Kaiser rallies past Kauai to reach first title game since 2013

Rayden Aoki | SL

For the first time since 2013, the Cougars are heading to the 'ship.

Kaiser rallied to score the go-ahead touchdown with 2:57 left in regulation to take down Kauai, 16-13, in the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II football championship.

"Its tough to win over here, so I was really proud of our kids for hanging in," said Kaiser head coach Tim Seaman "Its not often you turn the ball over four times and (win), it was just resiliency, that's the best way to put it."

The Cougars made their move with just over five minutes in the fourth, where it faced a 4th and 1 play from the Kauai 33 and converted the first down and then some, as Mathias Mafi motioned under center and rumbled to the 14 yard line to put Kaiser in the red zone.

"Just keep the legs moving, don't stop," said Mafi of the play. "I did not want this to be my last game, so I just kept on running."

On the very next play, Brady Kim got the call and busted through to tie the score, slicing through the Red Raiders' defense for a 14 yard TD. Morgan White stepped up and calmly kicked through the go-ahead PAT to make it 14-13.

"That play was working all game and I just trusted my O-line, ran through the hole and I scored," recalled Kim of the touchdown. He finished with 15 carries for 81 yards, both game highs.

Kauai got their chance to respond following the score but one the first play from scrimmage, Haezon Dizon's pass was intercepted by Kash Kamauoha, who outdueled Kaeden Tam-Ventura for a key turnover.

"We were in our combo coverage, I did my reads and I came up with the ball in the end," said Kamauoha of the play. "We were fighting for the ball but I just held it as hard as I could."

The Cougars were able to milk some clock over the next three plays but ultimately were forced to give the ball back to the Red Raiders, but a costly penalty put the ball back at their own 10.

Two incomplete passes later, Kaiser's pressure equated into a safety, as intentional grounding was called with the quarterback in the end zone.

Jesse Shinagawa had his share of struggles at the controls for Kaiser, completing just 9 of 17 passes for 78 yards with three interceptions, but was turnover free in the second half and came up clutch on Red Raiders' last gasp free kick, as he safely corralled the attempted onside kick.

"We've faced adversity all year and we fought through it," said Shinagawa. "We never gave up once, that's how we won."

Two kneels later the celebration for the visiting team began.

With the exception of Kauai's initial drive of the game, one that started off with a 70 yard return by Kaimana Kaui and was capped off three plays later with an 18 yard pass from Dizon to Jacob Bukoski, the Kaiser defense came up big despite prime field position provided by three picks and a lost fumble.

Of those four turnovers, only one of those resulted in a score, a 27 yard field goal by Kai Potts.

"All year they've been like this, they always got our back whenever we're down they're the ones picking us up, they're really our engine," said Shinagawa of the Cougars' defense.

Kaiser racked up 218 yards on the ground compared to 117 for Kauai. Aiden Leong fumbled on his first carry of the game but rebounded to garner 45 yards on 8 carries. Dillon Reis had 70 yards in total offense, which included a four yard burst to get the Cougars on the board in the waning minutes of the half.

"I'm really proud of our offensive line and the way we were able to play," said Seaman. "Our stats aren't going to knock you out, but we were really able to control the ball when we needed to."

The Red Raiders were led by Kaui, who racked up 100 total yards (73 rushing, 17 receiving).

Kaiser's last appearance in the Division II state title game was a 17-7 win over Kauai back in 2013 at Aloha Stadium, an 11 year hiatus.

"April, May, June no one really thought we would be here," laughed Seaman. "The kids have improved, the growth they've shown and the cohesiveness as a team. And I think this trip kind of reinforced that. It was a good test."