OIA Football
Kaiser hands Radford its first loss of season, 33-14


  



Fri, Sep 28, 2012 @ Kaiser [ 7:00 pm ]


Final 1 2 3 4 T
Radford (11-2-0) 0 14 0 014
Kaiser (7-3-0) 20 0 6 733
Makana Lyman 138 yd
Cody Lui-Yuen 114 yd 1 TD
Kai Gonda 137 yd 1 TD

Kai Gonda amassed 335 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns Friday night as Kaiser rolled past visiting Radford, 33-14, in O'ahu Interscholastic Association football action.

The Cougars improved to 6-2 overall and 6-1 in the OIA's White Conference, good enough for first place. The Rams fell to 6-1, 5-1. 

Gonda, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior, rushed for 137 yards and one TD on 22 carries and added 202 return yards, including an electrifying 82-yard punt return for a score. He also caught one pass for minus-4 yards and made several tackles on defense.

"He's so versatile, he can do so many things," Kaiser coach Rich Miano said. "His size, speed and vision reminds me of (former Damien and University of Hawai'i standout) Kealoha Pilares, and from the 70s, (former Kaiser standout) Boyd Yap. He's got a lot of football smarts and just does everything so well."

After a scoreless first quarter, the Cougars struck first as Fitou Fisiiahi capped a nine-play, 58-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run three minutes into the second quarter. After a three-and-out by Radford on the next series, Gonda field a punt at his own 18-yard line and sprung to the sideline thanks to a nice seal block.

Gonda then sprinted to midfield before cutting to the left and then back to the right and into the end zone. Clayton Sai's extra point made it 14-0 with 7:13 remaining before halftime.

Three plays after the ensuing kickoff, Melvin Kahunanui pounced on a Radford fumble in the end zone to make it 20-0 (the PAT attempt was blocked).

Gonda later returned a punt 55 yards to again put the Cougars into scoring position, but Rams defensive back Mason Manuma intercepted a pass near the goal line and returned 64 yards to swing the momentum Radford's way. Four plays later, quarterback Cody Lui-Yuen connected with receiver Zach Tinao-Rabellizsa on a 3-yard TD pass and Cayman Conley's extra point cut it to 20-7 with 2:43 left in the second quarter.  

On the very next play from scrimmage, Rams defensive back Amu Poe picked off a swing pass to the right sideline and returned it untouched 20 yards to help slice the deficit to 20-14.

That's how it stood until two minutes into the fourth quarter, when Zack Kano blocked a punt and Leimana Chong-Gum recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point conversion run attempt failed, but the score made it 26-14.

"I don't think anyone works on special teams as much as we do," Miano said. "Our offense is still trying to find a rhythm, but our defense and special teams have carried us so far."

Gonda effectively sealed the victory with a 1-yard TD plunge with 2:09 remaining.

Kaiser's defense came up with six sacks for minus-40 yards and limited Radford to 109 yards of total offense. 





Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

Aiea downs Radford to claim first OIA D2 title since 2017

Na Alii led early and rapped out 13 total hits to pull away from the Rams to clinch their first OIA Division...

Pagampao powers No. 1 Mililani past No. 7 Kapolei for 12th OIA crown

The senior belted three home runs, including the go-ahead and game-ending blasts, to lead the Trojans...

Kapolei dethrones Campbell to set up OIA D1 title tilt with Mililani

The Hurricanes pulled away from the Sabers in the final frame while the Trojans held off a late charge...

Surfriders cash in on Na Alii miscues to claim 15th league crown, ninth under Ishigo

Kailua sent eight batters to the plate and scored five runs in a tide-turning bottom of the third inning,...

Waianae rolls past Radford to claim first OIA championship since 2017

Shysten Nagasako did work on both the mound and at the plate in the Seariders' mercy-rule shortened win...

No. 1 seeds Aiea, Kailua to face off for OIA Division I baseball crown

Na Alii posted a 3-1 win over Roosevelt behind Aidan Yoshida's complete game, while two pitchers combined...