Kaiser interrupts streak of all-Neighbor Island matchups in D-II state finals

Top-seeded Kamehameha-Maui served notice that it will be a tough out in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II playoffs.

Kaiser, meanwhile, crashed the Neighbor Island pigskin party by reaching Saturday’s championship game at Mililani High.

The MIL champion Warriors steamrolled OIA champ Roosevelt, 60-26, behind a dominant ground attack plus big plays on special teams in Pukalani on Saturday night.

Tevyn Apo returned kickoffs from 89 and 90 yards to the house, while running backs Kaikea Hueu and Zedekaiah Campbell each tallied over 120 yards on the ground and combined for three touchdowns.

KS-Maui (8-3) and coach Ulima Afoa returned to the state final a year after suffering a 31-28 loss to Waimea in the school’s first appearance in a title game.

KSM jumped to a 24-0 lead to begin the game, starting when Anthony Sardine Jr. recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown. Kolt Kahoohanohano capped the onslaught with a 49-yard pick-six.

Kaeo Bush stepped in at quarterback for Ioane Kamanao and passed for 306 yards, three touchdowns and two picks in the loss for Roosevelt (10-3). Bush was 29-for-43. Receiver Keawe Davis had a huge game with 12 catches for 178 yards and three scores.

OIA runner-up Kaiser, meanwhile, has given itself a chance for its first state title since it won D-II in 2013 under Rich Miano.

Tim Seaman’s crew will be the first team from Oahu to appear in a D-II final since Radford in 2015. The Cougars (10-2) upset second-seeded Kauai, 16-13, when running back Brady Kim came in from 14 yards with 2:57 to play.

Kim carried it 15 times for 81 yards, enough to pick up quarterback Jesse Shinagawa, who was intercepted three times.

Second-seeded Kauai (3-6) jumped out to a 10-0 lead after a quarter when Jacob Bukoski caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Haezon Dizon, followed by the first of two field goals on the day from kicker Kai Potts.

Dillon Reis got Kaiser on the board with a 4-yard TD run going into the half and Kim’s score put the Cougars up for the first time, 14-13. A safety completed the scoring with 1:17 left.

Kamehameha-Maui and Kaiser will kick off the D-II final at 4 p.m. at John Kauinana Stadium.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.