Six games on Oahu are scheduled for Friday night. The OIA enters the first week of divisional play after the seven cross-division matchups last week, plus there’s a very intriguing Division II game at Leilehua featuring two teams that might see each other again in the state tournament.
The Chargers rebounded from a shutout loss against Lahainaluna with a 35-20 win over Kalani in their OIA D-II opener last week. Coach Robin Kami has been willing to air the ball out in the past, but with Charles Freitas (45 carries, 112 yards, one TD) at running back, Pearl City has made its preference to ground and pound very clear this season.
The Rough Riders opened league play with a 41-14 win over McKinley last week. First-year head coach Kui Kahooilihala‘s commitment to running the ball has been fruitful. Three Rough Riders (Charvis Paia, Shastyn Kekahuna, Isaiah Rosa) have gained at least 126 yards each. Kekahuna, their returning starter at QB, has thrown the ball just 15 times. Roosevelt has run the ball on 87 percent of their snaps so far.
History: Roosevelt has not beaten Pearl City since 2002, but the teams did tie in 2007. That gives the Chargers a streak of six games without a loss in the series but the Rough Riders lead it all time 7-6-1. Roosevelt hasn’t had a rusher go over 100 yards in the series since Ranson Tuitama in 2007 and hasn’t had a receiver go over 100 since Justin Otahuro in that same game.
Live updates of the 7:30 p.m. kickoff will follow below:
FINAL—Pearl City 27, Roosevelt 0.
9:27—Pearl City takes over on downs near midfield with 22 seconds left and takes a knee.
9:17—Pearl City DB Jayden Madariaga comes up with an interception for the Chargers’ fourth takeaway of the night. 6:02 Q4.
9:05—On second and goal from the 13, Simon releases a pass while taking a huge hit and finds Mock in the end zone for his third TD pass of the night. PAT good. Chargers lead 27-0, 10:01 Q4.
9:00—Pearl City 20, Roosevelt 0 end third quarter. On third-and-15, Simon completes a screen pass to Freitas, who gets great blocking downfield for a 33-yard gain to the Rough Riders’ 18.
8:54—Paia picks up a first down on fourth-and-2 but is hit hard after a 10-yard gain and fumbles. Kikuyama pounces on his second recovery of the night for Pearl City. Chargers ball at the Roosevelt 46, 2:11 Q3.
8:41—On third-and-17, Simon hits Patrick Nunez on a crossing pattern and Nunez outruns the Roosevelt coverage to the corner for a 27-yard TD reception. Simon completes the 2-pt conversion pass to Brandon Lin. Pearl City leads 20-0, 8:52 Q3.
8:36—Roosevelt fumbles the ball away on the second play of the third quarter. Chargers take over at the Rough Riders’ 37.
8:16—Pearl City 12, Roosevelt 0 halftime. Chargers convert three third downs in a 13-play drive before stalling at the Roosevelt 39. Freitas goes into the break with 60 yards on 11 carries. Paia 66 yards on eight attempts for Roosevelt.
8:04— Roosevelt’s Charvis Paia breaks loose for a 30-yard gain to start the drive. Rough Riders march to the Pearl City 19 but Paia has the ball knocked loose from behind. Kasey Kikuyama recovers for PC. 7:33 Q2.
7:56—After a PC timeout, Kekainalu Simon connects with Calvin Mock on a 30-yd TD pass down the right side. Two-point conversion fails. Chargers lead 12-0, 11:16, Q2.
7:52—Pearl City 6, Roosevelt 0, end 1st qtr. Chargers with 55 total yards to Roosevelt’s 19.
7:42 —Pearl City forces a three-and-out and takes over at midfield. Charles Freitas bursts up the middle for a 20-yard gain. Drive stalls but a pass interference call on fourth-and-4 moves the ball to the Roosevelt 12. Khan hits another FG from 27 yards. Pearl City 6, Roosevelt 0, 4:40 Q1.
7:30 — Pearl City’s Robert Yamasaki returns the opening kickoff 69 yards up the middle to the Roosevelt 15. A false start penalty on second down pushes the Chargers back to the 20. Zameer Khan connects on a 37-yard FG. Pearl City 3, Roosevelt 0, 11:06 Q1.
7:25— Pearl City wins the toss and will receive.
6:50 p.m. — Pearl City wins the JV game 28-6. Varsity coming up in about 25 minutes.
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