PEARL CITY — No matter the obstacle — a season-ending injury, a position switch or the uncertainty that can come with recruiting — Linkin Apana kept moving forward. Last Friday, surrounded by over 50 family members and friends gathered at his...
Kaiser dominant in all three phases in season-opening 56-7 victory over McKinley
Brady Kim (left) and Keo Lapera celebrates after Kim scored one of his three touchdowns against McKinley. | Michael Lasquero
Kaiser dominant in all three phases in season-opening 56-7 victory over McKinley
BY PAUL BRECHT | HSRN
PUBLISHED AUGUST 17, 2024
HAWAII KAI – The beasts from the East.
The Kaiser Cougars (1-0) opened their season with a dominant non-league victory on Friday night, beating the McKinley Tigers (0-1) behind a balanced effort from all three phases of the football, 56-7.
The Cougars forced multiple turnovers and jumped out to a three-touchdown lead by the end of the first quarter. By the conclusion of the first half, Kaiser had gone up by 49 riding the legs of sophomore running back Brady Kim – who had three touchdown runs in the opening half and two in the second quarter alone.
Kaiser running back Dillon Reis quickly got the hosts on the board as the senior took his second touch of the night 59 yards to the house to put Kaiser ahead 45 seconds into the game. The Cougars would add three more touchdowns before the Tigers were able to get on the board. McKinley’s do-it-all player Gregory Givens intercepted Kaiser quarterback BJ Rezentes and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown for the only score of the night for the visitors.
You like points? We got points. 🏈
— Hawai'i Sports Radio (@HIsportsradio) August 17, 2024
END 1Q:
McKinley - 7
Kaiser - 28@OIASports | LISTEN: https://t.co/qHN6Q6wv27
Issues on snaps continued into the second quarter for McKinley, setting up the Kaiser offense with excellent field position on multiple occasions. The Cougars took advantage four more times as Kim had rushes of 1 and 10 yards for scores, Rayne Sumida hauled in Rezentes’ second TD pass of the night and Aiden Leong punched in a 6-yard touchdown with 56 seconds left in the half to give Kaiser an enormous cushion at half, 56-7.
McKinley’s offense struggled all night as the Tigers accounted for negative-81 yards of net yardage. Junior QB Iosua Sefo completed one of his two pass attempts for seven yards while not turning the ball over in quarterback platoon duties for McKinley.
Kaiser dominates McKinley, 56-7 @HawaiiNewsNow @Tiger_Athletics pic.twitter.com/TdMrSI7GNj
— Cienna Pilotin (@ciennapilotin) August 17, 2024
Kaiser quarterback BJ Rezentes completed 12-of-15 passes for 97 yards while tossing two TDs and two interceptions in the season-opening win for the Cougars. Dillon Reis led the home squad in rushing with 79 yards and a touchdown in just five carries while HSRN’s “Player of the Game” Brady Kim scored on more than half his touches (3 TDs, 5 rush) and ran for 26 yards in the victory.
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL LASQUERO
Kamehameha linebacker Linkin Apana commits to TCU Football
read more
Ruiz rises to associate head coach role ahead of second season at Hawai’i Pacific
HONOLULU – Success always brings swings of change. Following the program’s third-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025-26, the Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball program saw a plethora of changes throughout the offseason. The Sharks...
Kamehameha linebacker Evan Cazimero commits to Colorado State
From backup to breakout star, Kamehameha linebacker Evan Duke Cazimero is ready for the next level. Cazimero announced his commitment to Colorado State University on June 11, ending a recruiting process that took the rising junior from backup...
Campbell defensive back Isaiah Chong commits to Sacramento State
EWA BEACH — Campbell defensive back Isaiah Chong announced his commitment to Sacramento State on Monday, choosing the Hornets over four other finalists and reaffirming a pledge he had previously withdrawn following a coaching change. Chong, a...
