Filling in for injured teammates in his varsity debut, Phil Hogan won one for the team and a starting role for himself.

Hogan, a sophomore brought up from the junior varsity team, rushed 25 times for 160 yards while scoring a touchdown in Radford's 17-7 win at Kaua'i in Friday's first round of the First Hawaiian Bank Division II State Football Championships.

"It was kind of unexpected," Hogan said of being called up to the varsity team. "I just take it like any other game, like practice, usually with the right mindset and come in ready to play."

In practices leading up to the Kaua'i game, Hogan showed he was more than ready to play. The Rams (9-3) were without injured starting running backs Tama Fiaseu and James Jennings. Hogan was brought up to the varsity team after the JV season ended, but didn't play in Radford's O'ahu Interscholastic Association White championship game against Campbell on Nov. 7.

"Phil played the whole season at running back at the JV level and he knows the system and knows what we're trying to get accomplished," Radford coach Fred Salanoa said. "Obviously it's a different level, the speed and all of that. He's been in the system for two years and he knew what we're doing.

"I was confident. He had a great week of practice, he got the nod."

In a rain-soaked game on Kaua'i, Hogan's five-yard touchdown run in the first quarter put the Rams up 7-0. All night long, the offensive line gave him holes to carry the ball through.

"I thought it was a team effort," Hogan said. "I credit my O-line for what happened and the D-line and defense, too. It was mostly a team effort. It wasn't just my effort. I credit the whole team."

Hogan has now earned the starting running back position for the Rams and the confidence of his coach. Radford plays Lahainaluna (7-2) on Maui in Friday's semifinals.

"I told Phil, told the rest of the running backs, it's Phil's job to lose now," Salanoa said. "He's a starter at running back unless he loses it sometime this week at practice.

"I have confidence he's going to keep the job. We have two other running backs that can do the job, it's not set in concrete."

Salanoa thinks Hogan might have found some inspiration in teammate Tony Reid's performance in the OIA White title game. Reid was also brought up from the JV team, had two interceptions in the title game and was named Radford's player of the game by OC-16, which televised the game.

"Being Phil didn't play one down, that lit a fire under him and he played with a chip on his shoulder that following week," Salanoa said.