The Kaimuki Bulldogs solidified their No. 1 seed for the upcoming OIA White playoffs by completing an unblemished conference schedule with a 34-12 victory over Pearl City at Roosevelt High School’s Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

The Chargers, meanwhile, are reeling as they head into the playoffs having lost three straight games — including to Waipahu and Kalaheo, both of whom are also playoff bound.

Prior to yesterday’s game, Pearl City head coach Kai Kamaka Jr. said his team was playing to win because he wanted his players to regain their momentum as they head into the playoffs. Afterward, he said the Chargers have to "regroup," but he did not specify how.

The Bulldogs and the fourth-seeded Chargers clash again on Friday. Key Chargers offensive weapon, running back Cyrus Coen, who was held out of yesterday’s game to help him heal from various nicks and dings, is expected to play next week. Waipahu and Kalaheo play in the other semifinal.

Kaimuki’s defense limited Pearl City to 77 yards rushing and 83 yards passing, and unlike the Chargers, its offense played error-free ball. Workhorse running back Chester Sua was limited to 37 yards on 17 carries, but he caught one of two touchdown passes by Dallas Reis. Sua’s scoring reception came on the game’s first drive.

"We’re satisfied with the way we executed; we carried out our game plan pretty well," Kaimuki coach Clint Onigami said. "Pearl City did a good job of containing (Sua), we moved him around and gave him some reps at other positions. We expect Chester to be back making his normal contributions (during the playoffs)."

Pearl City responded 61 seconds later when Dustin Bataya connected with Ray Cooper on a 36-yard scoring strike, and it appeared that a back-and-forth nail-biter could be in the making. However, Pearl City did not score again until the third quarter, when Bataya rambled 71 yards on a quarterback draw.

Miscues also hurt the Chargers. In the third quarter, a 29-yard touchdown run by Cooper was nullified by a holding penalty. In the fourth quarter, a Bataya pass was picked off at the Kaimuki 15-yard line by the Bulldogs’ Mason Kuali’i-Moe, who eluded tacklers for 40 yards and then lateraled to Lio Kelekolio, who scored the touchdown by covering the final 45 yards.

Before the game, Onigami said he was willing to sacrifice a perfect conference season if it meant going into the playoffs healthy and winning the Division II crown.

The rematch will come in the wake of postgame comments by Kamaka that during yesterday’s game the Bulldogs played dirty and engaged in taunting.

Onigami said he saw Kamaka complain to the referees during halftime.

"We kept our boys in check. If he feels that way, that’s unfortunate," Onigami said.

Kalani 26, Nanakuli 14

The Falcons exploded for 20 points in the second quarter against the Golden Hawks as they picked up their first victory since defeating Roosevelt 21-19 in August 2004.

Wilkins Kato threw for 228 yards and hooked up with Keanu Kaawa eight times, including two touchdown passes, as Kalani picked up its first win after droping 57 straight games.

The Falcons were able to shut out the Golden Hawks in the second half as they won for the second time in their last 84 games.

McKinley 26, Kalaheo 12

Solomon Dixon scored three touchdowns and amassed 167 yards of total offense to lead the Tigers to a senior-night win over Kalaheo at Kailua.

Dixon ran for 106 yards and rambled for a 25-yard scoring run up the gut in the second quarter. He later added two second-half scoring grabs from McKinley quarterback Alex Ironside.