Fast-starting Pearl City wins

After idling an extra week before opening the season, Pearl City didn’t need much time to get into gear.

The Chargers scored on their third offensive play and reached the end zone two more times in the first eight minutes on their way to a 34-6 home win over Roosevelt on Friday.

"We were pushing a high tempo game tonight," Pearl City coach Robin Kami said. "We wanted to go fast and see if we could score quickly and try to ride that."

Pearl City quarterback Jordan Taamu’s first completion of the OIA Division II season was a 25-yard touchdown pass, and his first run went for a 2-yard score.

Senior running back Dominic Maneafaiga added a punt return for a touchdown, caught Taamu’s second scoring pass of the night and reached the end zone a third time on a 32-yard run on the Chargers’ opening possession of the second half.

"Just an outstanding athlete," Kami said. "He reads his blocks real well. Special teams he does great, again reading his blocks, and the offensive line blocked well tonight."

Pearl City lost 33 seniors off a team that advanced to the Division II state tournament last year. After last week’s storm canceled Pearl City’s scheduled preseason game against Castle, the Chargers didn’t show much rust in jumping ahead early.

"It made us more hungry to get out there and play and just play hard," said Maneafaiga, who ran for 83 yards on 14 carries.

After the Pearl City defense opened the game with a three-and-out, Maneafaiga covered 16 yards on his first two touches and Taamu lofted a 25-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Kanamu.

The Chargers got the ball back 46 seconds later when linebacker Zebadiah Selu scooped up a fumble and returned it 13 yards to the Roosevelt 10. Pearl City added to the lead two plays later on Taamu’s 2-yard keeper around the left side.

Pearl City forced a punt and Maneafaiga fielded the kick at the Roosevelt 44, followed his blockers to the corner and raced to the end zone. 

Pearl City’s punt return team set up another score when Roosevelt couldn’t get the kick away and the Chargers took possession at the Rough Riders’ 3. Maneafaiga took a swing pass from Taamu and scored on a 1-yard completion.

Roosevelt broke the shutout in the final minute when Keanu Furtado found Shayne Teruya for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 28.9 seconds left.

PC–Garrett Kanamu 25 pass from Jordan Taamu (kick failed)

PC–Taamu 2 run (Dominic Maneafaiga kick)

PC–Joe Maneafaiga 44 punt return (Maneafaiga kick)

PC–Maneafaiga 1 pass from Taamu (Maneafaiga kick)

PC–Maneafaiga 32 run (Joseph Komomua kick)

Roos–Shayne Teruya 13 pass from Keanu Furtado (kick failed)

RUSHING–Roosevelt: Bishop Moore 14-16, Furtado 10-16, JD Walker 2-12, Zachary Lono 2-5, Rommel Ibana 1-(minus 7). Pearl City: J. Maneafaiga 14-83, Joe Maneafaiga 5-11, Jarrett Sanchez 2-10, Taamu 1-2.

PASSING–Roosevelt: Furtado 13-27-0-78. Pearl City: Taamu 3-4-0-32

RECEIVING–Roosevelt: Ethan Okimoto 5-25, Teruya 4-38, Chaston Marcos 1-9, Sheadon Kalei 1-7, Nonoho Ayau 1-2, Moore 1-(minus 3). Pearl City: Kanamu 1-25, Keelan Domingo-Ishikawa 1-6, D. Maneafaiga 1-1.

Junior Varsity–Pearl City 8, Roosevelt 0

Radford 2, Anuenue 0, (forfeit)

Earlier this week, the OIA announced that Na Koa would forfeit this game due to lack of numbers.