Maneafaiga's 4 total TDs propel Pearl City over Kaimuki


Led by a four touchdown performance by Dominic Maneafaiga, Pearl City rolled past visiting Kaimuki, 46-13, to improve to 3-0 on the year.

Maneafaiga did not waste any time, taking the game's opening kickoff back 81 yards to give the Chargers the instant 6-0 lead.

"That was big," remarked Pearl City head coach Robin Kami. "It took a lot of our Kaimuki that first play of the game, and we needed that momentum."

Pearl City expanded the margin to 14-0 on its very next drive, as quarterback Jordan Taamu completed 3-of-4 passes in the drive, culminating with a 10 yard pitch and catch to MJ Keopuhiwa and subsequent two-point conversion.

The Bulldogs answered back on the next series, capping a six-play drive with a 6 yard touchdown toss from quarterback Tevita Lino to Nixon Siona to trim the lead to 14-6.

Then, on the opening drive for the Chargers in the second quarter, Taamu dialed up Maneafaiga's number through the air, a pass play good for 10 yards and a score. The extra point failed to make the count, 20-6.

Kaimuki answered back on the very next play, as Sean Noda fielded the kickoff at the 19 yard line and proceeded to weave his way through the Chargers' special teams on his way to an 81-yard return for touchdown. Dathan Lloyd's extra point trimmed the margin to 20-13, and it was looking like the crowd at Bino Nieves Stadium were in for a good one.

The Chargers had other ideas, however, and finished the half off strong, scoring twice midway through the second quarter, one on a pass from Taamu to Keelan Domingo-Ishikawa and the other a breakway 62-yard scamper by Maneafaiga to send Pearl City into the intermission with a 33-13 advantage.

"I think my running was good," said Maneafaiga. "The line blocked well and the offense kind of picked up the tempo a bit because we had some missing players and had to keep the ball moving."

After halftime, the momentum for the home team came to a crescendo of sorts when a costly fumble at the seven yard line on second and long turned into a scoop and score for six, as Pjay Solomon alertly gobbled up the pigskin and rumbled his way across the goal line to put the Chargers up 40-13.

"I think that was the back breaker, that kind of set it over the top after that," said Kami.

"I saw that in the transition between the quarteback and the running back," recalled Solomon. "And the running back dropped the ball, so I shed my guy and I went to scoop for the ball and my teammates helped me push me in for the score."

Capping off the score late in the third quarter was once again Maneafaiga, who shot the gap and burst into the secondary, outracing the Bulldogs' defender converging late to finish off his evening with a 20 yard touchdown scamper.

Maneafaiga finished with 170 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 7 carries. Taamu was efficient early on, completing 9-of-14 passes for 125 yards and three scores, but finished the game just 1-of-5.

"Dominic is big he creates a lot of good stuff for us in the run game," said Kami. "When he runs the ball, a lot of teams start stacking the box and hopefully we can get over the top and open up the pass with Jordan."

Kaimuki managed just 63 yards of offense on the evening.



Reach Brien Ing at [email protected].