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WAIPAHU - Mark Bumanglag passed for a touchdown and ran in another score to lift Waipahu to a 26-12 win over previously unbeaten Pearl City before a capacity crowd of about 2,000 fans Friday night at the Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex.

The Marauders improved to 5-1 on the season while the Chargers fell to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference amid the mud-bogged field conditions.

Despite the slippery field, Waipahu managed to rack up 248 rushing yards via its triple-option attack and ate up large portions of clock with its long, sustained drives. Running back Victor Moananu had another impressive outing despite being held out of the end zone. He carried 31 times for 177 yards, both game highs.

"This field is a quagmire," said Marauders' coach Sean Saturnio after his team's victory. "I'm just thankful that we played the way we did, but it was rough for both teams. You would think that for a running team, we would have the advantage on something like this, but at the same time, it's real hard for the linemen and the backs to get off."

Saturnio praised his defense after it held Pearl City to 238 yards of offense (174 passing, 64 rushing). The Chargers entered the game averaging more than 375 total yards per game.

"Our defense has grown up a lot and being able to contain such a high-powered offense like Pearl City makes me extremely proud of the kids and the coaching staff," Saturnio said.

After a Pearl City three-and-out midway through the first quarter, Waipahu linebacker Chase Tagalog blocked Cyrus Coen's punt attempt and teammate Unaloto Tautuiaki recovered at the Chargers' 30-yard line. Moananu picked up two yards on first down and on the very next play, Bumanglag found Brysen Kaseli on a deep sideline pass for a 27-yard line. Kaseli fully extended for the rainbow pass from Bumanglag and rolled as he landed in the end zone. The extra point was no good and the home team led 6-0 after one quarter.

"It's been there a lot of times, but we've just been missing it by a step or two, running the wrong route or overthrowing it or under throwing it," said Saturnio of the long pass completion. "I told the kids though that we don't have to be great at it, but we have to be able to complete some stuff to be able to loosen up the box. Teams usually sell-out on the run and rightfully so, because that's mainly what we do, but we have to be able to capitalize on those opportunities when you get safeties rolled up that close (to the line of scrimmage)."

Texiera was intercepted by Waipahu's Preston Guevara on Pearl City's next offensive play, but the Marauders gave the ball back on a fumble recovered by Paul Canne. However, the Chargers punted away after a three-and-out and the Waipahu offense marched downfield on a 14-play drive that covered 80 yards and took nearly 10 minutes off the clock.

A fourth-down conversion extended the drive when Moananu picked up four yards on a fourth-and-1. Two plays later gained 39 yards when he found a big hole on the right side of the line after a misdirection play and on fourth-and-1 from the Chargers' 2-yard line, Bumanglag ran around right end and into the end zone. Waipahu went for two, but failed to make it 12-0 with 7:19 until half time. The Marauders were 4-of-4 on fourth-down conversion attempts.

Pearl City answered with a quick score when Texiera connected with Diacorri Briscoe on a 73-yard touchdown pass on the very next play. Briscoe, who was aligned at right wideout, ran a streak along the right sideline, but adjusted to the ball midair and cut inside of the defensive back before hauling in the pass and beating him to the end zone. The kick was no good to make the score 12-6.

The Chargers' recovered the ensuing onside kick, but could get no further than the Marauders' 45 and punted away.

Waipahu's Aaron Cox picked off Texeira to start the third quarter and the offense took over at its own 47-yard line. Moananu carried six times for 28 yards on the drive, but went down with cramps after his last rush, a 13-yard gain. Devin Kaneshiro replaced Moananu and three plays later, he scored on a 5-yard run on third-and-goal. The score remained 18-6 after the extra point was missed. Moananu later returned to the game.

Pearl City pulled within a score after Ronson Barrett's pick-six late in the third quarter. Barrett stepped in front of a Drake Yoshioka pass at the Marauders 41-yard line and went untouched to paydirt. The Chargers went for two and failed to make it 18-12.

But the Waipahu defense got into the scoring as well. Early in the fourth quarter, Pearl City took possession at its own 25, but was flagged for a false start on first down, which backed them up to the 15. On the ensuing play, Texiera was whistled for intentional grounding, which resulted in a loss of down and put the ball on the 2-yard line. Texiera tried to force in a pass on second-and-33, but Waipahu's Christian Gonzaga intercepted it at the 24 and used his defenders-turned-blockers to find the end zone. Moananu ran in the two-point conversion to make it 26-12.

"Late in the season like this, the games are going to get a little bit tighter and you're going to have to make plays on defense and you're going to have to make plays on offense and the kicking game has got to be sound," Saturnio said. "Little things make all the difference. I think whatever teams pay the most attention to detail will have the upper hand."

Texiera, a sophomore called up from the junior varsity this week, was making his first varsity start and finished 6-of-16 passing for 148 yards with three interceptions. He replaced the former starter, Dustin Bataya, who had thrown for 749 yards on the season, but was intercepted three times against Waialua last week.

"We had been going with Dustin Bataya and our No. 2 Isaac Shim, who was our starter last year, went down with a back strain, so we brought up the sophomore," said Chargers' coach Kai Kamaka. "He made some good reads, but he was in a tough spot and I think he's going to be fine."

Pearl City can hardly afford to take it easy the rest of the way. The Chargers play Kalaheo Friday and finished with first-place Kaimuki the following week. The Bulldogs (6-0) take on Waipahu Saturday.