Gutsy only begins to describe Trey Dacoscos's performance over the weekend.

Despite being hobbled by a badly sprained ankle, the junior quarterback willed his way to 223 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air to lead Pearl City to a thrilling 27-21 win over host Kaiser Friday night. 

Dacoscos completed 20 of 29 passes without an interception. Two of his three touchdown passes came in the second half, after Dacoscos rolled his ankle on the final play before halftime. 

"He stepped on one of the defensive player's ankles so the whole halftime the trainers were taking care of it and our two trainers did a great job of getting his ankle ready," Chargers coach Robin Kami said. 

It wasn't until about 10 minutes into the third quarter that Dacoscos was cleared to return by the athletic training staff. 

"They were just testing that ankle and making sure that it was safe before he could get back into the game. I know he wanted to go back in the game, but it's up to the trainers — whatever they say, we go with. I just think that high school trainers don't get enough credit where credit is due. We just trusted our trainers; they did a lot of things to make sure that he was able to get back into the game," Kami explained. 

The Chargers got on the board first with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Dacoscos to Bradley Kansou. They held a 14-7 lead at halftime before the same pair hooked up for a 74-yard scoring strike late in the third quarter. Dacoscos added an 8-yard TD pass to Koalii Torres midway through the final frame, but the Cougars stormed back in the closing minutes with two late touchdowns. 

Kaiser eventually got the ball back with 32 seconds remaining. It completed back-to-back passes to set-up one final shot at the potentially game-tying touchdown. 

Quarterback Easton Yoshino's pass found Donovan Reis in stride, but Shyne Kalilikane-McMoore made the touchdown-saving tackle from behind to seal the win for the Chargers. 

"I knew it was gonna come down to the last play. Kaiser is very good and they're going to keep on fighting to the end. They have a good coaching staff, good program and they're gonna keep grinding until double-zero. I mean, it was crazy, but we were just telling our kids to just believe on the sidelines," Kami said. 

Kami did not think that Dacoscos would be able to return to the game, given the severity of the ankle sprain. 

"We really didn't say much to him, but he said, ‘Hey coach, no pain, no gain.' For me, I said, ‘Pain is temporary. Charger pride is forever, man,' " he said. 

At halftime the mood was somber, Kami recalled. 

"They were all down, but I told our kids at halftime to keep playing and ‘next guy up. Whoever is out there gotta keep on playing," he said. 

But when Dacoscos re-entered the contest late in the third quarter, Kami's squad was instantly rejuvenated. 

"I think it was big. I think when they saw him come in the game, you could see that little energy, that little perk, little momentum, little positive extra oomph or drive that they needed and I think they stepped up to the challenge when they came into the huddle in that quarter. I mean, he came in and threw two TDs with one leg," Kami said. 

Dacoscos missed most of his sophomore season a year ago due to a knee injury. Two weeks after he threw for 301 yards and six touchdowns (without a pick) against Kalaheo in his varsity debut, Dacoscos suffered the season-ending injury in a non-league game against PAC-5. 

"It was hysterical a regular tackle and he tore his knee," Kami reflected. "I think we were all disappointed when he got injured. He was real down, but by February he was around 90 percent and because we were in pylon, he didn't have to run around because no one's rushing, so he's been throwing since February and he just had that drive of not playing the whole year so he was excited and put in extra work and rehab to get his knee strong; He worked very hard in the offseason." 

That tireless work ethic is a trademark of the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Dacoscos, whom Kami calls a perfectionist. 

"I see him, someday after his football career is over — because I can see him going to the next level — I can see him being a football coach because he studies a lot and he knows the coverages and he wants to make sure he's got all the right reads. He watches a lot of film and so he's like an extra coach on the field for us," Kami said. 

Through his attention to detail and never-ending preparation, Dacoscos has developed a deep level of trust with offensive coordinator Kama McKeague. 

"They have a great relationship and I think with every game, Trey is gaining more confidence, his self-esteem is getting better and he's building momentum. The offense fits him well, he and coach Kama are on the right track, the same page and I think the offense is realizing the potential of what we can do if everybody executes on every play and one play at a time," Kami said. 

Dacoscos is second statewide with 1,493 passing yards, which leads all of D2. He has completed 66 percent of his throws (132 of 200) with 19 TDs against four interceptions. In his last three games, Dacoscos has logged 797 yards and 12 TDs through the air. 

"I've been impressed by his poise and the way he carries himself. He does well under pressure; He likes that," Kami said. 

Dacoscos and the Chargers (5-1 overall, 4-0 league) will host Nanakuli (4-1, 4-0) Friday night. Kickoff at Edwin "Bino" Neves Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The winner will have sole possession of first place in the OIA D2 standings. 

FOOTBALL

Frank Abreu, Kamehameha-Maui — Caught four passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Baldwin

Sylas Alaimalo, Damien — Scored on a 25-yard fumble return for touchdown in a loss to Iolani 

Liatama Amisone, Kapolei — Threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-26 passing with one interception and ran for 177 yards and two more TDs on 20 carries in a win over Moanalua 

Jayvie Arellano, Waialua — Caught three passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kaimuki 

Kekai Burnett, Punahou — Had two tackles for loss, including one sack, forced a fumble and broke up a pass in a win over Sant Louis 

Kaimana Carvalho, Kahuku — Caught 10 passes for 108 yards in a loss to St. John Bosco 

Daunte Ching, Castle — Ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries and threw two TD passes in a win over Roosevelt 

Waika Crawford, Kahuku — Threw for 216 yards and a touchdown on 24-of-33 passing in a loss to St. John Bosco 

Kaholokai Cunha, Kaiser — Made 6 1/2 tackles, including 2 1/2 for losses and two sacks in a loss to Pearl City 

Makoakai Fierro, Waialua — Ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in a loss to Kaimuki

Kellen Fortson, Radford — Made three tackles, including one for a loss, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a loss to Farrington

Kekahi Graham, Saint Louis — Threw for 306 yards and a touchdown on 27-of-35 passing without an interception in a loss to Punahou 

Astin Hange, Punahou — Caught seven passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in a win over Saint Louis 

Garrett Hayes, Kapolei — Had four sacks in a win over Moanalua 

Chris Holt, Kalani — Caught 10 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns in a win over McKinley 

Joshua Ibaan, Kauai — Made nine total tackles and intercepted a pass in a loss to Kapaa  

Josiah Kahue-Antone, Moanalua — Made two tackles, forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and broke-up another in a loss to Kapolei 

Lyric Kahula, Lahainaluna — Threw for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 7-of-9 passing in a win over Kekaulike

Makana Kamaka-Brayce, Kamehameha-Maui — Threw for 242 yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-18 passing without an interception in a win over Baldwin

Diezel Kamoku, Kapolei — Caught nine passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in a win over Moanalua 

Bradley Kansou, Pearl City — Caught six passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kaiser 

Kaeo Kawaakoa, Iolani — Ran 24 times for 102 yards in a win over Damien 

Arjay Kelemete, Waipahu — Had two sacks and a pass break up in a win over Aiea 

Ikaika Kuaana-Lacno, Farrington — Ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries in a win over Radford 

Titan Lacaden, Saint Louis — Caught 11 passes for 147 yards in a loss to Punahou 

Liona Lefau, Kahuku — Made 8 1/2 tackles in a loss to St. John Bosco 

Iosefa Letuli, Kaimuki — Threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-18 passing without an interception and ran eight times for 75 yards and two TDs in a win over Waialua 

Kainalu Lewis, Nanakuli — Scored on a 35-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kalaheo 

LJ Liki, Farrington — Had two sacks in a win over Radford 

Aiden Manutaa, Kahuku — Made 5 1/2 tackles, broke up a pass and caught a touchdown pass in a loss to St. John Bosco

Kanekoa Maielua-Kekiwi, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored on a 21-yard fumble return in a win over Baldwin 

Kynan McCartney, Kalani — Threw for 183 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-31 passing with one interception in a win over McKinley 

Lester Meyers III, Nanakuli — Scored on a 12-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over Kalaheo 

Jesse Palmer, Kaiser — Made five tackles and recovered two fumbles in a loss to Pearl City 

Dorian Payton-Sherman, Pearl City — Made three tackles, including two for losses, one sack, forced a fumble and broke up a pass in a win over Kaiser 

Dante Peltier, Kaimuki — Caught five passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in a win over Waialua 

Michael Perry, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-25 passing without an interception in a win over Kohala

Joseph Randolph, Baldwin — Caught a touchdown pass and ran for another TD in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui

Donovan Reis, Kaiser — Caught 11 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns and made 3 1/2 tackles in a loss to Pearl City 

Kekoa Richardson, Roosevelt — Caught a touchdown pass on offense and intercepted a pass on defense in a loss to Castle 

Raymond Roller, Mililani — Caught seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Mater Dei 

Travis Ross, Punahou — Returned two kickoffs for 95 yards, had one sack and a pass break up in a win over Saint Louis 

GianCarlo Rufo, Punahou — Had four tackles for loss, two sacks and scored on a 51-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over Saint Louis 

John-Keawe Sagapolutele, Punahou — Threw for 215 yards and four touchdowns on 17-of-21 passing without an interception in a win over Saint Louis 

Hansen Salausa-Kaawa, Nanakuli — Threw two touchdown passes and ran in another TD in a win over Kalaheo 

Julian Savaiinaea, Saint Louis — Had three sacks and forced a fumble in a loss to Punahou 

Eric Stephens, Moanalua — Caught nine passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kapolei 

Anieli Talaieai, Waipahu — Ran for 112 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in a win over Aiea 

Coby Tanioka, Castle — Caught two touchdown passes on offense and intercepted a pass on defense in a win over Roosevelt 

Koalii Torres, Pearl City — Caught a touchdown pass and ran in another TD in a win over Kaiser 

Aiden Trinidad, Kalani — Scored on a 3-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over McKinley 

Liatama Uiliata, Waipahu — Caught 12 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown in a win over Aiea 

Ofa Vehikite, Kaimuki — Ran for 206 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries in a win over Waialua 

Alai Williams, Punahou — Ran for 132 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in a win over Saint Louis 

Taohi-John Williams, Pearl City — Made 13 tackles and intercepted two passes in a win over Kaiser 

Paani Yap, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored on an 18-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Baldwin

Janeen Waialae cannot overstate Raymie Lum's value to her Kalani girls volleyball team. 

Lum, as Waialae describes, is the "glue" that binds the Falcons, who are off to a 5-1 start to the Oahu Interscholastic Association season and sit one-half game out of first place in the Division I East standings. 

"She is kinda the positive force that everybody gets along with," said Waialae, the 15th-year Kalani coach. "She kind of holds all the girls together; She's definitely a leader."

The 5-foot-7 outside hitter totaled 35 kills in the Falcons' two most recent matches. Lum put down 20 kills in a four-set win over Kalaheo Wednesday night and followed that up with 15 kills, five digs and a pair of service aces in a road win over Kaiser in four sets Monday. 

Waialae said Lum's production has been fairly steady all season — a marked improvement from when she first made the varsity squad as a freshman. 

"Her consistency — she's definitely always been a good hitter, she's been smart — but I think just her overall confidence has taken it up a notch in knowing where the open court is, what shots to hit. She was always a great defensive player; I think her offensive play has elevated," Waialae described. 

Lum is in her second year as a starting pin hitter for the Falcons, but her first season back in 2019 saw her in a different role. 

"If I'm not mistaken she was setting a little bit her freshman year," Waialae recalled. "She's that player that is very coachable, will play whatever position she needs to and just works hard. She's well-rounded, she is strong both offensively and defensively and she brings a lot of finesse."

Since then, not only has Lum improved her volleyball skillset — she plays all six rotations — but she's also become a leader that her teammates look up to, Waialae noted. 

"She is like a silent leader. She is not one of those intense leaders, but she leads by example and she communicates well and she's very composed. She's a composed leader," the coach said. 

Waialae marvels about Lum's knowledge of the game; She calls her another coach on the court for the Falcons. Naturally, she's a team captain.

"She's definitely smart; Her volleyball IQ is very high. There's many moments in the middle of a match — I don't know if just from being with me for a while — she'll look at me and I can tell exactly where I need her to be and how to make adjustments and she can relay that to everyone else. It's almost like she's one step ahead of me and she's like, ‘Are we gonna do this?,' and I'm like, ‘Oh yeah,' and she just executes it," Waialae said. 

When Lum wasn't at a recent practice, Waialae noticed a lack of cohesion between teammates on the court. 

"I think the stats can't really tell you about a person's presence. She's not the most loud celebrator — she has her celebratory moments — but she's consistent and just her energy and her poise on the court, you can feel the leadership out of her," Waialae said. "This year she definitely took on more of a leadership role and I think she just grew with her confidence."

Kalani went 8-5 a year ago and finished fourth in the OIA D1 East standings. It came up just short of a trip to the state tournament. Lum received All-OIA East honorable mention. 

She and her teammates certainly have their sights aimed higher this fall. The surging Falcons have won five straight matches since a five-set loss at Farrington to open the season back on Aug. 29. 

"I think one of the positives is I don't feel like we've had a game yet where every single player has been on and to me, that's a positive because if, at any point they all turn it on at the same time, I think we can achieve a lot that nobody will see coming; people will be shocked at the things we can do if all of them were having a B-plus game at a minimum," Waialae said. 

Lum and the Falcons will host No. 4 Kahuku (5-0) at Earl C. Holmer Gymnasium Wednesday night.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Hiwa Agbayani, Kaiser — Had 25 assists, two digs and an ace in a three-set win over McKinley and had 33 assists, two digs, one block assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Moanalua 

Jamilyn Amina, Campbell — Had 12 kills, nine digs, two aces and a block assist in a four-set win over Nanakuli 

Jaelah Auwae, Waianae — Had 14 digs, one kill and an assist in a four-set win over Waialua 

Brynn Basilio-Chun, Waialua — Had 33 assists, seven digs, two kills and an ace in a four-set loss to Leilehua 

Luna Ann Brown, Kaiser — Had 10 kills, three solo blocks and two block assists in a three-set win over McKinley and had 10 kills, two digs, four block assists, two solo blocks and an ace in a four-set loss to Moanalua 

Haylee DePonte, Moanalua — Had 27 assists in a four-set win over Kaiser 

Alohi Garcia, Waialua — Had 16 kills and 15 digs in a four-set loss to Leilehua 

Kamaluhia Garcia, Moanalua — Had 17 kills, three digs and two block assists in a four-set win over Kaiser 

Leilani Giusta, Moanalua — Had 17 kills, four digs, four block assists and an ace in a four-set win over Kaiser 

Maya Imoto-Eakin, Iolani — Had 42 assists and 10 digs in a three-set win over Punahou 

Kawena Kapu, Castle — Had 10 digs and an ace in a four-set loss to Farrington 

Leleapaoo Krug, Waianae — Had 16 kills, 14 digs, three aces and a solo block in a three-set win over Waipahu and had 20 kills, 10 digs, three aces and a block assist in a four-set win over Waialua 

Shayla Lacamiento, Kapolei — Had 29 assists, two aces and a kill in a four-set win over Aiea 

Ana Liilii, Aiea — Had 10 kills, 10 digs and an ace in a four-set loss to Kapolei 

Haylee Lyons, Kalani — Had 18 kills, three aces, two assists and a solo block in a four-set win over Kalaheo 

Haumea Marumoto, Punahou — Had 12 kills, one solo block and a block assist in a three-set loss to Iolani 

Macy Matsushima, Kaiser — Had 11 digs, two assists and two aces in a four-set loss to Moanalua 

Henua Moefu, Kapolei — Had 13 kills and two aces in a four-set win over Aiea 

Ariana Naipo, Baldwin — Had 10 digs, six kills and an ace in a three-set win over Maui 

Brooke Naniseni, Iolani — Had 15 kills, eight digs and three block assists in a three-set win over Punahou 

Tessa Onaga, Iolani — Had 15 digs, three assists and an ace in a three-set win over Punahou 

Angelique Mia Pichay, Campbell — Had 14 digs in a four-set win over Nanakuli 

Malinah Purcell-Telefoni, Kapolei — Had 18 kills, three solo blocks, three block assists and an ace in a four-set win over Aiea 

Senna Roberts-Navarro, Iolani — Had 23 kills, 16 digs and a solo block in a three-set win over Punahou 

Kanoe Santiago, Waialua — Had 11 kills and 14 digs in a four-set loss to Leilehua 

Jadalynn Satele, Kalaheo — Had 13 kills and a block assist in a four-set loss to Kalani 

Jazzahlei Satele, Kalaheo — Had 35 assists and a block assist in a four-set loss to Kalani 

Maile Seeger, Kalaheo — Had 14 kills in a four-set loss to Kalani 

Valo Sopoaga, Kaiser — Had 13 kills, seven block assists, three assists and two digs in a four-set loss to Moanalua 

Ayre Takamoto, Kalani — Had 35 assists, seven kills and an ace in a four-set win over Kalaheo 

Haiti Tautuaa, Waianae — Had 10 kills, 19 assists, five digs, three block assists, two solo blocks and an ace in a three-set win over Waipahu and had 10 kills, 17 assists, three digs, three solo blocks, two aces and a block assist in a four-set win over Waialua 

Lulu Uluave, Punahou — Had 14 kills, an ace and a block assist in a three-set loss to Iolani 

Tehani Yamashita, Aiea — Had 16 digs and two aces in a four-set loss to Aiea