In his four years back home coaching at his alma mater, one thing has eluded David Tautofi and his Kaimuki Bulldogs.
They’ve fallen short in their quest for an OIA championship after making the playoffs three consecutive years. This season, the Bulldogs will enter the final four in Division II as the No. 1 seed after completing an undefeated regular season with a 12-3 win over Pearl City on Saturday night at Skippa Diaz Stadium.
Jonah Stephens scored on an 89-yard fumble return in the first quarter and the Bulldogs (7-2, 7-0) wore down the Chargers (6-4, 5-2) late in the game, driving 86 yards, with Naomas Asuega-Fualaau’s 14-yard touchdown run punctuating a game dominated by the defense.
“It gives us a good advantage mentally,” Tautofi said about clinching the No. 1 seed. “I can’t imagine what it would feel like for us if we lost, but the boys know what will need to be fixed this week.”
The Bulldogs will play Kaiser on Saturday at Skippa Diaz Stadium with a chance to earn a state tournament berth for the first time since Tautofi’s first season with the Bulldogs.
Kaimuki quarterback Jonah Fa’asoa, who set a school record with 435 yards passing in a win over the Cougars two weeks ago, completed just four passes for 16 yards against Pearl City.
Asuega-Fualaau (19 carries, 86 yards) and Stephens (nine, 81) did the bulk of their damage on the ground late.
“It was hard fought,” Stephens said. “We really wanted to win because we’ve lost these past few years.”
His fumble return on defense was the only touchdown scored before Asuega-Fualaau’s TD run with 3:48 remaining sealed the game.
The Chargers led 3-0 on a 30-yard field goal by Kyle Hyun and had the ball inside the Kaimuki 15 when Stephens reached in and pulled the ball away from a running back. He took it 89 yards the other way for a score to put the Bulldogs up a field goal after a missed extra point.
“I just went for the strip and it came out and I ran,” Stephens said.
Kaimuki held Pearl City to 102 yards, with lineman Sama Paama leading the charge. Paama, who has committed to the University of Washington, finished with seven tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks.
“Satisfying but never satisfied,” Paama said. “We’re not done yet. We still have a job to do and that’s the championship.”
Pearl City is also in the playoff as the No. 3 seed and will play Roosevelt on Friday with a state berth on the line.
Senior quarterback Christian Tielu, who started the game, was injured in the fourth quarter. Junior Makana Canyon finished 11-for-16 for 68 yards.
—
GAME SUMMARY
Kaimuki 12, Pearl City 3
At Skippa Diaz Stadium
>> Pearl City (6-4, 5-2) 3 0 0 0 — 3
>> Kaimuki (7-2, 7-0) 6 0 0 6 — 12
Pearl City — FG Kyle Hyun 30
Kaimuki — Jonah Stephens 89 fumble return (kick failed)
Kaimuki — Naomas Asuega-Fualaau 14 run (run failed)
RUSHING — Pearl City: Tex Kang 5-8, Shayden McMoore 2-4, Pookela Moses-Espanto 2-3, Christian Tielu 8-1, Makana Canyon 5-(minus-25). Kaimuki: Asuega-Fualaau 19-86, Stephens 9-81, Kaulana Kaluna Jr. 1-7, team 1-(minus- 1), Jonah Fa’asoa 5-(minus-19).
PASSING — Pearl City: Canyon 11-16-0-68, Tielu 3-13–0-43. Kaimuki: Fa’asoa 4-9-0-16, Kaluna Jr. 0-1-1-0.
RECEIVING — Pearl City: Herbert Hallers 4-53, Thomas King 4-21, Moses-Espanto 2-13, Stanton Hong 2-13, Dallas Ching 2-11. Kaimuki: Alex Lemalu 2-8, Kaluna Jr. 1-7, Blade Pfeiffer-Kekoa 1-1.
* JV —Pearl City 36, Kaimuki 3
