Moanalua rushes
by Kaiser, 30-13

The Moanalua Menehunes utilized a deceptive triple-option run attack to gain 331 yards on the ground and earn a 30-13 victory over Kaiser in a battle for OIA White supremacy at a windy Kaiser High School last night.

Moanalua (4-0) quarterback Stanford Leti got his team off to a running start, finding the end zone with a 55-yard scamper on the second play of the game. The agile Leti kept the ball and went up the middle of the field with 10:55 left in the first quarter. A 30-yard field goal by Landon Watanabe 4 minutes later put the Menehunes ahead 9-0.

"We're down to 38 (players) on the roster, and I tell our guys we won't get tired out," said Moanalua head coach Arnold Martinez. "It's come to a point where they want to condition because they know it gets them to the next level of finishing games. We don't do it for punishment; we do it because we want to be strong throughout the game."

Leti carried the ball 14 times for 135 yards and three touchdowns. He was aided by running back John Estores, who added 10 carries for 127 yards.

With 4:15 remaining in the opening quarter, Kaiser punter Kyle Niiro bobbled the long snap and Moanalua recovered on the Cougar 27-yard line. Leti took advantage of the great field position with another touchdown run, this time from 10 yards out. A Watanabe extra point put the Menehunes up 16-0 after one quarter.

After Moanalua tackled the holder on a Niiro field-goal attempt early into the second quarter, the Menehune stayed with the successful ground game and capitalized on a 1-yard touchdown run by Leti.

Kaiser (3-1) couldn't get a handle on the ensuing kickoff, and Moanalua recovered the ball at the Cougar 18-yard line. The Menehune turned the miscue into a quick seven points when, after an offensive penalty, Leti found Kenz Ignacio on a 25-yard touchdown strike, and the Menehunes went ahead 30-0 with 7:22 to play in the opening half.

Kaiser quarterback Nick Yuzawa was picked off by defensive back Jim Mateo with 3:37 to play in the second quarter, and after a Cougar personal foul, Moanalua had the ball on its own 39. Moanalua held the ball for the remainder of the quarter, and took a 30-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Yuzawa was 8-for-25 through the air for Kaiser, throwing for 83 yards and two interceptions. Cougars wide receiver Skyler Chan gained 56 yards on four catches.

"(This win) is a testimony to these guys," said Martinez. "We give them some leadership and a lot of love, and they've bought into that love, and want to do everything they can to go as far as they can go."

Kaiser finally caught a break with 8:48 in the third quarter after Leti fumbled and the Cougars recovered on the Moanalua 29. However, the offense couldn't put together enough for a first down and turned the ball over on downs.

On the next play, Leti fumbled again, this time on the pitch to his running back, and Kaiser recovered on the Menehunes 21-yard line.

The Cougars got the ball to the Moanalua 2-yard line, and with 3:24 remaining in the third quarter, Issac Saffery ran up the middle for the touchdown, giving Kaiser its first points of the game.