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Jarrin Young had yet to rush for 100 yards in a game this season — something he accomplished five times last year as a junior.
It’s not a coincidence that Kailua had yet to win a game this season, either.
That all changed in a big way Saturday night as Young ran for a career-high 266 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-12 win over Kaimuki at Kaiser Stadium.
The Surfriders (1-4, 1-2 OIA Red East) avoided their first 0-5 start since 2008, thanks to Young, who finished with the most rushing yards by a Kailua player since Kekoa Sua ran for 267 in a 47-8 win over Nanakuli in 2003.
The 5-foot-8 senior tailback more than doubled his season total on just 22 carries, scoring three of his four touchdowns on runs of 20 yards or greater.
"We just found our rhythm," Young said. "All the credit goes to the (offensive) line. They do all the dirty work."
Kailua started the game throwing the ball on eight of its first 11 offensive plays before switching game plans.
Young carried the ball eight times on the Surfriders’ game-high 14-play drive midway through the second quarter, capping it with an 8-yard score to put Kailua ahead 14-6.
"When somebody is gaining yards in bunches like that, you’ve just got to keep on going with it until it stops," Kailua coach Gary Rosolowich said. "We had to learn how to win and fortunately we were able to do that."
Quarterback Kahaku Iaea was 9-for-16 for 117 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the final 65 seconds of the first half to help the Surfriders extend their lead.
Iaea hooked up with Noah Auld for the first of his two touchdown catches on a 6-yard reception with a little more than a minute remaining in the half.
The Bulldogs (0-5, 0-3) started their next drive with a fumble that Kailua recovered on the 13-yard line.
On the next play, Iaea found Fredrick Welch from 15 yards out to put the Surfriders ahead comfortably, 28-6 at the half.
Young handled the rest in the second half, scoring on runs of 52 and 43 yards. Kailua put the final touches on its first win of the season when Iaea hooked up with Auld again from 13 yards out for a 36-point margin that initiated the running-clock rule over the final 8:12.
"It feels good to get the ‘W,’ " Young said. "It’s been rough, but we’re coming together and working hard and keep fighting."
The Surfriders can make up ground for potential seeding purposes with winnable games ahead against McKinley and Castle.
Kaimuki dropped to 0-5 in its first year back in the OIA Red East. The Bulldogs went 20-4 over the last two seasons while playing in the White Conference.
Randon Tuitama led Kaimuki with 84 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and quarterback Kainalu Spencer was 12-for-22 for 152 yards and a touchdown.
At Kaiser Stadium
| Kailua (1-4, 1-2) |
7 |
21 |
6 |
14 |
— |
48 |
| Kaimuki (0-5, 0-3) |
6 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
— |
12 |
Kail–Jarrin Young 20 run (Lily Berry Liftee kick)
Kaim–Fano Tuisila 16 pass from Kainalu Spencer (kick blocked)
Kail–Young 8 run (Liftee kick)
Kail–Noah Auld 6 pass from Kahaku Iaea (Liftee kick)
Kail–Fredrick Welch 15 pass from Iaea (Liftee kick)
Kail–Young 52 run (kick failed)
Kaim–Randon Tuitama 5 run (run failed)
Kail–Young 43 run (Liftee kick)
Kail–Auld 13 pass from Iaea (Liftee kick)
RUSHING–Kailua: Young 22-266, Thomas Leong 5-8. Kaimuki: Tuitama 21-84, Chansen Exzabe 2-(-4), Spencer 5-(-30).
PASSING–Kailua: Iaea 9-16-0-117. Kaimuki: Spencer 12-22-1-152.
RECEIVING–Kailua: Auld 4-40, Cason Kalei 2-31, Welch 2-31, Dillan Johnson 1-15. Kaimuki: Tuisila 8-85, Tai Boyd 1-22, Exzabe 1-17, Jonah Lapitan 1-15, Sio Kelikolio 1-13.
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