It wasn't pretty but the Pearl City Chargers came away with a 35-29 road win against the Kalani Falcons at Kaiser High School Field on Saturday to remain undefeated at 4-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Varsity Football White Division.
On a night when the Chargers racked up over 200 plus penalty yards, the team made it interesting for fans as well as the gallery of Hawaii sports media reporters who were in full force to cover the first place Chargers.
Penalties in the form of unsportsmanlike plagued the Chargers Saturday night. It has become a problem this season and has fans concerned about where its headed.
Game scoring summary:
Kalani got on the scoreboard first on a 14 yard touchdown pass from Shane Ra to Keano Kuia at 7:27 of the 1st Qtr. The extra point attempt was good. The Falcons led the Chargers 7-0.
Kalani scored again with 4:27 to go in the 1st Qtr. on a 38 yard Gavin Kim run. The extra point attempt was no good but Pearl City got called on an unsportsmanlike penalty. The Falcons got another shot and converted to make the score 14-0.
Pearl City came back and put 6 on the scoreboard on a 60 yard touchdown run by #8 Shawn Lopez with 3:43 left in the 1st Qtr. Extra point attempt was good. Pearl City trailed Kalani 14-7.
On the kickoff the Chargers recovered their onside kick attempt on the Falcons 40 yard line. The Chargers went right to work scoring on a 15 yard touchdown reception from Paredes to #24 Airick Pelen. The Chargers attempted a 2 point conversion that failed. Pearl City trailed Kalani 14-13 with 2:19 left in the 1st Qtr.
Pearl City scored again as time ran out in the 2nd Qtr. on a 31 yard touchdown pass from Paredes to Lopez. Paredes ran in a two point conversion attempt to take a 21-14 lead into the half.
Kalani came back and scored with 5:54 remaining in the 3rd Qtr. on a 4 yard touchdown pass from Shane Ra to Gavin Kim. Ra ran in the two point conversion attempt on a QB sneak up the middle to put the Falcons out front of the Chargers 22-21.
Pearl City took back the lead at 27-22 on a 46 yard touchdown reception from Paredes to Kelson laboy with 6:21 on the clock in the 4th Qtr. The extra point attempt was blocked.
The Chargers increased their lead to 33-22 on a 26 yard touchdown run by #3 Diacorri Briscoe with 4:49 to go in the 4th Qtr. Chargers QB Paredes ran in the two point conversion to make the score 35-22.
The final touchdown of the ball game came on a 1 yard run by Kalani's Enrique Gruver with 2:27 left on the clock. The extra point attempt was good. Kalani closed the gap to 35-29 which turned out to be the final score.
Pearl City's Troy Barboza Scanlan sealed the victory on an interception at midfield that was returned to the Falcon's down 2 yard line where the Chargers ran out the clock.
Pearl City starting QB Kaimi Paredes threw for the first time this season under 200 yards, completing 13 of 21 passes for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Kalani's Shane Ra was the tops through the air completing 25 of 48 for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On the receiving side, Kalani's Lorenzo Reeves led all receivers with 9 catches for 90 yards.
Kelson Laboy led the Chargers with 2 catches for 53 yards.
On the ground, Pearl City's Shawn Lopez gained 121 yards on 12 carries and 1 touchdown. Kaimi Paredes gained 58 yards on 12 carries followed by teammate Rakeel McMillian who gained 50 yards on 9 carries.
Gavin Kim led the Falcons on the ground with 1 carry for 38 yards.
The Chargers take their 4-0 record back home to face the Waialua Bulldogs on Friday, September 23.
The Chargers Junior Varsity team also remained undefeated on Saturday after beating the Falcons 59-3 to improve to 3-0.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pearl City's #1 Kelson Laboy pictured on his way to a 41 yard touchdown reception from QB Kaimi Paredes that put the Chargers up 27-22 with 6:28 to go in the 4th Qtr.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Kalani's Enrique Gruver scores on a 1 yard touchdown dive into the end zone with 2:27 left in the 4th Qtr. that cut into the Chargers lead at 35-28. The Falcon's converted the extra point to make the score 35-29.