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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, October 19, 2003

Kaiser playoff-bound

 •  McKinley clinches final OIA berth
 •  Warriors rout Wolfpack

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

KAILUA — The Kaiser High School football team earned its first O'ahu Interscholastic Association playoff berth since 1997 last night by rolling past Kalaheo, 33-8, at Kailua Stadium.

The Cougars, who improved to 4-3 in the OIA's White Conference and 4-4 overall, will be the White's No. 4 seed and will face No. 1 seed Kapolei in the playoffs on Nov. 1.

Kalaheo's season ends at 3-4, 3-5.

"We busted our tails for six months to get to this spot," said Kaiser's Chris Assily, who scored on an 86-yard touchdown pass and 81-yard kickoff return and also made an interception. "We worked so hard for this, now we just gotta keep working harder every day."

Assily's touchdown catch from quarterback Steven Pratt gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter, and Kainoa Tautaha's 56-yard catch from Pratt made it 13-0 with 4:53 remaining in the half. Assily then took the second-half kickoff and zig-zagged down the left side to help give Kaiser a 20-0 lead.

"Chris is a gamer; to me, he's got Division I talent," Cougars coach David Maeva said. "He's also got leadership, and that's what he brings to this team. He's a treasure for us."

Mustangs coach Tony Tuioti said the three long touchdowns took some wind out of Kalaheo's sails.

"Any time you give up big plays like that, it's tough to come back," Tuioti said. "Our hole just kept getting deeper. Kaiser executed and we didn't, and they deserve to win the game. They look like a team that's ready for the postseason."

The Cougars defense also did its part, holding the Mustangs to 13 yards passing and nine yards rushing in the first half.

Kalaheo has played without starting quarterback David Pershin the past two weeks. Pershin broke his collarbone against Kapolei.

Pratt added a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 26-0 with 3:15 left in the third quarter, and backup quarterback Shannon Wise's 2-yard touchdown run helped put Kaiser up 33-0 with seven minutes remaining.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.

  • KAISER (4-3, 4-4) 0 13 13 7 — 33
  • KALAHEO (3-4, 3-5) 0 0 0 8 — 8

Kais—Chris Assily 86 pass from Steven Pratt (Steele Legros kick)
Kais—Kainoa Tautaha 56 pass from Pratt (kick blocked)
Kais—Assily 81 kick return (Legros kick)
Kais—Pratt 2 run (pass intercepted)
Kais—Shannon Wise 2 run (Legros kick)
Kala—Nate Shields 4 run (Jared Neufeldt run)

RUSHING—Kaiser: Ryan Paulo 9-40, Jordan Arakaki 6-47, Pratt 3-18, Wise 2-26. Kalaheo: Jacobe Akiu 9-24, Neufeldt 9-19, Shawn Forges 1-1, Shields 1-4.

PASSING—Kaiser: Pratt 15-20-0—232, Wise 1-1-0—6, Kalaheo: Neufeldt 9-19-0—82, John Reis 0-1-0—0.

RECEIVING—Kaiser: Oliver Lim 2-30, Landon Ka'a'au 2-14, Tautaha 5-77, Blain Ling 1-3, Assily 2-94, Paulo 1-2, Arakaki 1-5, Legros 2-13. Kalaheo: Akiu 4-17, Nate Witcher 1-10, Shields 2-26, Forges 1-15, Ryan Kelly 1-14.

JV—Kaiser 14, Kalaheo 0