Rayden Aoki | SL

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Rayden Aoki | SL

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Differnt faces, same result.

Despite major personnel losses from a year ago, Kaiser leaned on familiarity, getting stability through its key players on both sides of the ball in a season-opening 30-12 win over Pearl City.

Kash Kamauoha had a stellar night patrolling the secondary, hauling in three interceptions to go along with a team-leading seven total tackles. The Cougars registered four sacks and added two fumble recoveries for good measure, holding the Chargers, a team that racked up well over 500 a week ago, to just 255 yards of offense.

"We lost a lot of seniors last year, and we probably had one of the best defenses (in OIA D2) last year. But I think our secondary really stepped up and our line too, we had a lot of sacks and turnovers," said senior receiver Caleb Hamasaki.

Offensively, Hamasaki opened up the Cougarsʻ scoring on the night hauling in an 11 yard from first year starter Koa Reis, while Brady Kim and Aiden Leong did their usual work via the ground game. Kim carried 20 times for 105 yards and a score while Leong added six rushes for 31 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Hamasaki was limited to just four catches for 30 yards, but Kamauoha noted that his value goes beyond just the numbers.

"We know we can always trust him. Catching the ball, making a block, you know we can always trust him to make a play," he added. "And thatʻs why heʻs our number one to me."

Production from that trio was a defnite boon for Reis, who prior to this season had never taken a snap behind center. He completed just 6 of 17 passes for 73 yards with a score and an interception, but limited his mistakes overall.

"I mean thereʻs a lot of pressure too, coming from Donovan and Dylan (also having played for Kaiser), especially cause youʻre the youngest and youʻve got to fill those shoes," said Hamasaki. "But he did amazing today, super proud of him."

The 30 point outing was also credit to work put in by an offensive line that returned no starters from a year ago.

"Super proud of our o-line, " said Hamasaki. "O-line is super young this year so weʻre really proud of them."

Down 17-6 at the half, with its lone score coming off of a four yard pass play from Ikaika Torres to Kaze Texeira in the latter stages of the first quarter, the Chargers got right back into the game via a fumble recovery for a score by Viliotu Mafi, who was johnny-on-the-spot after an errant snap was mishandled by Reis and was scooped up in the end zone.

That made it a 17-12 game, but that was as close as the visiting team would get, as the Cougarsʻ run game whittled down the clock and also added two late scores to slam the door.

Kaiser kicker Kaiea McKillop, whoʻs also the keeper on the boysʻ soccer squad, made all three of PATs and added on an impressive 47 yard field goal to end the first half scoring. That make was the longest since 2019, when Kyler Halvorsen knocked through a 53 yarder against PAC-5.