The Pearl City Chargers remain unbeaten (5-0) in the OIA White Division with a thrilling 27-21 overtime win on the road against the Waialua Bulldogs Saturday night.
The Chargers traveled to the North Shore but didn't expect the dog fight that challenged their undeafeated record and season. The match up featured big plays, mainly interceptions that kept the Bulldogs in the game and actually played a huge factor in OT to put the Chargers in scoring position for the win.
Waialua got on the scoreboard in the 1st Quarter on a 10 yard interception return by Bulldog defensive back, Destry Lunasco off of Chargers starting QB Dustin Bataya. The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead after a successful extra point kick.
Pearl City would tie the score with 10:28 left in the 2nd Quarter on a 4 yard touch down run from #4 Cyrus Coen and an extra point conversion kick from David Laronal. The Chargers came back later in the 2nd Quarter to score on a 67 yard touchdown strike from Bataya to #8 Shawn Lopez. The 2 point conversion attempt failed. Pearl City led Waialua 13-7 at the half.
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Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Waialua defensive back #11Matthew Abad picked off a Bataya pass which was intended for Chargers wide receiver Diacorri Briscoe in the 1st Quarter.
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Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Chargers Slot Back Shawn Lopez halls in a Bataya pass and scores on a 67 yard touchdown reception in the 2nd Quarter.
The Bulldogs pulled even with of the Chargers 13-13 at 7:02 of the 3rd Quarter on a 23 yard touchdown reception from Waialua QB William Sacapulo- Uepa to #22 Kyle Michael. Extra point attempt by kicker Conner Prindle put the Bulldogs in the lead 14-13.
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Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
#22 Kyle Michael celebrates with teammate #57 Linebacker Nainoa Leong after scoring on a 23 yard touchdown pass from QB William Sacapulo-Uepa in the 3rd Quarter.
Pearl City went ahead on a 23 yard touchdown toss from Bataya to #3 Diacorri Briscoe with 11:43 left in the 4th quarter. The Chargers scored on a 2 point conversion pass from Bataya to Briscoe.
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Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
#3 Diacorri Briscoe scored on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Bataya in the 4th Quarter.
It was Waialua's turn to score about a minute later on a Christian Whittaker 47 yard interception return for a touchdown off of Bataya. The extra point kick tied the ballgame at 21-21 with 10:35 left in the 4th Quarter.
Waialua attempted a 48 yard field goal with 12 seconds on the clock in the 4th Quarter that missed, turning the ball over to the Chargers with 6 seconds left in regulation. The Chargers downed the ball sending the contest into overtime.
In overtime, each team was given a chance to score from the 25 yard line. Waialua went on offense first. Pearl City picked off a Sacapulo-Uepa pass and took possession of the ball. The Chargers struck, fast scoring on a 20 yard run by #5 Ray Cooper for a 27-21 win and remained undeated in the OIA White Division.
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Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
#5 Ray Cooper scored the winning touchdown against Waialua on a 20 yard touchdown run in overtime.
The Chargers travel to Waipahu to take on the Marauders on Friday, October 1. Junior Varsity plays at 5:00pm with the Varsity to follow.
Go Chargers!
@Waialua
Pearl City (6-0, 5-0) 0 13 0 8 6 – 27
Waialua (2-5, 2-4) 7 0 7 7 0 – 21