Steve Erler | Special to SL

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Kaiser's Parker Higgins rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown in a win over Waipahu. Steve Erler | Special to SL

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WAIPAHU — Kaiser notched its first win of the year with a dominant all-around performance against Waipahu, 60-34 in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division contest at the Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex Friday night.

The Cougars' defense and special teams unit chipped in four total touchdowns to help Kaiser improve to 1-3 and 1-2 in league play. Waipahu suffered its second straight loss in as many weeks and dropped to 1-3. 

Utility Nicolas Tom led the effort with four total touchdowns. He started the game at quarterback and completed 11 of his 14 passes for 160 yards and a score, and added another on the ground. He also had five tackles and two interceptions on defense, one of which went for a 78-yard touchdown return, and ran back a punt 71 yards to the house.

"Finally. It feels good," Tom said after the game. "This is what we've worked hard for so it's good to get a win. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Kaiser got off to a hot start thanks to an 91-yard touchdown return by Andrew Kaufusi on the opening kickoff and Tom's 88-yard touchdown pass to Jensen McDaniel on a swing route. This gave Kaiser an early 12-0 lead as the Cougars failed on their first two PAT attempts.

"Big plays in general has hurt us a lot this season," said Waipahu first-year coach Bryson Carvalho. "On the kickoff we lost containment and weren't staying in our lanes and we gave up a score right up the middle."

It was McDaniel's first game back in action since the Cougars' OIA season-opener against Aiea. Despite a lingering ankle injury, the senior running back was able to accumulate 70 yards and a scored on just 10 carries, all in the first half. His lone rushing touchdown of the game capped a five-play drive where he carried the ball five straight times. 

"His presence definitely helped," Tom said on McDaniel. "He scored on his first touch of the game. He didn't play in the second half because his ankle was still bothering him, but just coming in and getting the momentum for us and helping us out was a huge difference." 

Linebacker Parker Higgins handled running back duties for most of the night and finished with a career-high 129 yards, and added a 1-yard score in the third quarter after the Marauders made it a two score game. He also had four tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Blaise De Asis started at quarterback for the Marauders, but played majority of the first half at slot receiver after backup Gavin Marques made a case for himself. Marques went into the game after De Asis' helmet came off on a play, and engineered Waipahu's first score of the game, a 13-yard keeper up the gut to trim Kaiser's lead, 12-7. Marques finished the game with 123 yards passing and a team-high 70 yards rushing.

Kaiser pushed its lead back to two scores after an errant shotgun snap went over the head of Marques. The loose ball rolled about 20 yards on its own before getting scooped up by Kaiser's Chance Kalaugher for a 32-yard touchdown return. Kalaugher was dominant on the line for the Cougars, finishing with a game-high 10 tackles and a sack. 

Waipahu made it a one score game early in the second quarter on Marques' 51-yard bomb to Andrew Simanu on fourth down. Simanu, the OIA Red Division's leading receiver, finished with 12 catches for two touchdowns and a career-best 252 yards.

The Cougars took a 33-14 lead into the break thanks to McDaniel's 7-yard touchdown run and Tom's 1-yard keeper to close out the first half scoring.

The Marauders clawed their way back into it with Gavin Quelnan's 3-yard blast midway through the third quarter, but gave up two scores in the final 1:01 of the period to face a steep deficit. Higgins had a 35-yard run to set up his 1-yard touchdown run and Tom scored on a punt return to end the third period.

"Their quarterback (Tom) did awesome, I didn't realize he played other positions as well," said Carvalho. "He's a pretty good defensive player as well and he can return the ball. He had a great game.

"We thought No. 24 (McDaniel) would be a big impact, but actually No. 10 (Higgins) had huge runs up the middle. Definitely those two players played their hearts out tonight." 

De Asis played out the second half behind center and finished with 217 yards, completing 11 of his 34 pass attempts for a touchdown and an interception, which was returned by Tom for the Cougars' final score of the night.

Other notable players for the Marauders include Matthew Leilua (team-high eight tackles, two catches for 55 yards) and Jordan Williams (six tackles, forced fumble, fumble recovery). 

Kaiser will host McKinley next while Waipahu travels to Leilehua. Both games are slated for Friday.