Pearl City and Waipahu put their unblemished records in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Division on the line Saturday night with the Chargers coming out on top, 13-8 at Edwin "Bino" Neves Stadium.
Pearl City moved into a tie with Kaimuki atop the OIA White Division league standings with identical 6-0 records. Waipahu is in second place at 5-1.
The Chargers have two remaining home games to end the regular season starting with Kalaheo on Friday, October 7, followed by their regular season finale against White Division powerhouse Kaimuki.
The Maruaders play Kaimuki at Kaiser High School on Friday.
Pearl City QB Kaimi Paredes had another productive night through the air to lead the Chargers offense completing 13 of 22 for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Waipahu's Drake Yoshioka connected on 15 of 27 for 177 yards.
The Chargers found themselves in unfamiliar territory offensively with the close 13-8 margin of victory, but the defense was business as usual holding the Marauders to one touchdown. It was a low scoring game but played with high drama to the final whistle on Saturday.
Waipahu got on the scoreboard to take a 6-0 lead with 4:40 on the clock in the first quarter on a three yard touchdown run by #38 Gregorio Alip. The extra point attempt failed.
Pearl City answered with a 35 yard touchdown reception from Paredes to Chargers wide receiver David Laranol as time ran out in the first quarter. Laranol converted the extra point attempt to put the Chargers up 7-6.
The Chargers put another six on the scoreboard on a 20 yard touchdown reception from Paredes to Kelson Laboy with 8:56 in the second quarter. Laranol's extra point attempt failed. Pearl City increased their lead over Waipahu 13-6
In the third quarter, The Chargers recovered a Waipahu fumble on the Marauders 10 yard line with 10:03 on the clock. Pearl City moved the ball to the four yard line and on fourth down missed an opportunity to put three more points on the scoreboard on a Laranol field goal attempt that hit the left upright.
"I thought about it afterwards on that field goal that we should have went for for it," commented Kamaka on the decision to go for the field goal. "If we would have missed a touchdown attempt on the four yard line, they would have had it on the four yard line. With us missing the field goal they got the ball on the twenty."
Late in the fourth quarter, with 1:22 on the clock, Pearl City's Shawnson Batungbacal intercepted a pass from Marauder QB Drake Yoshioka on the Chargers 27 yard line.
Pearl City seemed to be in the drivers seat with four downs to run out the clock but on third down with 47 seconds left, Chargers slot back Shawn Lopez ran out of bounds stopping the clock. On fourth down the Marauders defense busted through the middle and blocked a punt that went through the end zone for a two point safety.
"Shawn ran out of bounds and we actually called that run to keep it in so that we could run the clock down and punt away with maybe ten or fifteen seconds, take the delay of game and punt away with ten seconds," Kamaka said.
"We told them we need to get a good punt and make sure we kick the ball away and get it deep but they got good pressure up the middle. If you noticed they only had one deep," addded Kamaka.
On Waipahu' next possession, Pearl City's Justyn Dela Cruz picked off a Yoshioka pass with 31 seconds left to to seal the Chargers 13-8 win over the Marauders.
The ball game was a tough, well played game with respect and pride serving as an example of great sportsmanship.
"We pushed through, they showed a lot of character tonight," Kamaka said. "We controlled our penalties. I think we only had one personal foul that was called for blocking in the back. They showed great pride and they niched together when it was crunch time."
Waipahu (5-1 White) 6 0 0 2 8
Pearl City (6-0 White) 7 6 0 0 13
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pearl City wide receiver Daicorri Briscoe shows his hand skills to bring in a Kaimi Paredes pass against Waipahu on Saturday.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pearl City's Justyn Dela Cruz celebrates after intercepting a Drake Yoshioka pass to seal the Chargers win over Waipahu.