WAILUKU >> Facing a stiff wind and a stiffer Lahainaluna defense, the Kaiser Cougars switched in midstream from its run-and-shoot sets to a classic power game on the ground to rally past the second-seeded Lunas 20-9 on Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium.

The semifinal matchup in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II State Football Championships pitted unbeaten Lahainaluna against the OIA White champs. A crowd of about 9,000 — nearly all wearing red in support of the MIL champion Lunas — saw Lahainaluna take a 9-7 lead into intermission. Kaiser, the fourth seed in a rare underdog role, changed strategy. After throwing 12 passes in the first half, the Cougars threw just once in the second.

That led to a go-ahead 44-yard touchdown blast by Fitou Fisiiahi, who added a 2-yard scoring run to help Kaiser take a 20-9 lead in the third quarter. With the Lunas, led inside by senior defensive tackle Hercules Mata’afa, clogging the trenches, Kaiser tossed the ball to Thomas Buntenbah-Leong and Canaan Saole on sweeps.

Buntenbah-Leong, who scored early on a kick return, rushed for 85 of his game-high 97 yards after halftime. Saole rushed for 71 of his 81 yards after the break. In all, the Cougars rushed for 250 yards on 46 carries.

"We tried to gas ’em out in the first half. We didn’t want to show them our big look until the second half," offensive coordinator Cameron Higgins said. "It was deliberate. The feedback from the line was that (Lahainaluna’s) defense was getting pretty gassed. So we wanted to push the tempo, get underneath them and stick with it until they stopped it."

The wind blowing in from the ocean was a factor, but Kaiser has plenty of experience dealing with fierce gusts at its own field.

"We had to control the clock once we got that score (by Fisiiahi)," quarterback Lii Karratti said.

Now coach Rich Miano’s Cougars will play unbeaten Kauai for the title next Saturday at Aloha Stadium.

"I guess it’s a shocker for everyone because ‘Iolani was (seeded) higher than them," Karratti said.

It was ragged at times. Kaiser finished with 163 penalty yards and Lahainaluna had 121.

Kaiser (12-1) scored a season low, but had control of the second half and let its defense go to work. Lahainaluna, which beat D-I champion Baldwin twice, rushed for 214 yards on 51 carries, but didn’t cross midfield in the final 22 minutes of the game. Fisiiahi spearheaded the Kaiser defense in addition to his work as a running back. The adjustments at halftime were vital.

"There was a lot of tears. Told our boys, ‘How bad do you want it?’ But we came out victorious," said Fisiiahi.

The Lunas were not the same, however, after running back Jared Rocha-Islas left the game late in the first half with an ankle injury.

"He probably fractured his ankle. You know us, we don’t use too many guys to begin with. He was a big loss for us," Lunas coach Garret Tihada said. "The bottom line is Kaiser is a better team than us. We knew they were going to be the most physical team we’d face. They were the real deal. We’ve not seen anything close to them this year."

Quarterback Sione Filikitonga rushed for 92 hard-earned yards on 22 carries, but managed to pass for just 28 in the face of a furious Kaiser pass rush.

"It’s pretty awesome," Karratti said. "Our defensive line was creating momentum and sacking their quarterback. We rely heavily on our D-line to make great plays."

Lah—Jared Rocha-Islas 49 run (Rocha-Islas kick)
Kai—Thomas Buntenbah-Leong 78 kick return (Matt Sai kick)
Lah—Safety, Connor Mowat sacked punter in end zone
Kai—Fitou Fisiiahi 44 run (run failed)
Kai—Fisiiahi 2 run (Sai kick)

RUSHING—Kaiser: Buntenbah-Leong 20-97, Lii Karratti 6-26, Fisiiahi 9-76, Canaan Saole 9-81, team 1-minus-32, Parker Higgins 1-1. Lahainaluna: Sione Filikitonga 22-92, Christian Whitehead 3-23, Rocha-Islas 6-62, Jeffery Ancog 3-minus-9, Taylor Kohler-Fonohema 8-52, Nathaniel Hapakuka-Nunuha 1-3, Ansen Cabanilla 2-minus-2, team 2-minus-13, Kawika Kinimaka 1-4, Chris Kaniho 3-2.
PASSING—Kaiser: Karratti 3-13-1-39. Lahainaluna: Filikitonga 4-9-0-28.
RECEIVING—Kaiser: Buntenbah-Leong 2-30,  Curt Clivio 1-9. Lahainaluna: Kohler-Fonahema 2-27,  Whitehead 1-minus-5, Amateo Flores 1-6.