After Waialua scored an electrifying go-ahead touchdown in Saturday’s OIA Division II game at Pearl City, lightning in the area forced the suspension of the contest at the Chargers’ field.
Pearl City coach Robin Kami said he was informed the game is scheduled to resume at 6 p.m. Monday with Waialua leading 14-12 and 10:59 left in the fourth quarter.
So the teams will gear up again Monday afternoon and Waialua will make the drive from the North Shore to play a little less than one quarter.
“It’s going to be weird, but at least they didn’t cancel the game,” Kami said, “at least we get the opportunity to play one more quarter and try to finish the game.”
Moments before the initial delay, Waialua jumped into the lead when defensive lineman Aaron Nunez blocked a field goal attempt and Lancen Kuni returned it 90 yards for a touchdown.
Pearl City faced second-and-15 at its 25 yard line when an official on the makai side of the field spotted lightning toward the mountains. Play was halted at 7:15 p.m. and the teams were sent to the locker rooms as a clap of thunder boomed above the campus.
After several more flashes, officials decided to suspend the game. Lightning continued to streak across the sky as players and their families dispersed about 30 minutes after the announcement.
“The referees did a great job of being safe for the kids and the public,” Kami said. “I’m glad they did that because it’s more than the game of football.”
Pearl City (1-0) had taken a 12-0 lead on two Isaiah Asinsin touchdown passes. The 6-foot sophomore completed his first eight attempts with the eighth going to Israel Kaleo for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 4:48 left in the second quarter.
He lofted a fade to Kavosiee Mason for a 12-yard score with 6:29 left in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs (2-0, 1-0) answered with an eight-play drive highlighted by Sam Merrill’s 26-yard reception off a tipped pass. Two plays later, Royce Tashiro completed a 12-yard pass to Brandon Aceret for the Bulldogs’ first score.
On the ensuing drive, Asinsin found Dante Mcgee over the middle for a 43-yard gain and the Chargers drove to the Waialua 10 before their drive stalled. After an encroachment penalty moved Pearl City to the 5 for a field-goal attempt, Nunez burst through the middle of the line and blocked the kick. Kuni scooped up the loose ball at the 10 and raced to the end zone to give Waialua its first lead of the game.
Nunez was on his way to a huge night when the game was suspended. The senior had also blocked an extra point after Pearl City’s first touchdown and had two sacks for 21 yards in losses on the Chargers’ first possession of the third quarter.
“From 10th grade when he played varsity for us, he’s been doing that ever since,” Waialua coach Lincoln Barit said. “He’s just an animal out there.”
Here’s the box score with 10:59 left in the fourth quarter.
At Pearl City
Waialua (2-0, 1-0) 0 0 7 7 — 14
Pearl City (1-0, 1-0) 0 6 6 0 — 12
PC—Israel Kaleo 20 pass from Isaiah Asinsin (kick blocked)
PC—Kavosiee Mason 12 pass from Asinsin (pass failed)
Wail—Brandon Aceret 12 pass from Royce Tashiro (Derin Pascual kick)
Wail—Lancen Kuni 90 blocked field goal return (Pascual kick)
RUSHING—Waialua: Mila Lele 7-31, Jacob Casey 1-(-4), Tashiro 6-(-22), Todd Young 1-0. Pearl City: Joe Maneafaiga 6-12, Asinsin 7-(-14), Kobe Jackson 3-(-4), Draven Gelia 1-(-3).
PASSING—Waialua: Tashiro 13-26-2-156. Pearl City: Asinsin 17-23-0-185
RECEIVING—Waialua: Daytin Vidad-Albeso 2-28, Tavesi Toia 1-5, Lele 2-40, Aceret 5-38, Oursavior Smith 1-9, Branigan Lee 1-10, Sam Merrill 1-26. Pearl City: Dante Mcgee 5-62, Kaleo 5-67, Mason 4-39, Calvin Mock 2-22, Patrick Nunez 1-(-5).
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