Kaiser wins first OIA title since ’79

Kaiser was finally tested in the second half by a team from its own division.

Under the bright lights and a steady downpour at Aloha Stadium, the No. 1 seed in the OIA White playoffs responded with 20 unanswered points as senior Thomas Buntenbah-Leong rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score late in the third quarter, to lead Kaiser to a 41-21 victory over Pearl City on Friday night.

The Cougars (10-1) won the second OIA football title in school history and first since the league split its tournament into White and Red divisions in 2003.

Kaiser won the OIA championship in 1979 and went on to win the Prep Bowl a week later against Kamehameha. This group of Cougars can now focus on the Division II state tournament, beginning next week, and bringing a state title home to Oahu’s East side.

Kaiser will play in its first-ever state-tournament game next Saturday, hosting Konawaena as the No. 4 seed.

“This was the first game, I think, where going into the fourth quarter it was close and we did a nice job of responding to the adversity,” Kaiser coach Rich Miano said. “It’s not going to be any easier moving forward, but at the same time, I’m glad we got this one under our belt.”

Pearl City (7-4), which was the only OIA White team to lose by fewer than 40 to Kaiser in the regular season, tied the game at 21-all on a 27-yard touchdown run by Dominic Maneafiga midway through the third quarter.

Kaiser followed with two touchdowns in 61 seconds, spurred by Buntenbah-Leong, who had 215 total yards from scrimmage.

Buntenbah-Leong caught a 24-yard pass from quarterback Kahoalii Karratti and then scored on a 19-yard run on the next play to make it 27-21.

Three plays later, senior safety Canaan Saole blitzed Pearl City quarterback Jordan Taamu, forcing a fumble on a sack and recovering it.

Buntenbah-Leong scored from 11 yards out on the very next play and Pearl City never threatened again.

“I actually was kind of scared. … I didn’t know how we were going to respond,” Buntenbah-Leong said. “We did good, we didn’t hold back, we played even harder.”

Saole came up with the big play, forcing Taamu into one of his two turnovers.

The Pearl City quarterback threw for 216 yards and a touchdown, but couldn’t hold onto the ball as Saole plowed over the blocking back and made the clean strip on Taamu, who was looking downfield.

“I’ve been watching (Arizona Cardinals rookie) Tyrann Mathieu’s highlights and yeah, that’s it,” Saole said. “Our (offense) has played awesome throughout the season and then (the defense) stepped up tonight.”

The Chargers had one last shot, but Taamu’s pass fell incomplete on fourth-and-9. Pearl City went three-and-out on its final two drives as Saole and Ka‘ahekili Sua each came up with big sacks.

“In order to beat these guys you’ve got to play four quarters because these guys are good,” Pearl City coach Robin Kami said. “We know we still got the state tournament, so we’re happy with that.”

Pearl City will play No. 3 seed Kauai at 2 p.m. next Saturday at Vidinha Stadium on Kauai.