Young Cougar Team Prepares For Final Season Matches

Wednesday - October 03, 2007
By Jack Danilewicz
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Kyle Niiro shows his stellar kicking style on the Kaiser field. Photo by Nathalie Walker
Kyle Niiro shows his stellar kicking style on the Kaiser field. Photo by Nathalie Walker, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

For the Kaiser High football team, the coming weeks will be all about getting into position to get into position.

Only a month after a berth in the post-season seemed highly unlikely, the Cougars’ defense logged back-to-back shutouts to move Kaiser back in the mix in the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s White Conference race. The league’s top four teams advance to the Division II OIA playoffs, with the final two earning a berth in next month’s state tournament. A return to the post-season would be no small feat for a Cougar team that graduated 29 seniors last year, when Kaiser was the White’s regular-season champion. Following Friday’s 7 p.m. game at Roosevelt, the Cougars meet Kalani Oct. 12 and Waipahu Oct. 19 to close the season.

“We knew that with a younger team, it would take some of the season to grow,” said coach Pat Samsonas, whose team took a 2-1 league record into their game against Pearl City over the weekend.“It was a learn-as-we-go kind of thing. The kids were low after we lost by a couple of big scores (44-0 to Iolani and 19-7 to Nanakuli), but they don’t want to have that feeling again, and this has made them want to keep working hard.”


The centerpiece of the team’s rapid growth has been its defense. The Cougars dominated a good Anuenue offense in a 17-0 win Sept. 14 and stood tall in a low-scoring struggle with Waialua the following week, hanging on for a 3-0 win.

“Defense has been keeping us in games when our offense has been sluggish,” Samsonas said. “Defense wins championships, as the old saying goes. We’re not winning a championship necessarily on defense, but the defense has been winning games for us.

“It’s been a good all-around effort between the players and the coaches,” he added, noting Cougar defensive coordinator Bronson Sismar.“They’re working very well together (as a unit).” Leading the way is three-year starter Bronson McMoore in the trenches. Although he shifted to line-backer for a time, he has since returned to his defensive end position, and the Cougars have moved back as a unit to the 4-2 after experimenting with a 3-3-5.

“He’s our leader on the field,” Samsonas said. “He’s back to defensive end, and he’s been making a lot of plays.”

In the interior, the line also features Pasi Toetuu, Justin Dietz and Chev-v Aveiro. All three play both ways, along with Nainoa Kam and Kalua Noa, who anchor the secondary. Noa is coming off an injury that had sidelined him for several weeks. He returned to the lineup versus Anuenue on Sept. 15.

“He was about 60 percent for that game, and now he’s finally back to 100 percent,” Samsonas said.

His return could pay huge dividends for the Cougars, especially offensively, where he is a wide receiver.

“He makes a major difference. He’s probably one of the fastest kids in the state - he finished second in both the 100 and 200 for track. He’s one of the most athletic kids to come through Kaiser. He’s glad to be back, and he’s trying to make up for lost time.”

The Cougars have rotated a pair of quarterbacks in Laakea Awong and Cal Tashiro with success to date. Both will again split time against Roosevelt.

“Cal is the runner and Laakea’s the thrower, so they work well together. They’re very cool with each other. They pick each other up.”


In Roosevelt, Samsonas sees similarities between the Rough Riders and his 2006 Kaiser team. The Rough Riders are in their second season in Division II, having moved down from DI after the 2005 season.

“We were the team heavy with returnees last year,” he said. “This year, we’re the young team, and they have the experience. It’s hard to beat experience. We have to attack where we can, get what we can, and hope the defense will play the way it’s played so far this season.”

Should the Roosevelt game come down to special teams, the Cougars have one of the best kickers in the state in Kyle Niiro. He converted field goals of 47 and 45 yards versus Anuenue and Waialua, respectively, and has had 10 punts downed inside the opposition’s 10-yard line.

“He’s been amazing. He’s one of the reasons our defense has been good.”

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