Pearl City charges past Kalaheo, 31-0


Pearl City's Zion Tupuola-Fetui again got it done in all three phases of the game in Friday night's win over Kalaheo. Steve Erler | SL

PEARL CITY — Multitasker Zion Tupuola-Fetui did just about everything to help Pearl City knock off Kalaheo, 31-0, Friday night at Bino Neves Stadium.

Tupuola-Fetui, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound linebacker, blocked a punt and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown, caught a 4-yard TD pass as a tight end and had one of his team's six sacks. He also had a 40-yard punt.

The Chargers improved to 4-1 overall and maintained their lead in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II at 4-0. The Mustangs fell to 1-3 and 1-2.

"He did a lot," Pearl City coach Robin Kami said of Tupuola-Fetui. "I figure, his last year, make use of his size and his speed; we won't have him after this."

Kami said all Pac-12 schools are looking at him, as well as Vanderbilt and Hawaii.

"It was surreal just to block the punt, but then I saw the opportunity to score and I just seized it," Tupuola-Fetui said. 

The TD catch came after RB Andre Carter rushed four consecutive times for 67 yards, bringing a third-and-1 at the Kalaheo 4. Quarterback Isaiah Asinsin found Tupuola-Fetui wide open in the back of the end zone for the TD pass.

"We have some plays designed for me on offense," Tupuola-Fetui said. "I would just say it was a good call with our running back situation. We have to fine, fine running backs in Andre Carter and Makoa (Cooper), but Makoa got hurt and Andre was fatigued because he ran five consecutive plays, so we decided to give them a break on that. i was just thankful for the opportunity."

Meanwhile, Kalaheo had its chances to do damage. Down 10-0, the Mustangs had a second-quarter drive kept alive by Pearl City penalties — a roughing the kicker on fourth down and a personal foul later on third down that led to a first down, but saw the drive die at the Chargers' 29.

Later in the half, Noa Lapera intercepted an Isaiah Asinsin pass and returned it to the Pearl City 28, only to move four yards and lose the ball on downs.

In the second half, the Mustangs recovered a Pearl City muffed punt at the Chargers' 35, only to move three yards because of two sacks by Aitavale Burkhardt and one by Tupuola-Fetui.

"We were trying to capitaiize on their mistakes, but they have a stout defense," Kalaheo coach Darrell Poole said. "They're a tough defense to run against, so we tried to be mistake-free and take advantage, but hats off to Pearl City."

Added Kami: "Our defense bended, but didn't break at the end. Kalaheo did a good job of not quitting. They kept on coming back, kept on playing."

Pearl City scored on its first series after Kalaheo punted. A 13-play drive ended with a 35-yard field goal by Zameer Khan to give the Chargers a 3-0 lead with 3:05 left in the first quarter.

Paulsson Solomon recovered a Kalaheo fumble at the Mustangs' 14 and three plays later, Cooper scored on a 2-yard run. Khan's PAT made it 10-0 with 54 seconds left in the first.

The Chargers increased their lead to 17-0 with 3:14 left in the half on a Asinsin's 76-yard TD pass to Micah Quillopo-Jamile.

With 1:18 left, Tupuola-Fetui blocked a punt and returned it 10 yards for a score to make it 24-0.

After receiving the second half kickoff, the Chargers, or RB Carter, came out storming. He rushed for 20, 38, 7 and 2 yards to the Kalaheo 4 to set up Tupuola-Fetui's 4-yard TD catch to round out the scoring at 31-0.

The Chargers have bye next week and return to action Sept. 16 against Kaimuki at Farrington. The Mustangs will try to rebound next Friday agianst Roosevelt at Kailua.



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].