The Kaimuki Bulldogs may have added their fourth victory out of five games following their 27-7 win over Nanakuli on Saturday night at Skippa Diaz Stadium, but they’re not settling down yet.
The Bulldogs showed up with confidence as sophomore QB Jayden Maiava ran a 29-yard keeper into the end zone for the team’s first score at the 10-minute mark. Despite Nanakuli senior QB Sedric Crawford’s game-tying touchdown late in the first quarter, the Golden Hawks offense wouldn’t see the end zone again for the rest of the night.
Kaimuki’s sophomore kicker Kurt Kawamoto nailed a 39-yard field goal to take the lead in the second quarter and star receiver Kaulana Kaluna showed off his speed on a 49-yard connection with Maiava before the half.
The difference maker in the game for the Bulldogs was “our composure,” head coach David Tautofi said. “We were able to keep our composure even though there were a lot of things happening on the field, penalties, uncharacteristic of us, but they kept going.”
The Bulldogs defense held the Golden Hawks scoreless for the remainder of the game as Nanakuli accumulated penalties and Crawford was sacked twice for a loss of yardage.
However, Tautofi still wants to see more from his team.
“We weren’t as sharp as we’d like to be, but we finished the game and that’s all that matters,” he said.
Kaluna later hauled in a 35-yard catch, which set up junior RB Blade Pfeiffer-Kekoa’s 10-yard rushing TD to increase the lead to 24-7. Kaimuki added a late field goal.
In preparation for their challenge against undefeated Kaiser next week, Tautofi said his main message to the team is “better focus and better execution, fix our mistakes, and just go back to the fundamentals and play better football.”
In what was an otherwise low scoring game compared to Kaimuki’s dominant 61-7 victory against Waialua last week, the Bulldogs kept their heads in the game and earned a victory and their best record to start a season since 2010.
The Final score was 27-7, Kaimuki kicked a field goal as time expired.
So youre winning 24-7 and instead of taking a knee you kick a field goal as time expires? Interesting take on sportsmanship.
Having watched Kaiser play a few times, Kaimuki is going to have problems with the outstanding Kaiser Defense. The whole Kaiser team is very solid, offense coming along nicely with not 1 but 2 good QB’s and Mason Yoshino a stud WR along with 3 other very good playmakers. Chin,Tanaka, Markwith and Lime on defense are beasts and make plays every game. Kaiser has outstanding ST’s and a good kicker with a big leg. Should be a good game early but with low numbers for Kaimuki and Kaiser having good depth, Kaiser wins by 2-3 td’s over a solid Kaimuki team.
Wow. Kaiser didn’t play anybody yet, but ok. Kaimuki always had small numbers, but they never cancelled a season due to small numbers or whatever. Can you dig it. DPG all day
These kaiser fans are hilarious, not humble at all. You guys forget kaimuki was in the championship game last year, and has a very impressive qb. Coaches are very knowledgeable too. Can’t Argue with low numbers, but you can’t teach the toughness that kaimuki has. You either have it or you don’t.
Definitely the top 3 DII teams in order are Kaimuki, Roosevelt and Kaiser. I’ve seen all 3 teams play. I agree with Middle campus that Kaiser has played Aiea, PC, PAC-5, McKinley and Kalani. Kaiser has a good D-LINE and Kaimuki has a good O-Line. QB no comparison but being a freshman and starting is impressive enough!!! Both teams have a top 5 receiver in DII that are good. Kaiser and Roosevelt is a sorry excuse to be in DII when they both have so much depth compared to Kalaheo, Waialua and Kaimuki. I say Kaimuki will win and it should be a good game.
JUS MY .02 … get over yourself. You sound bothered af…sportsmanship? half their coaching staff was on the field all game. their players were getting rowdy too, kicking the football after the play. lmao. but ok, kaimuki’s the one that lacks sportsmanship for kicking a field go. FACE THE WALL.
*field goal
@SEC
You make some good points. Kaimuki is a very good team no question, Maiava and Kaluna are both among the best players in their positions in the state regardless of division. I watched them play Iolani and ultimately Iolani’s speed got to them and Kaimuki tired out.
So in what should be a close game I think Kaiser’s outstanding defense will be a factor. The Kaiser ST’s is solid and their kicker is also a weapon both in field position on kickoffs and long FG’s.
I could see either team winning, just think Kaiser at home and with their depth, with 7-8 quality players who can make plays on offense including both QB’s, will be the difference. Kaiser Coaches have done well to take advantage of the talent they have so I think they will pull away at the end. But that’s why they play the games as Kaimuki certainly has the talent to win.Props to Kaimuki for doing what they do with a smaller roster, definitely shows quality coaching.
@cougar nation, if playing HARD on the field is called no respect for authority. Then I feel sorry for those cougars. It’s going to be nice peeping my horn threw Hawaii kai to kahala…………….DPG
Everytime someone talked down on Kaimuki, they always found a way to shut y’all up lmao keep talking all you wrinkled balls you guys don’t know anything😂😂 stop comparing these little rich boys to the hammas coming out the valley #816🔥💯
@ cougar nation, if playing HARD on the field means being disrespectful to authority, then I would worry. If throwing your opponents to the ground and pushing them back ten yards and letting the guy know he’s going to have a long night means undisciplined, then I would worry. It’s going to be nice peeping my horn thru Hawaii kai to kahala back to kaimuki. See you friday
Cougar Nation so what you saying? Cause Kaimuki boys no live in Hawaii Kai or Kahala and most likely from the housing that they’re not raised right? Do you and Mr. Hill not remember why Kaiser didn’t get to play for a season? Well let me remind you…. it was because of the parents!!!! And like STL-STUD said… FACE THE WALL!
@cougar nation🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭
Bulldawg fans don’t believe the trolls. None of these so called cougar fans have posted on any of the other Kaiser related articles on this site. We have the utmost respect for the DawgPound and any team that we face.
It’ll be a great game. Come and enjoy! See ya all on Friday.
Mahalo and Aloha
Kaimuki fans I agree with coach nick. Don’t believe these online trolls wanting to cause trouble. The Kaiser fans and team has the utmost respect for any team we play. For all the people leaving negative comments trying to just stir things up, shame on you. Let the students play stop interfering.
It will be a great game. Come and enjoy.