Kaiser senior Ethan Domen (8) scored on the opening drive with a blocked punt and recovery in the end zone. He later had a 100-yard interception return touchdown. Spencer Honda | SL

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Fri, Aug 2, 2019 @ Kaiser [ 7:30 pm ]

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Aiea

7

Kaiser

21

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Aiea (1-8-0)	7	0	0	0	7
Kaiser (9-2-0)	7	0	14	0	21

• Pass
• Rush
• Rec

Easton Yoshino 55 yd

Kayson Castillo 172 yd 1 TD

Hunter Phelps 27 yd

Jordan Cezar 10 yd

Kamakana Mahiko 26 yd

Dylan Soberano 62 yd 1 TD

HAWAII KAI — Kaiser's defense racked up 10 total sacks and took the game into its own hands by scoring two of the Cougars' three touchdowns to doom Aiea, 21-7, in Friday evening's non-league season-opening matchup at Kaiser High School.

Linebackers Brannon Tanaka and Cavin Lime each notched a trio of sacks while defensive lineman Joseph Chin added a pair with Caleb Markwith and Cole Cadinha each adding one as well.

"We have high expectations for our defense," Kaiser second-year coach Tim Seaman said. "We've got a lot of returnees. We expect them to play at a high-level week-in and week-out. We need to get consistent every down and we're not there yet."

With Aiea on offense to start the game, Kaiser came firing out the gates to move Na Alii in the opposite direction on each of their first three plays — including Cadinha's sack on third down.

Punter Chaysen Lopez lined up just inside Na Alii's own goal line but was met by Duke Minihan and Ethan Domen bursting thought right at him. Domen got there first for the block and then ran to the corner of the end zone to cradle the loose ball for a well-earned six points.

A year ago, the Cougars were happy just to be able to field a team and run on the field to open the season against Aiea after having played only one game in 2017 due to low numbers. After finishing 4-4-1 in 2018 and making it to the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II Playoffs, it was a different feeling for the team heading into Friday's game.

"Just everyone doing their job, which makes everyone play better and then everyone wanting it more," Domen said. "Because last year we made it to playoffs and we feel like we can go to states now."

Domen wasn't done doing damage just yet, though.

Aiea later drove down the field and tied the game up at 7-7 on quarterback Kayson Castillo's nicely-placed corner fade to Dylan Soberano down the right side from 15 yards out.

After Dre Falls intercepted Castillo at the top of the second period, neither teams' offensive drives amounted to much of anything as Falls recorded his second pick to bookend the quarter.

Aiea recovered its own kick to start the second half off Tyla Mane's pooch down the right sideline. The offense promptly marched down the field to the 6-yard line, but Castillo's pass was picked off by Domen in the end zone, who ran it all the way back for a 100-yard interception return TD.

"We were playing zone," Domen said. "I just basically sit back and I just read the quarterback — the quarterback likes throwing to No. 12 so that's the key guy and he ran a slant, and I was like, ‘OK this is coming to me,' and he was staring down this guy and I was like, ‘This is my ball and I'm taking it the other way.'"

Later in the quarter with Aiea in possession near midfield, Castillo took the snap and looked left for an open receiver but was quickly crashed in on from the opposite side by Kaiser's Chin, whose hit jarred the ball loose for Cadinha's easy scoop and score to put the Cougars up 21-7.

Na Alii managed to move the ball inside the Kaiser 40-yard line near the top of the fourth quarter, and with fourth and 1, Castillo tried to muscle his way in off the direct snap but was stopped cold by Lime to turn the ball over on downs.

Castillo wouldn't return to the game as junior Jordan Cezar took the team's remaining snaps behind center.

Each team totaled less than 200 yards of total offense. While turnovers — and Kaiser's tenacious defense — is what doomed Aiea, Kaiser just couldn't find a rhythm while switching between QBs Easton Yoshino and Kolt Joseph.

"We're very ragged on offense. Had a tough time getting any continuity going," Seaman said. "But it's a work in progress and that's to be expected. That was their first varsity snap tonight. Their effort was great and hopefully we continue to get better."

Both teams open regular season play next Friday with Kaiser (1-0 overall) back at home against Pearl City and Aiea (0-1 overall) hosting Radford.