The Pearl City Chargers have dominated their opponents the past five weeks with lopsided scores that are the direct result of the team’s philosophy of playing as a team without individual glory. The Chargers used that philosophy and style of play to record their fifth win in a row last night after defeating a tough Nanakuli Golden Hawks team 35-12 at Nanakuli High School.
The win earned the Chargers an OIA White Division playoff spot with two regular season games remaining in their schedule. The next two games are big for the Chargers as they take on league leading Kaiser (6-0) next Friday at home, followed by Radford (5-1) the following Friday, October 4 at Radford.
The results of those two ball games will play a huge role in deciding the order of seeding for the OIA White Division playoffs. Kalani comes in at 4-2 with two games left to play in the regular season. Pearl City's only loss came at the hands of Kalani in their first game of the season.
Pearl City Head Coach Robin Kami walked off the field last night after the Chargers win over Nanakuli proud of his team and how hard they worked as well as wiith great respect for the Nanakuli team and how hard they played throughout the game under Golden Hawks Head Coach Keala Watson and his coaching staff.
"This is a good feeling, the kids worked hard this year so the hard work pays off," said Coach Kami. "Nanakuli played a heck of a game. The score doesn't seem what it's supposed to be. "
Again, the win puts the Chargers in the playoffs with top seeding being the key to winning a championship.
"We're in the playoffs, but we just don't know the seeding yet," Coach Kami said.
In last night's contest, the Chargers outgained the Golden Hawks in net offense 323-198.
Pearl City QB Jordan Taamu completed 9 of 15 passes for 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Taamu also rushed for 42 yards on 8 carries.
Pearl City's Kierren McGhee caught 4 passes for 79 yards and one touchdown. Timothy Rivera picked up 41 yards on 4 catches.
Nanakuli QB Chazz Troutman completed 11 of 25 passes for 123 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Naliko Kea led the Golden Hawks hauling in 5 catches for 66 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Reno Abero led the Chargers on the ground rushing for 86 yards on 10 carries with 2 touchdowns. Justin Dupio rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries with one touchdown. Jordan Fuamatu electrified the crowd plowing his way through the Nanakuli defense for 17 yards late in the fourth quarter.
Chargers all-purpose player Blake Cooper was a major factor in sealing the Chargers win late in the game with a fourth quarter interception in the end zone that stopped the Golden Hawks from scoring with goal to go and the ball on the Pearl City four yard line. Cooper also scooped up a late fourth quarter fumble and returned the ball 20 yards for a touchdown.
"It felt awesome," said Cooper. "It was close but I just pulled it off at the end. It was hard. Nanakuli was very tough, we just needed to settle down and play our game. It was all of us. We all played together.”
Big game coming up this Friday against Kaiser. Come out and cheer on the Chargers!
Go Chargers!
@ Nanakuli Highj School
Pearl City (5-1) 14 7 0 14
Nanakuli (2-4) 6 6 0 0
Game Scoring Summary:
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pearl City's Reno Abero gets the ball across the goal line for the game's first score with 7:01 in the first
quarter. The TD was set up by Timothy Rivera's interception that brought the ball to Nanakuli's 30 yard line
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Abero ran in the two point conversion to give the Chargers a 8-0 lead.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Kierren McGhee scored Pearl City's second TD on a 65 yard touchdown reception from QB Jordan Taamu
with 2:55 on the clock in the first quarter. The 2-point conversion failed. Pearl City went up 14-0. McGhee
pictured picking up yards in the 3rd quarter. McGhee finished with 79 yards on 4 catches with 1 TD.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Nanakuli's Naliko Kea scores on a 10 yard touchdown reception from QB Chazz Troutman as time expired
in the first quarter. The TD was set up by Makaila Haina-Horswill's 60 yard kick off return following
Pearl City's second touchdown that brought the ball down to the Chargers 35 yard line.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
The tough Pearl City defense stops Nanakuli's two-point conversion attempt at the line of scrimmage.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
The Pearl City O-line moves the pile at the line of scrimmage allowing Justin Dupio (in the middle of
the pile) to score from one yard out at 9:31 on the clock in the second quarter. Dominic Maneafiga
converted the PAT to give Pearl City a 21-6 lead.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Naliko Kea scores on a 36 yard touchdown reception from Nanakuli QB Chazz Troutman with 7:09 on
the clock in the second quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed. Nanakuli trailed Pearl City 21-12.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pearl City's aggressive and powerful defense, once again stuffed the Nanakuli Golden Hawks
two-point conversion attempt behind the line of scrimmage.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Blake Cooper stops a Nanakuli drive with goal to go on the Chargers 4 yard line with this
interception in the 4th quarter. Defensive back #1 Timothy Rivera is also pictured on the play.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pearl City lineman Jordan Fuamatu got the chance to line up as a running back and carry the ball in the
fourth quarter. Fuamatu ended up also carrying about four Golden Hawks on his way to a 17 yard gain.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
BEAST WITH CLEATS! WATCH OUT KAISER!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Reno Abero is congratulated by QB Jordan Taamu after scoring on a 44 yard touchdown run with
:39 seconds on the clock in the fourth quarter. Maneafiga converted the PAT to put the Chargers up 28-12.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Blake Cooper tosses the ball to the referee after scoring on a 20 yard fumble recovery late in the
fourth quarter. Dominic Maneafiga converted the PAT to increase the Chargers lead to 35-12.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Cooper is escorted back to the Chargers sideline after scoring the games final touchdown.
TOP GUNS
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pearl City Chargers QB Jordan Taamu completed 9 of 15 passes for 122 yards with one touchdown
and an interception. Taamu also rushed for 42 yards on 8 carries.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Nanakuli QB Chazz Troutman completed 11 of 25 for 123 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Pearl City 0
Nanakuli 49
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]