Chargers’ Recent Victory A Morale Boost For Whole Team
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usPearl City’s recent win over Kapolei won’t help with playoff positioning since it was only a preseason game, but the Aug. 13 game still carries plenty of weight within the Charger Nation.
“This is the kind of win we need for our program,” said second-year Pearl City coach Kai Kamaka. “The kids built some mental toughness through this. Everybody benefited.”
The memory of the 2009 Kalaheo game in the last week of the OIA White Conference continues to be a rallying point for Kamaka and his team. Playoff bound with a win, the Chargers dropped a 25-22 decision to the Mustangs in overtime and missed the post-season. Since spring practice this May, the coaches have preached the importance of sealing the deal.
Against Kapolei this time, the Chargers did exactly that, converting key third downs and making the plays at the right time to preserve a 14-7 win.
In preparation for competing against the collective speed they would face in Kapolei, Kamaka set up scrimmages with both Radford and Waianae, DI programs also, to help.
“After doing well in those scrimmages, the kids knew they could compete,” he said.
Among the 15 seniors who have helped spearhead the rebuilding process are linebacker/running backs Ray Cooper and Cyrus Coen. Quarterback Dustin Bataya scored both touchdowns against Kapolei and managed the offense well.
The defensive effort may have been the most pleasing aspect of their win over Kapolei. Pearl City made a huge fourth-down stop in the first half, which helped set the tone. The only score they conceded came after they fumbled the second-half kickoff, resulting in Kapolei having the ball at the 9-yard line.
Pearl City was to play Anuenue over the weekend and is in the midst of a bye week. The team returns to action against Nanakuli Sept. 3 and will use the time off to “get healthy” and “get ready” for the Golden Hawks.
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