The process is a maze from afar.
How will the Pearl City Chargers reach their destination? When the team in white and purple arrives at Aloha Stadium tonight to battle the Waipahu Marauders for the OIA Division II football championship (6 p.m. kickoff), both history and statistics seem to lean against it.
Since Pearl City High School was established in 1971, the Chargers have won dozens of OIA titles including 26 combined in judo (13 by the girls, 13 boys), 20 in air riflery (11 for the boys, nine by the girls), as well as a combined 25 bowling crowns. Football has been close, so very close, but the Chargers are one step away from their first title on the field with Waipahu standing in the way.
During the regular season, coach Robin Kami’s squad was tied at the half, 0-0, at Waipahu, before falling 37-6. Pearl City (7-2) has consistently challenged for the title during Kami’s tenure. Waipahu (9-0) has the most explosive offense in the division, and a defense that has allowed more than one touchdown in a game just once all season.
Waipahu was the first-place team during the regular season last year, the second under head coach Bryson Carvalho. Then came a stunning 36-35 loss to Waialua in the title game. This fall, the Marauders are unbeaten as they enter the finals. Last year’s junior-heavy squad has not forgotten easily, but the coaching staff offered a reminder recently.
“We used your (Hawaii Prep World) video as motivation. 21:20 in the video is the last drive when we came up short. They’ve been reminded of that all season, you see the celebration (of Waialua),” Carvalho said. “What we’re playing for is much more than ourselves. It’s the community that’s involved. We want that for our parents and our community this year.”
The added weight of this season is the shrinkage of OIA entries to the HHSAA state football championships. Last year, 20 teams played in three divisions at states. This year, the number was reduced by administrators to 12. Instead of two OIA entries for D-II, there will be only one. Tonight’s losing team will be done for the year.
“They feel it,” Carvalho said on Tuesday. “I reminded them yesterday that today could be our last full practice. That’s our goal, to stay together as long as we can, and we can’t do that if we play sloppy football. We had some games where we had a sloppy start, and Pearl City was one of them.”
The Chargers have a stone-walling front seven led by heavily recruited senior Zion Tupuola-Fetui (6 feet 4, 240 pounds). He shares the stage with Paulsson Solomon (6-0, 285), Kobe Jackson (6-0, 210), Ethan Costales-Paikai (6-3, 280) and Burkhardt Aitavale (6-0, 220).
“We just believe in the basic fundamentals,” said Kami, a longtime youth coach who has a 30-19 record at Pearl City. “I really believe you’ve got to win two phases out of the three. If you do that, for that day, you could compete.”
Then-wide receiver Isaiah Asinsin was the starting quarterback when Pearl City handed Waipahu its first loss during the ’16 season. His mobility and discipline are key to the game plan. Asinsin has passed for a modest 693 yards and eight TDs in a run-heavy attack. Pearl City has run the ball nearly 64 percent of the time.
Makoa Cooper (79 carries, 581 yards, nine TDs) and Andre Carter (76-468-1) have shouldered the load. Asinsin has rushed for five TDs.
While Pearl City aims for ball control, field position and sound defense, Waipahu will attack at full throttle. Senior Braden Amorozo has passed for 1,920 yards and 24 TDs with just four picks in 212 attempts. Sophomore Alfred Failauga has rushed for 1,099 yards (7.2 per carry) and 16 TDs.
Four receivers have at least 18 receptions, led by Alika Ahsing (29 catches, 489 yards, seven TDs). Isaac Yamashita, a go-to pass catcher last year, has returned and has six receptions for 160 yards and two TDs in three games.
Waipahu’s swarming defense, though, is a difference-maker so far.
“Their defense is fast and physical,” Kami said. “They don’t get recognized because their offense is so good.”
One big adjustment for Waipahu was shifting Centennial Kulikefu (6-1, 195) from inside linebacker to defensive end. An athletic, rangy player in a three down-linemen package gives the Marauders a variety of coverage possibilities.
Sophomore Kealii Barrett (6-2, 218), Azserus Moli (5-9, 251) and Abraham Montero (6-2, 245) solidify the rotation up front. The linebacker corps has a game-changer in sophomore Fiva Tulafale (6-2, 211). Juniors Zeondre Benjamin (6-0, 195) and Damien transfer Deacon Kapea (5-9, 215) may be the best safety duo in the division.
“Zeondre has been huge for us. I like Deacon’s downhill play,” Carvalho said.
Damien (8-3) vs. St. Francis (8-3), Aloha Stadium, Friday, 6 p.m.
For a fourth time this season, the Monarchs and Saints go to battle. This time, the ILH D-II title and a state-tournament berth are at stake. Damien won the first regular-season battle, a 27-20 comeback victory. St. Francis won an inconsequential regular-season finale three weeks later. In the second-round tournament last week, the Saints rallied for a 15-14 win.
St. Francis’ offense has been on a new level this season with Bubba Akana airing out 192 passes. The junior has thrown for 1,603 yards and 17 TDs, the bulk going to Scott McLeod (51 receptions, 730 yards, 11 TDs). McLeod caught the key TD pass with 1:10 left last week to lift the Saints to victory, but he continues to play with a thumb injury.
“He’s one of the best wide receivers in the state,” coach Kip Akana said of the 6-2, 220-pound senior.
Sophomore Jonan Aina-Chaves has been a revelation with 1,522 yards and 15 TDs on the ground, plus another 26 catches for 403 yards and one TD.
Defending champion Damien got a boost from special teams with a blocked field goal returned for a TD, but its offense managed just one score against St. Francis’ athletic defensive unit.
Senior Marcus Faufata-Pedrina (1,742 passing yards, 17 TDs) has ample help from running backs Keoua Kauhi (825 yards, five TDs) and Logan Lauti (275, two), and a receiving corps that includes three playmakers with at least 20 receptions.
