Pearl City coach Robin Kami (center) gives his team instructions after they completed a series of conditioning drills. CJ Caraang | SL

×

16060818_20160607-IMG_7434.jpg - CJ Caraang | SL

Purchase this image
4x5 5x7 8x10 image download

Finishing games was a problem for the Pearl City Chargers in 2015.

After making it to the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II title game and state tournament in coach Robin Kami's first two seasons at the helm, the Chargers missed the league playoffs and finished with a losing record for the first time since 2009.

Pearl City went 3-5 in the previous season, but could have easily gone 5-3 if it finished games against Waialua and Nanakuli. The Chargers were outscored by the Bulldogs 20-11 in the fourth quarter of a 27-23 loss and gave up a 20-10 halftime lead over the Golden Hawks before falling in overtime, 41-34.

"This year the theme is finishing," said Kami. "We can't be playing three quarters of three and a half quarters. We have to play four quarters, we have to play all 48 minutes till the end, till the double zeroes.

"Turnout this year is really good, more than usual. I think the kids now know that the offseason is really key."

In hopes to prevent late-game collapses in 2016, the Chargers have ramp up their offseason training to improve their endurance and stamina. Before each practice the varsity and junior varsity teams spend 30 minutes running in conditioning drills and 30 minutes in the weight room.

"Last year we couldn't finish as well as we wanted to," said defensive back Brody Padilla. "As a team we have to come together in hard times like in the fourth quarter. That's where it all counts. The other teams, they capitalize last year and they was the better team in the end. We're hoping to stop that curse and push on from here."

As an all-OIA First Team selection the previous year, Padilla looks to be one of the key guys the Chargers depend on this season. Other names to watch out for for Pearl City is OL Jason Pong, an all-OIA Second Team selection, QB Nalu Simon, WR Patrick Nunez, DB Robert Yamasaki and juniors-to-be WR Isaiah Asinsin and DL Zion Tupuola-Fetui.

Pearl City enjoyed a lot of success in various sports during the 2015-16 school year. The Chargers captured their first girls soccer state championship in 19 years while also garnering state titles in girls air riflery, and boys and girls bowling. The school's baseball and softball teams also saw great success during the Spring season. Padilla sees this as a great motivating tool for the football team in the upcoming season.

"It sure does because football is a big thing around here, especially in the state of Hawaii," he said. "For all our other sports to be doing good like that, it was just kind of sore for us to see how (horrible) our season was. We just want to represent our school well like how they did."