Chargers Charge Bulldogs For White Conference Spot

Wednesday - October 13, 2010
By Jack Danilewicz
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Some things you guess at, some things you assume, and others you just know. Here’s a closer look at Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. matchup between Pearl City and Kaimuki at Roosevelt High School.

What to watch: This is the third game in a brutal stretch for Pearl City, which just played Kalaheo and Waipahu. Depending on the outcome of both teams’ games last weekend, a share of the OIA White Conference crown may be on the line, as the Bulldogs were then still unbeaten at 6-0. Pearl City’s only loss to that point came to Waipahu in week six. (Since Kaimuki was in Division I a year ago, the teams did not meet in 2009.)


Why Kaimuki Might Win: Waipahu proved the Chargers’ run-game can be contained, after holding Pearl City to 3.2 yards per carry and a total of only 64 yards in its 26-12 win Oct. 1. The Chargers had scored no less than 27 points in any of their previous five conference encounters and had scored over 30 points four times. Expect Kaimuki coaches to scour the tape of Waipahu’s win over Pearl City and follow the same blueprint for success this week. That will likely mean a concerted effort to get their safety into the box to force Pearl City to throw it more than they would like. Indeed, all three of the Charger turnovers in the Waipahu game came in passing interceptions, including one that was returned for a score. That’s all encouraging news, no doubt, for a physical Bulldog defensive line.

Key to victory for Kaimuki: Tackle in space. The Chargers are going to make plays in the passing game with quarterbacks Dustin Bataya and Isaac Shim and receivers Diacorri Briscoe and Shawn Lopez. Limiting yards after the catch will be big for the Bulldogs, who naturally want to get their defense off of the field on third down.

Why Pearl City Might Win: The Chargers are more balanced offensively — the most balanced the Bulldogs have faced to date. And while Kaimuki may be one of the league’s best running teams, the Chargers have a run game of their own that’s producing nearly as much yardage (184.6 per game) as the Bulldogs (193) behind stalwarts Ray Cooper and Cyrus Coen, who had combined for 757 yards and 11 touchdowns through Pearl City’s first six games. Even if both teams find some success running the ball, the team that throws the ball better will likely make it out of this matchup with the “W.” Pearl City has a decided edge in that area.


Key to victory for Pearl City: Pick up yards on first down. The Chargers want to maintain their unpredictability in play-calling, and the way to do that is to avoid second-and-long and third-and-long situations.

Key matchup to watch: The Pearl City offensive line versus Kaimuki’s front seven. The Bulldogs lead the White Conference in scoring defense, yielding just 10.3 points per game, so the Chargers may have to go the long, hard route for scores.

Key individual matchup: Kaimuki running back Chester Sua versus Pearl City’s line-backing trio of Coen, Cooper and Chase Tagalog. The recipe for success versus Kaimuki is simple, yet easier said than done: Stop Sua and the run-game and force them to throw the ball.

Sunday’s Headline: Chargers’ Defense Grounds Kaimuki. Pearl City defense will bring its “A” game, holding Sua to under 85 yards on the ground, and the Chargers will parlay a pair of turnovers into a 13- 7 victory.

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