Lii Karratti Kalani Takase | SL

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When the Campbell football team visits Kaiser in the season-opening game for both teams Friday night, it will mean the much-anticipated debut of QB Kahoalii Karratti for the host Cougars.

Karratti, who is known as Lii to most, put up prolific stats in leading Konawaena to a BIIF Division II title as a junior last year. However, after the Wildcats’ season ended with a first-round loss in the state tournament to Nanakuli, Lii’s father (David) put in a call to his former Kaiser High School teammate and now Cougars’ coach Rich Miano inquiring about the status of their quarterback position.

“I knew that their quarterback was going to graduate and they needed a quarterback,” said Lii, who threw for 2,776 yards – the third-highest mark in the state in 2012 – and 38 TDs, which led all passers statewide.

David Karratti and Miano were teammates on the Kaiser team that beat Kamehameha to win the 1979 Prep Bowl.

“I got a call out of the blue from David saying that Lii was looking to change things up and he wanted to try playing on Oahu,” said Miano, who led his alma mater to a 7-3 mark in his first season a year ago. “They sort of made like Beverly Hillbillies, packed everything up and moved to Hawaii Kai.”

Although the Cougars are pleased with their progress so far and optimistic for a successful season, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for Lii.

“I threw up on the first day from the running,” he laughed. “I remember thinking I wasn’t ready for this, but (assistant) coach Chad (Ikei) is doing a great job of getting us in condition.”

Another assistant Karratti stands to benefit from is offensive coordinator Cameron Higgins, a former Saint Louis and Weber State quarterback himself. Higgins is working with Karratti to improve his reads and general understanding of the Kaiser offense.

Karratti and his new teammates already shared one thing in common before the season began: both Kaiser and Konawaena saw their season end in 2012 with a loss to Nanakuli.

“Some of the guys were talking about their Nanakuli game during pass league this summer and I told them, ‘I know how you guys feel,’” Karratti said.

Karratti would like to help the Cougars get rid of the bitter taste left behind by the Golden Hawks and a solid showing against a formidable Campbell defense Friday would be a good first step.