Chargers knock off Wolfpack

PAC-5's 33-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Pearl City's Nuusegi Afoa to help set-up the Chargers' first score of the game. Eric Nakamura | Special to SL

PEARL CITY — It was not the prettiest of games, but Pearl City will take its 19-13 win against visiting PAC-5 Saturday night at Bino Neves Stadium.

Tandem quarterbacks Christian Tielu and Makanaokalani Canyon combined for three touchdown passes and Nuusegi Afoa blocked a field goal to set-up the Chargers' first score of the game in the ILH-OIA Division II non-league contest.

The Wolfpack (2-4) generated 286 yards of offense and 25 first downs while the Chargers had 222 yards and 13 first downs. The teams combined for 34 penalties. The Chargers tallied 212 yards from 20 infractions, eight resulting in first downs. What essentially saved the Chargers were seven sacks.

"The backbone of this year — pretty much every year — is our defense," Pearl City coach Robin Kami said. "They gave us opportunities for the offense to get good field position. They did a good job, the defense."

But the Wolfpack also hurt themselves with penalties too. Chansen Oshiro had an apparent touchdown off a 49-yard interception return nullified by roughing the passer penalty that would have pulled PAC-5 to 19-13 with 4:07 left in the game.

"It wasn't a nice win," admitted Afoa. "We usually beat teams a little more. Our offense needs to step up more. Defense needs to watch the ball, watch the routes and stop talking."

The game began with the Wolfpack taking their opening drive to the Chargers 16. PAC-5 tried a 33-yard field goal attempt, but Cy Shimamura's kick slammed into Afoa's side as he rushed in from the right end.

"Out of all the places, it hit me on the side with no pads," Afoa said.

The Chargers took over at the Wolfpack 28 and three plays later, Canyon hit Thomas King for a 27-yard TD pass. Kyle Hyun's PAT gave the home team a 7-0 lead.

Neither side did much of anything until later in the second period. The Chargers put together an eight-play, 77-yard, penalty-free drive that resulted in Tielu's 15-yard TD pass to RJ Kami with 3:51 left in the half. Hyun's PAT was blocked to keep it 13-0.

The Wolfpack's ensuing series took them to the Chargers 18 with the aid of a pass interference penalty on third down and later a double infraction — personal foul and an unsportsmanlike conduct — that moved the ball 28 yards to the Chargers 12. But Pearl City's defense kept PAC-5 off the board before the half.

After a scoreless third period, the Wolfpack finally cracked the Chargers defense when QB Rocket Uechi scored from 2 yards. Shimamura's PAT pulled the Wolfpack to 13-7 with 11:54 left in the game.

But the Chargers responded quickly, using three plays on their ensuing series with Tielu connecting with Micah Quillopo-Jamile on a 64-yard TD pass. A 2-point conversion pass was incomplete, but Pearl City increased its lead to 19-7 with 10:50 left.

The Wolfpack punted on their next two series but lost a TD when Oshiro's interception return was nullified by a penalty with 4:07 left in the game.

PAC-5 eventually got the ball back at its 20 with 1:58 left. In seven plays, the Wolfpack scored on Uechi's 6-yard TD pass to Ian Canute with no time left on the clock. The game ended with no PAT.

The penalties did slow down the game.

"I'm not sure what was in the air tonight," Kami said. "We've got to buckle down. We had to talk to a couple kids, put them on the side, let them rest for next week's game."

The Chargers still share the OIA D2 lead with Kaimuki at 5-0. But Pearl City hosts Roosevelt Friday for homecoming before taking on the Bulldogs on Oct. 13 at Farrington.

PAC-5 will visit Kaiser Friday in another interleague game.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].