Kaiser Cougars

Head coach: Tim Seaman (5th season, 7th overall)
Offensive coordinator: Keola Willing
Defensive coordinator: George Lumpkin

Players to watch: QB Easton Yoshino (6-1, 185, Jr.), WR Kamakana Mahiko (6-0, 160, Sr.), OL Payton Perry (6-0, 250, Sr.), DL Hopoate Aholelei (5-9, 240, Sr.), DB Josh Okamoto (5-8, 150, Sr.)

Coach's words: "We expect that our team will play hard and compete to the best of its abilities each week. Every team that we face presents a unique challenge. There are a lot of really good and experienced coaches throughout the league. Each team has its share of outstanding athletes so it should be a very competitive season." - Tim Seaman

SL's take: The Cougars have qualified for the OIA Division II playoffs in each of the last two seasons - no easy feat considering the bracket only allows for four-teams. That timeframe also coincides with the return of Seaman, who began his second coaching stint at his alma mater in 2018 after completing his first run in 1994. The 2019 edition of the Cougars brought excitement via a high-scoring offense that led to a seven-game winning streak to open the season; it eventually came to an end with a loss to eventual-league champ Kaimuki in the semifinals of the OIA tournament. However, all eight of Kaiser's OIA all-star selections from that season, including four All-Hawaii first team picks, have since completed their eligibility. Several players from their JV squad that reached the playoffs two years ago have transferred out and others have opted out of the season. But the Cougars do have their QB back in Yoshino, who passed for 1,631 yards and 20 TDs as a freshman. Yoshino threw for 280 yards and six TDs in a regular-season win over Kaimuki that year; He did not play in the playoff loss to the Bulldogs due to injury. Yoshino has gotten a few inches taller, put on some 40 pounds and gained self-confidence since his debut season. Yoshino has improved on his reading of coverages and quickened his release, which Seaman expects to translate to fewer INTs than the 11 Yoshino threw as a freshman. His top weapon in the receiving corps is Mahiko, who ranked third on the team in receiving as a sophomore with 28 grabs for 415 yards and five TDs. Mahiko and Yoshino connected five times for 124 yards and three TDs in their win over Kaimuki in the regular season. Perry started a few games in 2019; He is the leader of the OL as the C. OT Makani Sua (6-2, 220, Sr.) is one of the few other linemen with some experience. Across the line of scrimmage, Aholelei is the key cog on the DL and can align over the C or between the OG and OT. LB is an area of concern for Seaman, due to inexperience. Okimoto has been a starter since his sophomore season and is the secondary's top cover corner.

SCHEDULE

Sat Oct 16	Kalani		W, 28-6
Sat Oct 23	@ Waialua		W, 31-7
Fri Oct 29	Kalaheo		W, 44-7
Fri Nov 05	@ Radford		W, 34-14
Fri Nov 12	Pearl City		W, 27-8
Fri Nov 19	@ Nanakuli		W, 38-32
Fri Dec 03	Kaimuki	at Roosevelt	W, 48-17
Fri Dec 10	McKinley		W, 40-14
Fri Dec 17	Radford		W, 52-17
Wed Dec 22	KS-Maui **	at Farrington	L, 48-24