Amosa’s Sabers spoil Miano’s debut as Kaiser coach

When Amosa Amosa arrived on the University of Hawaii campus as a freshman, Rich Miano was among the senior role models he looked up to.

On Friday, it was Amosa who helped welcome Miano into the high school coaching fraternity.

With both head coaches leading their high school alma maters, Amosa’s Campbell team opened the season with a 34-6 win over Kaiser in Miano’s head coaching debut.

Campbell’s defense accounted for the first and last touchdowns of an often ragged game, and the ninth-ranked Sabers pulled away in the second half.

“It was kind of the first game I expected,” said Amosa, now in his fifth year at Campbell. “We have a lot of returnees, but we also have a lot of new players. Tonight was just a matter of putting some things together and trying to be a little more consistent with what we do.”

Campbell linebacker Solomon Leaeno scored the Sabers’ first touchdown when he recovered an errant snap in the end zone. Kaiser hung around, trailing 12-6 at halftime, before Campbell put the game away, capping the win with linebacker Donovan Poniatowski’s 80-yard return for a score after he intercepted a pitch intended for a Kaiser running back.

“These guys worked very hard over the summer and they really bring the intensity when they play,” Amosa said of the defense’s senior captains.

Campbell running back Paul-Andrew Rhoden scored rushing and receiving touchdowns as quarterbacks Justin Tago-Su’e and Isaac Hurd shared time in leading the offense.

While Campbell looks to continue building on recent successes, Miano is in the early stages of implementing his program at Kaiser after being named head coach this summer.

“I normally don’t get nervous for anything, and I’ve been around football long enough. But it is different having to make calls and decisions all those type  of things. It’s a great learning experience,” said Miano, who spent the previous 13 seasons as an assistant coach at UH.

Although the Cougars couldn’t keep pace with the Sabers in the second half, Miano saw some positives they can carry into their OIA White opener against Kalaheo.

“I think mentally these guys know we can compete at this level,” Miano said. “I think it’s a good test for us because we know if we can hang around like we did and play a little better in the second half and make a few less mistakes we can play with Red division teams. We’re in the White division and we’re going to make a lot of improvement next week.”

“I think they’re in good hands,” Amosa said of the Cougars. “I wish them the best of luck in the White.”

Kaiser stayed close early on Friday despite Campbell driving inside the Cougars’ 10-yard line on three of its first four drives.

The game’s first score came after the Sabers were stopped on downs after moving to the Kaiser 5. An errant shotgun snap rolled into the end zone and Leaeno recovered the loose ball for a Sabers touchdown.

At Campbell H.S.

Cam—Solomon Leaeno fumble recovery in end zone (kick failed) 

Kais—Kai Gonda 1 run (kick blocked)

Cam—Paul-Andrew Rhoden 9 pass from Justin Tago-Su’e (kick failed) 

Cam—Rhoden 2 run (Triston Pebria run) 

Cam—Jayce Bantolina 15 pass from Isaac Hurd (Tago Sue kick) 

Cam—Donovan Poniatowski 80 fumble return (Tago-Su’e kick) 

RUSHING—Kaiser: Gonda 8-33, Curt Clivio 2-(-13), Makana Lyman 7-(-23), Team 1-(-15). Campbell: Rhoden 16-72, Pebria 9-56, Tago-Su’e 4-45, Hurd 5-9, Kainoa Perry 1-0, Team 1-(-24).

PASSING—Kaiser: Clivio 2-6-1-19, Lyman 11-25-1-108. Campbell: Tago-Su’e 16-32-1-135, Hurd 7-12-0-71.

RECEIVING—Kaiser: Christian Clapp 3-40, Gonda 3-8, Destin Moss 2-14, Leimana Chong-Gum 3-17, Justin Ikei 1-36, Elima Haole 1-12. Campbell: Brannon Bantolina 5-73, Bantolina 4-47, Rhoden 4-29,  Pebria 2-19, Perry 2-16, Micah Alu-Abcede 2-15, Quinton Chandler 2-13,  Alonzo Everett 1-9, Vic-Matthew Pasaylo 1-(-15)

Aiea 53, Kaimuki 6

Kamakan Apelu scored on a 70-yard kickoff return and on an 87-yard reception as Na Alii routed the visiting Bulldogs to open the season.

Aiea’s point total was the school’s second-highest all-time, topped only by a 61-0 win over Kalani in 1999.

Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti threw for 173 yards and three touchdowns for Aiea.

At Aiea

Aiea—Mana Kaahanui 1 run (Jae Won Huh kick).

Aiea—Johnathan Gray 31 pass from Isaiah Hernandez-Fonoti (kick failed).

Kaim—Stephano Tuisila 63 pass from Kainalu Spencer (kick failed). 

Aiea—Kamakana Apelu 70 kick-off return (Huh kick). 

Aiea—Apelu 87 pass from Hernandez-Fonoti (kick failed). 

Aiea—AJ Aleaga 30 interception return (Huh kick). 

Aiea—Jalen Medeiros 19 pass from Hernandez-Fonoti (kick failed). 

Aiea—Jarrel Chaviera 49 run (Huh kick). 

Aiea—Kaahanui 6 run (Huh kick). 

RUSHING—Kaimuki: Kainalu Spencer 7-16, Jorge Rios 5-13, Dathan Lloyd 1-0, Randon Tuitama 16-5. Aiea: Jalen Medeiros 6-54, Chaviera 1-49, Kaahanui 6-48, Hernandez-Fonoti 2-28, Apelu 3-22, Blaze Ongory-Mathias 2-18.

PASSING—Kaimuki: Spencer 5-17-1-103. Aiea: Hernandez-Fonoti 5-13-2-173.

RECEIVING—Kaimuki: Tuisila 3-90, Jonah Lapitan 1-7, Kualii Moefu 1-6. Aiea: Apelu 2-121, Gray 1-31, Medeiros 1-19, Chaviera 1-2.

Kamehameha-Hawaii 25, Anuenue 6

Jairah Chun-Lai rushed for 92 yards and two second-quarter touchdowns — on runs of 13 and 41 yards — as the Warriors defeated Na Koa in Keaau.

Faaolaina Teofilo led Kamehameha-Hawaii with 103 yards rushing and a 26-yard touchdown in the third quarter. 

Kainalu Kaleo scored Anuenue’s lone touchdown and rushed for 116 yards. 

At Kamehameha-Hawaii

KSH—Jairah Chun-Lai 13 run (Logan Uyetake kick)

KSH—Chun-Lai 41 run (kick blocked) 

Anue—Kainalu Kaleo 11 run (run failed) 

KSH—Faaolaina Teofilo 26 run (run failed) 

KSH—Micah Kanehailua 1 run (run failed) 

RUSHING—Anuenue: Kaleo 9-116, Anuenue Tui 9-57, Kakela Lee 4-24, Malaeloa Liua 6-19, Kaimalino Bobiles 6-19, Kona Kelekolio 1-(-2), Hemakana Yam-Lum 5-(-6). Kamehameha-Hawaii: Teofilo 9-103, Chun-Lai 9-92, Adri Castro 9-52, David Lopez 1-26, Chase Peneku 2-5, Kanehailua 2-2, Kamuela Kawamoto 1-(-2). 

PASSING—Anuenue: Yam-Lum 1-5-1-14, Kelekolio 0-2-0-0. Kamehameha-Hawaii: Kanehailua 5-11-0-61. 

RECEIVING—Anuenue: Keanu Rodriguez 1-14. Kamehameha-Hawaii: Lopez 3-45, Teofilo 1-8, Peneku 1-8.

Also

Kealakehe 10, Kailua 3

Kapolei 28, Pearl City 7.