Size Shifts Cougar Strategy

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Spring football report

Kaiser head football coach Pat Samsonas knew one thing for certain when players began spring practice a couple of weeks ago. His team finished the so-called off-season with work well-done. If anything, the weight room became a second home for the bulk of his players, under the guidance of newly hired strength and conditioning coach David Nohara.

“In the past, if we had 15 or 20 kids in there every day, we thought it was awesome,” said Samsonas. “We saw 42 kids or so in there daily this year. This group loves working out. We plan on working out right through the season, whereas in the past, it was optional (in-season).”

Kaiser is coming off a 3-4 season, but it returns a solid nucleus to go with an incoming junior class that went 7-2 at the JV level last fall. Kaiser’s spring game is tentatively set for 4:30 p.m. next Monday, pending approval from the OIA.

Among the Cougars’ highly regarded returnees expected at the public unveiling are a pair of agile linemen in seniors Justin Dietz and David Nohara, son of the assistant coach.

“David led the charge (in the off-season),” Samsonas said of Nohara, who fits 275 pounds into his 6-foot frame. “He had a monster off-season and increased his strength.

“Justin has a lot of potential,” he added of Dietz, who is 6-2, 275. “He has a good frame to work with. He could be a legitimate college prospect if he continues to do the right things.”

The renewed commitment to getting faster and stronger also has contributed to a tweaking of philosophy, most notably on the offensive side of the ball where the Cougars will go to multiple formations under new offensive coordinator Waokoloa Noa. Kaiser primarily has been a spread team the past five seasons, but could become more power-oriented with a slew of able running backs back in the fold.

Noa was a standout wide receiver at Kaiser earlier in the decade and served as defensive backs coach last season.

“He brings some excitement,” Samsonas said. “The boys are responding well to him. We’ll do some things that maybe Kaiser hasn’t done in awhile.”

More excitement can be found in the backfield, where they return one of the state’s top running back tandems in Jesse Kauhola and Jarrin Inagaki. Kauhola is a senior-to-be entering his third year as a projected starter, while Inagaki is a junior-to-be. They finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in rushing among Division II schools in 2008. Both also started on the defensive side of the ball and figure to go both ways this season again.

“Jesse lets his work do the talking,” Samsonas said of Kauhola, who is 5-7, 155. “He’s more shifty than fast, and he’s as tough as they come.”

“When I think of Jarrin, I think of Isaac Saffery,” Samsonas said in reference to the former Kaiser stand-out and White Player of the Year in 2006. “He’s another great guy to have. He’s tough as hell and very smart and very coachable.”

The team also will have plenty of depth in the back-field with juniors Josh Gonda and Cody Cadirao expected to make an immediate impact after enjoying solid JV seasons last fall. “We can’t wait to see what these two can do at the varsity level after watching them last year,” Samsonas said. “Our talent level as a whole is a lot better. It’s our jobs as coaches now to take that talent and make it work.”

The Cougars play their first preseason game Aug. 15 against defending DII state champion Iolani under the lights of Aloha Stadium. Fall camp opens July 27.