WAIALUA — In a matchup of teams that like to pass, it was the running of Isaac Saffery that helped Kaiser beat Waialua, 42-21, before a crowd of 1,200 last night at Toshiyuki Nakasone Field.

Saffery, a senior running back, rushed for 202 yards on 39 carries and scored three touchdowns.

Kaiser improved to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's White Division. Waialua is 4-2 and 3-2.

Waialua beat Kaiser in the final week of the regular season last year, but the Bulldogs were denied a playoff berth when it lost a coin toss to the Cougars following the game.

"That one bit hard," said Kaiser head coach Pat Samsonas of the loss. "But this win keeps us in it (playoff contention)."

Kaiser's game plan was to run the ball against Waialua, according to Samsonas.

"We saw that Kalani had a 100-yard rusher (against Waialua) last week, so we wanted to get Isaac the ball," he said.

Kaiser scored on its first possession on a 4-yard run by Saffery that capped a nine-play, 52-yard drive. The drive was kept alive by a pass from kicker Kyle Niiro to defensive lineman Sean Harken on what was to be a 27-yard field goal attempt. The snap was low and Niiro picked it up and tossed it into a crowd of Cougars. Harken took it for a six-yard gain and a first down. Saffery scored on the next play.

"We wanted to keep their offense off the field," Saffery said. "Coach said I would be getting the ball a lot tonight."

Waialua answered back on the ensuing drive, taking just four plays to find the end zone on a 24-yard pass from Caleb Fore to Joshua Whittaker.

Fore completed 10 of 25 passes for 284 yards.

During Kaiser's next possession, quarterback Skyler Chan found Kalua Noa, who broke a tackle after a short completion and raced 44 yards to give the Cougars a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Neither team scored in the second quarter.

Chan gave Kaiser a 21-7 lead on a 49-yard pass to Jake Esteban in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs closed to 21-14 on 99-yard pass play from Fore to Donovan Matas on a wheel route with four minutes left in the third quarter.

Chan, however, answered back with a 26-yard run to stretch the lead back to 14.

After Fore's 4-yard TD run closed to 28-21 in the fourth quarter, Saffery sealed the Kaiser victory with touchdown runs of 9 and 11 yards.

KAISER (3-2, 3-1) 14 0 14 14—42

WAIALUA (4-2, 3-2) 7 0 7 7—21

Kais—Isaac Saffery 4 run (Kyle Niiro kick)

Waial—Joshua Whittaker 24 pass from Caleb Fore (Kaikala Carvalho kick)

Kais—Kalua Noa 44 pass from Skyler Chan (Niiro kick)

Kais—Jake Esteban 49 pass from Chan (Niiro kick)

Waial—Donovan Matas 99 pass from Fore (Carvalho kick)

Kais—Chan 26 run (Niiro kick)

Waial—Fore 5 run (Carvalho kick)

Kais—Saffery 9 run (Niiro kick)

Kais—Saffery 11 run (Niiro kick)

RUSHING—Kaiser: Saffery 39-202, Chan 5-62, Nainoa Kam 1-4, Kalua Noa 1-2, Tukia Aholelei 2-12, Team 1-(minus 2). Waialua: Matas 4-12, Fore 14-22, Adam Foster 1-2, Edwin Rubio 1-9, Team 1-(minus 12).

PASSING—Kaiser: Chan 9-15-0—145, Niiro 1-1-0-6. Waialua: Fore 10-25-1—284.

RECEIVING—Kaiser: Noa 2-49, Sid Slom 1-5, Kelii Maikui 2-25, Mason Masaki 2-17, Esteban 2-49, Sean Harken 1-6. Waialua: Matas 6-195, Rubio 2-30, Adam Foster 1-35, Whittaker 1-24.

JV score—Waialua 0, Kaiser 0.