Seventh-ranked Radford grounds Kaimuki, 41-9

Radford's Chance Cacatian attempts to break free from a Kaimuki defender on a carry. CJ Caraang | SL

HAWAII KAI – Strong defensive play and hearty contributions from the run game was key in Radford’s 41-9 win over Kaimuki (1-2) at Kaiser Stadium Saturday night.

Running back Chance Cacatian rushed for 91 yards and two first quarter scores to help the Rams, ranked No. 7 in the ScoringLive/OC16 Division II Power Rankings, improve to 3-0 in Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II play.

With Cacatian spearheading the Rams’ running attack, Radford was able to finish the first quarter with a 13-0 lead. The Rams also held possession of the ball for eight minutes and 25 seconds in the opening period.

“It was tough,” Kaimuki coach Clint Onigama said about defending Radford’s run game. “They’re big up front and they have some really good athletes out there.”

The Rams’ offensive game plan of running the ball was partly because quarterbacks Quintas Ward and Andrew Morgan did not play till the second half due to disciplinary reasons. Coming in to toss the rock in the first half was wide receiver Dylan Frank. In his stint at quarterback Frank completed four of his 11 passes for 77 yards. He also caught two passes for 19 yards and a touchdown in the second half.

“I’m most proud of Dylan Frank right now because he stepped up. I actually made the call that he was going to play quarterback on the bus ride here,” commented Radford coach Fred Salanoa.

Defensively the Rams kept Kaimuki quarterback Tevita Lino on his toes for the entire game. Radford held Lino to 48 yards passing and also sacked him seven times.

Sophomore linebacker Jordan Walker led the Ram’s defensive effort with a game-high seven tackles and two sacks.

“He’s the key on our defense,” Salanoa said on Walker. “Being a sophomore and actually starting as a freshman on our varsity last year brings him heaps and bounds ahead of a lot of people at this point.”

The Bulldogs’ lone source of offensive productivity came from running back Sean Noda. The shifty 5-foot-5, 140-lb senior finished with 130 yards on 18 carries. Noda also scored Kaimuki’s only touchdown on a 58-yard scamper on the second play from scrimmage of the second half.

Noda’s touchdown run may have brought life to Kaimuki at that point, but it also ignited a Radford scoring volley. With Ward and Morgan alternating snaps behind center in the second half, Radford went on to score 21 unanswered points to put the game out of reach. The quarterback duo combined for 100 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Radford’s other two scores came on a one-yard run by Rashon Osborne in the third and a fumble recovery in the end zone by Vaaalotasi Ierome in the second.

The Rams held a 20-0 lead before Kaimuki’s Dathan Lloyd kicked a 36-yard field goal before the end of the first half.

Radford will play Kalani (3-1) next Friday while Kaimuki travels to No. 6 Nanakuli (3-0) next Saturday.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].