Kaufusi does it all in Kaiser’s victory

After missing Kaiser’s first two regular-season games, Andrew Kaufusi announced his return with authority in the Cougars’ 34-7 win over Radford on Friday.

Kaufusi played in all three phases and scored on a 65-yard reception on the Cougars’ first play of the game. He later ran for a 16-yard score deep in the second quarter and turned in one of Kaiser’s three interception returns for touchdowns in the third quarter in the OIA Blue victory.

“It’s great to have him back. He’s so versatile and does so many different things,” Kaiser coach Arnold Martinez said. “Definitely a game-changer.”

Radford last hosted a game at John Velasco Stadium on Oct. 12, 2013, a 7-6 loss to Pearl City. The Rams played their designated home games at Aiea while the school’s field was renovated, a process delayed when military debris was uncovered in 2014.

Kaiser recorded the first score on the new natural grass playing surface on a play the coaches installed during the week.

After a false start on the game’s opening play, quarterback Kainoa Torres tossed a backward pass to Lincoln Lima, who then lofted a deep pass to Kaufusi, who was running alone downfield for a 65-yard touchdown 19 seconds into the game.

“You only live once, so we wanted to attempt something new,” Kaufusi said. “We just installed that play last week, we just tried to catch them off guard. I wasn’t expecting it myself, and when the ball came I was ‘Oh my goodness.’”

The Cougars spent much of the half in Radford territory, but lost a fumble at the Rams’ 30 and Radford’s Kyle Sudog came up with an interception at the 15 on a fourth-down throw late in the first quarter.

The Cougars recovered a fumble at the Radford 2, but a penalty and an errant shotgun snap thwarted another scoring opportunity.

Kaufusi contributed a sack to the Kaiser defense and added to the lead with 39 seconds left before halftime with a bruising 16-yard run after initially being stopped at the line of scrimmage.

The Cougars then pulled away on defense, starting with Micah Mashima’s 41-yard interception return on the third play of the second half.

Radford responded moments later with Jonah Soakai’s 83-yard kickoff return and he returned a punt 38 yards to give the Rams possession at the Kaiser 42.

But Kaufusi intercepted a pass just outside the 10 and raced 89 yards the other way for his third touchdown of the night.

After Radford again drove into Kaiser territory, Keoni Pangan caught a tipped pass in the end zone and sprinted the length of the field for a 100-yard score.

“We’re actually competing against each other,” Kaufusi said. “We said since one guy got a pick we all have to get one. We try to have a competition within the competition.”

OIA RED

Campbell 12, Aiea 7

Camp–Markus Ramos 10 pass from Kawika Ulufale (kick blocked)

Camp–Iosua Sevao 22 yard interception return (kick blocked)

Aiea–Ryan Panuelo 1 run (Kobe Kato kick)

RUSHING–Campbell: Tasi Faumui 11-37, Darius Cambe 7-8, Kawika Ulufale 16-9, Jeremiah Tauai 1-(minus 6). Aiea: Kobe Kato 1-8, Austin Savea 3-7, Ryan Panuelo 2-(minus 2), Isaiah Ripley 3-(minus 5), Zelius Maae-Liupaano 6-(minus 17).

PASSING–Campbell: Kawika Ulufale 12-26-2-171. Aiea: Zelius Maae-Liupaano 15-24-4-110, Kobe Kato 3-8-2-11.

RECEIVING–Campbell: Markus Ramos 5-112, Vernon Etrata-Daite 3-33, Fangaima Mailei 3-17, Tasi Faumui 1-9.

Aiea: Babu Capanang 6-8, Sam Okamoto 4-32, Kame Kim Choy-Keb-Ah Lo 3-38, Fabian Bautista 3-31, Jayden Chaviera 2-12.

OIA BLUE

No. 1 Kahuku 28, No. 4 Waianae 0

Kah–Elvis Vakapuna 10 run (Stokes Nihipali-Botelho kick)

Kah–Vakapuna 10 run (Nihipali-Botelho kick)

Kah–Harmon Brown 11 (Nihipali-Botelho kick)

Kah–Sioeli Naupoto fumble recovery in end zone (Nihipali-Botelho kick)

RUSHING–Waianae: Rico Rosario 9-42, Jorell Pontes-Borje 3-9, Javen Towne 5-5, Kade Amrbocio 3-4, TEAM 1-(minus-1), Jaren Ulu 4-(minus-36). Kahuku: Brown 19-90, Vakapuna 13-65, Jean Paul Kefu 4-36, Steven Lombard 8-35, Sol-Jay Maiava 1-10, Kesi Ah-Hoy 1-4.

PASSING–Waianae: Ulu 1-7-1-9. Kahuku: Maiava 4-10-0-39.

RECEIVING–Waianae: Isaiah Freeney 1-9. Kahuku: Vakapuna 2-25, Royce Pao 1-9, Kaiea Dowling 1-5.

Junior varsity– Kahuku 34, Waianae 13

Kaiser 34, Radford 7

Kais–Andrew Kaufusi 65 pass from Lincoln Lima (Riki Sakai kick)

Kais–Kaufusi 16 run (kick failed)

Kais–Micah Mashima 41 interception return (Sakai kick)

Rad–Jonah Soakai 83 kickoff return (Vadim Woolery kick)

Kais–Kaufusi 89 interception return (Sakai kick)

Kais–Keoni Pangan 100 interception return (Sakai kick)

RUSHING–Kaiser: Kainoa Craig 7-16, Kaufusi 6-14, Noah Cambra 1-4, Abraham Mamizuka 1-0, Tyson Creekmur 2-(minus 1), Lima 2-(minus 4), Kainoa Torres 11-(minus 8). Radford: Robert Ishii 12-27, Kyle Corpuz 2-6, Jaden Standfield 1-0, Sipa Leafa 1-0, Randy Wright 3-(minus 1), Austin Antoni 4-(minus 8).

PASSING–Kaiser: Torres 9-20-0-106, Lima 1-1-0-65. Radford: Wright 9-36-3-96, Antoni 1-7-0-1.

RECEIVING–Kaiser: Kaufusi 3-111, Mashima 3-12, Pangan 3-31, Lima 1-17.

Radford: Standfield 3-24, Corpuz 4-54, Ishii 3-19.

Junior varsity–Radford 21, Kaiser 6

No. 8 Kapolei 40, Castle 21

Cast–Jeremy McGoldrick 30 run (Cheyden Costa kick)

Kapo–Team safety

Kapo–Antoneo Brown 2 run (Brown run)

Kapo–Jaymin Sarono 10 pass from Taulia Tagovailoa (Beau Meyer kick)

Cast–McGoldrick 6 pass from Jaylen Uyemura-Lee (Costa kick)

Kapo–Sarono 10 pass from Tagovailoa (Meyer kick)

Cast–Chasen Palaylay-Shuford 55 fumble return (Costa kick)

Kapo–Leighton Rosa 3 run (Meyer kick)

Kapo–Team safety

Kapo–Sarono 38 pass from Tagovailoa (Meyer kick)

RUSHING–Kapolei: Brown 6-37, Josh Kansana 7-26, Rosa 4-18, Tagovailoa 1-5, Wyatt Perez 1-1, Riley Asuncion 1-1, Team 2-(minus 10). Castle: Makana Smith 7-10, Keola Lewis 1-0, McGoldrick 3-(minus 1), Henry Nakamura-McCoy 3-(minus 2), Israel Pakele 5-(minus 4), Uyemura-Lee 4-(minus 14).

PASSING–Kapolei: Tagovailoa 30-44-1-403. Castle: Uyemura-Lee 9-21-0-131. Smith 5-7-0-36.

RECEIVING–Kapolei: Sarono 10-135, Isaiah Ahana 7-76, Kaeo Alvarez-Ranan 6-115, Sam You 3-26, Perez 3-25, Kansana 1-26. Castle: Nakamura-McCoy 6-36, Smith 3-82, McGoldrick 2-23, Chris Sakuma 2-15, Lewis 1-11.

Junior varsity–Kapolei 34, Castle 10

OIA DIVISION II

Pearl City 43, Kalaheo 8

PC–Paulsson Solomon recovered blocked punt (Zameer Khan kick)

PC–Calvin Mock 27 pass from Kekainalu Simon (Khan kick)

PC–safety, snap goes into end zone

PC–Isaiah Asinsin 38 pass from Simon (Khan kick)

PC–Charles Freitas 17 run (Khan kick)

PC–Freitas 3 run (Khan kick)

PC–Andre Carter 20 run (run failed)

Kalh–Mark Lehrner 10 run (Tristan Thulin-Marsh pass from Lehrner)

RUSHING–Pearl City: Freitas 11-52, Andre Carter 5-43, Kobe Jackson 6-25, Josiah Keliihoomalu-Abregano 2-2. Kalaheo: Anthony Camacho 9-39, Justice Nufeldt 6-32, Lehrner 9-21, Josiah Akau 2-(minus 2).

PASSING–Pearl City: Simon 4-6-0-104, Kalaheo: Lehrner 4-12-2-51

RECEIVING–Pearl City: Patrick Nunez 2-39, Asinsin 1-38, Mock 1-27. Kalaheo: Thulin-Marsh 2-27, Ethan Eckenfels 1-20, JadenBalmos 1-4.

Junior varsity–Kalaheo 21, Pearl City 20

Also

Maui 53, King Kekaulike 0

Honokaa 12, Kealakehe 7

Kamehameha-Hawaii 37, Waiakea 0