Kaiser Football Coach Samsonas To Take New Approach

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Kaiser High School’s head football coach Pat Samsonas can’t help but regard the upcoming football season as an opportunity to finish some unfinished business.

Last fall, his Cougars claimed the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II regular-season title with a 6-1-1 record, but made a quick exit in the playoffs following a loss to Kaimuki in the semi-finals.

“It was a huge disappointment, and we’re using it as a motivational tool here,” Samsonas said. “It took a month for us to get that game out of our minds. It was a wake-up call to work harder and get back there (to the post-season) again. Everyone’s up for the season. We want to represent Kaiser well.”

As the Cougars get ready to begin spring practice later this month, all jobs are open, according to Samsonas, who lost 29 seniors from last year’s team. Among those who completed their eligibility last November was running back Isaac Saffery, who rushed for 1,381 yards and 18 touchdowns. Quarterback Skylar Chan has also departed.

“There will be a lot of changes (personnel-wise),” Samsonas said.

One thing that will not change will be Samsonas’ commitment to running the Spread Offense his teams have thrived on in recent years. While an assistant to Wendell Look at Iolani in 2000, Samsonas spent time with the late Northwestern coach Randy Walker and his staff in suburban Chicago, learning the Wildcats’ version of the Spread. NU has consistently been among the nation’s leaders, offensively.

“We like the offense - it will be our base, but with a different approach,” he said. “Last year, we were pounding it (running the ball) with Isaac, whereas this year we’ll try to use our quickness more. We’re not going to over-power teams this year. We’ll have to be smarter and quicker.”

The Cougars’ spring practices will begin May 28 and wrap June 8 with the Blue and Gold scrimmage at 5 p.m. at Kaiser Stadium. Under the OIA’s guidelines, schools are allotted a three-week period in which they can conduct 10 practices. While five days of full contact are also allowed within that time period, the Cougars will limit their contact this spring, according to Samsonas, in an effort to keep the Cougars injury-free. Kaiser’s passing league and summer workouts begin in June.

Samsonas will build around four returning seniors - wide receiver Kalua Noa, place-kicker Kyle Niiro, defensive end Bronson McMoore and offensive lineman Lono Awong.

“All four are being recruited,” Samsonas said of the foursome. “Those are four guys we can count on.”

Noa, McMoore and Awong were all First Team All-Conference selections last fall, while Niiro is a two-time Second Team choice by OIA coaches.

Noa, who returned a kickoff 68 yards for a score against Anuenue last fall, and who is currently competing for the Kaiser track team, will likely “play everywhere,” according to Samsonas.

Hardest hit by graduation was the offensive line, where nine of the team’s top 10 linemen from a year ago have departed. Awong is the lone returnee.

“As a sophomore, he played tackle, and last year, we had him at guard,” Samsonas said. “We’ll be moving him to center this year.”

McMoore will anchor the defense from his linebacker position. A defensive lineman a year ago, he’s making the transition to playing in open space this spring.

“He’s being recruited as a line-backer, so we’ll be playing him there, too,” Samsonas said. “He’s probably the hardest working kid I’ve ever seen.”

Niiro connected on field goals of 38 and 53 yards late in the season, meanwhile, and figures to be among the top kickers in the OIA.

“He has the ability to become a great kicker,” the coach said.

Behind center, Samsonas envisions alternating a pair of quarterbacks in juniors Laakea Awong and Cal Tashiro.

“Laakea is the arm,” Samsonas said of Awong, whose uncle, the late Clifford Kaneaiakala, was a record-setting quarterback for Kaiser in the early ‘80s.“Cal is our runner. He’s learning well, having only played two years of organized football.”