleberger, who came on for a play to spell Abilla, who needed to sit out a play after an injury stoppage.

Ultimately, Kaiser had an answer offensively for each Waialua score and the defense got a game-sealing pick by Tea Nuuhiwa-Santos in the final minutes to put a cap on the win.

"I know we could have stopped them a lot more but props to them (Waialua) and props to our secondary," said Isaako Sopoaga of the second half. "We got the job done and that's all that matters."