Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Keaton Tomas

Pearl City football  •   #3    

Patience is paying off in the case of Keaton Tomas. 

After his sophomore season was cut short due to a season-ending injury, Tomas, a junior wide receiver on the Pearl City football team, is making the most of his opportunities this fall. 

Chargers coach Robin Kami recalled Tomas's heartbreak from a year ago. 

"We brought him up as a sophomore; He was in the rotation last year, but he got hurt in the first (non-league) game and never played after that," Kami said. 

Despite the injury that derailed his debut season on the varsity squad, Tomas didn't let that keep him from going out for wrestling in the winter season. Although he had no prior experience with wrestling, Tomas excelled on the mat; He won the 138-pound bracket at the OIA JV championships and two weeks later, finished fifth at the league varsity championship meet. 

"He did a great job. I give credit to our wrestling coaches for toughening him up because this year when he came out, he was a new guy," Kami said. 

He went on, "Just in his eyes and his body. He has that physical and mental toughness, so that's good for him. He works real hard; everything he does, he goes one-hundred percent. Keaton brings toughness. He loves to go over the middle and catch the ball. He's not scared to go over the middle and catch the ball."

Tomas caught his share of passes in Pearl City's 28-24 road win at Kaiser Friday night. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound wideout recorded eight receptions for a game-high 161 yards. He was on the receiving end of a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Trey Dacoscos that gave their team a 21-18 lead after three quarters. 

"We were expecting it from last year because he showed a lot of potential, so it didn't surprise me the other night how he played," Kami said. 

To be sure, Tomas was yearning at the chance to get back on the field after being limited to one catch for five yards in 2022. 

"I think he was frustrated from last year, that he didn't get to play and prove himself, so I think this year he has a chip on his shoulder and he wants to go out and show that he can play the game," Kami said. 

Kami pointed out that Tomas — who came up with four receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown in a season-opening win over Kauai two weeks ago — picked up his share of yards after the catch Friday night. 

"He's strong for his size and so he makes a lot of yards after his catches and I mean, playing at Kaiser is a tough place to play and the quarterback sometimes wasn't getting it right exactly on him — it was high, or low, or sideways — but he caught the ball whenever it was close to him and he made some runs after the catches, he made the key catches to make first downs and he made some big third-down catches to move the chains for us," Kami elaborated. 

Tomas's contributions were just part of the team win for the Chargers. Fellow wide receiver Tobias Vasquez came up with six receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns — including the go-ahead score with 2:17 left to play — while Lennon Elder came up with a pivotal interception in the end zone to deny the Cougars' comeback attempt in the closing seconds. 

"The team win was big; I think everybody did their part. I think we have a good platoon of receivers and a good group of running backs that rotate in and out and when they come in, everybody's expected to do their job, do their part," Kami said. 

With the win, Pearl City improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the OIA Division II standings. 

"It's good momentum for the season. If you can the first game — especially a game like that, versus Kaiser, at Kaiser — that's a big win over there,

While Tomas is all business on the field, he's more easy-going off of it. 

"He's a comedian," Kami laughed. "He always likes to joke around, just a happy-go-lucky guy, fun to be around and a good team player."

Tomas and the Chargers will look to keep their winning ways going when they visit Roosevelt (2-0 overall, 1-0 league) Friday night. Kickoff at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

FOOTBALL

Nelson Aau, Punahou — Ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries in a win over Millikan

Sylas Alaimalo, Damien — Ran 16 times for 126 yards in a win over Nanakuli 

Keoki Alani, Konawaena — Threw for 303 yards and six touchdowns on 17-of-22 passing without an interception in a win over Waiakea 

Jack Amancio, Waialua — Scored on a 21-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kalaheo 

Liatama Amisone, Kapolei — Threw for 292 yards and six touchdowns on 15-of-17 passing without an interception and ran for an 84-yard touchdown in a win over Radford 

Zed Anahu-Ambrosio, Konawaena — Caught six passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a 15-yard interception return for another touchdown in a win over Waiakea 

Jayvie Arellano, Waialua — Recorded two interceptions and caught a touchdown pass in a win over Kalaheo 

Jayce Bareng, Moanalua — Recorded three tackles, forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and caught a touchdown pass in a loss to Leilehua 

Kevin Burke, Leilehua — Recorded six tackles, including one sack, and intercepted a pass in a win over Moanalua 

Kaimana Carvalho, Kahuku — Recorded five interceptions, including a 58-yard pick 6, and caught a touchdown pass in a win over Saint Louis 

Jayden Fargas, Kailua — Caught two passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in a win over Mililani 

Carmine Fautanu-Taetuna, Konawaena — Recorded 3 1/2 tackles and scored on interception returns for touchdowns of 50 and 30 yards in a win over Waiakea 

Javan Feary, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Caught two touchdown passes and scored on a 90-yard kickoff return for touchdown in a win over Kohala 

Richard Federico, Nanakuli — Caught two touchdown passes and finished with 266 all-purpose yards in a loss to Damien 

Camren Flemister, Leilehua — Ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries in a win over Moanalua 

Vaaimalae Fonoti, Kahuku — Ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries in a win over Saint Louis 

Astin Hange, Punahou — Scored on an 88-yard kickoff return in a win over Millikan 

Kaina Kamohalii, Kapolei — Caught five passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Radford 

Diezel Kamoku, Kahuku — Caught nine passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in a win over Saint Louis 

Titan Lacaden, Saint Louis — Caught four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kahuku 

Tainoa Lave, Campbell — Recorded a sack and scored on an 18-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Aiea 

Keagan Lime, Kaiser — Caught nine passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Pearl City 

Aizik Mahuka, Mililani — Scored on a 35-yard interception return in a win over Kailua 

Treston McMillan, Mililani — Threw for 206 yards and four touchdowns on 10-of-13 passing without an interception and ran in another touchdown in a win over Kailua 

Laanui Meyers, Konawaena — Recorded four tackles, including three for losses and one sack, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles in a win over Waiakea 

Tamalii Namulauti-Auau, Nanakuli — Scored on an 11-yard interception return in a loss to Damien 

Keawe Navas Loa, Konawaena — Recorded six tackles, including two for losses, and scored on a 30-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over Waiakea 

Cole Northington, Leilehua — Ran for 138 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in a win over Moanalua 

Tiras Perez, Kohala — Scored on a 91-yard kickoff return in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Adam Perry, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Threw for 271 yards and a three touchdowns on 15-of-24 passing with one interception and ran in another touchdown in a win over Kohala 

Diego Pettypool, Keaau — Threw for 345 yards and six touchdowns on 15-of-20 passing in a win over Kealakehe 

Sean Randall, Keaau — Caught five passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Kealakehe 

Dillon Reis, Kaiser — Ran for 213 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries in a loss to Pearl City 

Makuakai Ruiz, Leilehua — Recorded 4 1/2 tackles, including 3 1/2 for losses and two sacks, in a win over Moanalua 

Charlie Salazar, Keaau — Ran 17 times for 101 yards in a win over Kealakehe

Dayton Savea, Damien — Caught six passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Nanakuli 

Josh Simbre, Leilehua — Recorded 7 1/2 tackles, including three for losses and two sacks, in a win over Moanalua 

Ezekiel Soon, Roosevelt — Scored on a 15-yard blocked punt return for touchdown in a win over Kaimuki 

Tulilele Tagovailoa-Amosa, Kahuku — Threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-26 passing without an interception in a win over Saint Louis 

Austin Takaki, Konawaena — Caught six passes for 125 yards and a touchdown and recorded 5 1/2 tackles and an interception in a win over Waiakea 

Jonah Togafau-Tavui, Campbell — Caught a touchdown pass and ran in another touchdown in a win over Aiea 

Alani Tuifua, Damien — Threw for 254 yards and five touchdowns on 13-of-27 passing with an interception and ran seven times for 72 yards and another touchdown in a win over Nanakuli 

Tobias Vasquez, Pearl City — Caught six passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kaiser 

Timothy Wallace, Mililani — Scored on a 51-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kailua 

Wyatt Wehrsig, Konawaena — Recorded 5 1/2 tackles and scored on a 66-yard fumble return in a win over Waiakea 

LeBron Williams, Kahuku — Recorded two sacks and forced a fumble in a win over Saint Louis