Pearl City Chargers

Head coach: Robin Kami (8th season)
Offensive coordinator: Kama McKeague
Defensive coordinator: Cajo Cabato, Jr.

Players to watch: ATH Sefo Feesago (5-9, 180, Sr.), WR Joshua Gleason (6-1, 160, Sr.), DB Mark Moreno (5-10, 165, Sr.), DB Josiah Calderon (5-9, 160, So.), LB Joe-Ziah Rapoza (5-8, 160, Sr.)

Coach's words: "You're going to see a team playing with a lot of pride this year from Pearl City. You always gotta give the defending champ, Kaimuki, the edge and the other teams that made the playoffs last year - Kaiser, Waialua and Radford,�who is coming down from Division I - and with coaching changes at Waialua, Kalaheo and McKinley and then with Nanakuli and Kalani, who we always have good games against, Division II should be a crazy one. I think it's going to come down to the last game to determine who makes the top four spots for the playoffs." - Robin Kami

SL's take: While most of 2019 was forgettable for the Chargers (look no further than their late-season five-game losing streak), they closed out the year on a high note with a come-from-behind 29-26 triumph over Waialua. The winning score was Gleason's 8-yard TD catch in OT. The then-sophomore finished with six receptions for 123 yards and two TDs in the victory, just one week after he recorded six catches for 113 yards and a score. Gleason, now two inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, is hoping to pick up where he left off. Kami praised the wideout for his work ethic and route running. Gleason, who has drawn interest from UH and San Diego State, had his hard work pay off recently when he was recognized as one of five co-MVPs among a group of more than 50 receivers at the Polynesian Bowl Combine in July. Fellow-WR Zion Gella-Kaulia (5-10, 140, Jr.) stands to benefit from the attention that Gleason is sure to receive from opposing defenses. Micah Lizama (5-7, 165, Sr.) and Caleb Kahi (5-9, 150, Jr.) will share the load at RB, while there is a three-way competition at QB between Feesago, Trey Dacoscos (5-9, 160, So.) and lefty Ryan Littlejohn (5-9, 150, Sr.). Feesago will play DE if he doesn't win the starting QB job. Kami will continue to audition all three QBs through the first few weeks of the season. The defense is built on speed and is of the bend-but-don't-break variety - at least, that is Kami's hope. MLB Tiandrew Taimanao (6-2, 230, Sr.) sticks out for his size in the middle of the defense. As one might expect, he is an effective run stopper, but Taimanao length, coupled with his agility (he excels in both basketball and volleyball, Kami noted) makes him just as effective in pass coverage. The OL and DL are the areas with the most room for growth, but, as Kami pointed out, all of his linemen came up from the JV team that reached the OIA championship game in 2019 - so there is both continuity and a track record of success there.

SCHEDULE

Fri Oct 15	Kalaheo	W, 42-7
Sat Oct 23	@ Radford	L, 39-21
Fri Oct 29	PAC-5 *	L, 28-19
Fri Nov 05	@ Nanakuli	W, 14-13
Fri Nov 12	@ Kaiser	L, 27-8
Fri Nov 19	Kaimuki	W, 27-0
Fri Nov 26	@ Waialua	W, 22-17
Fri Dec 03	McKinley	W, 52-14
Fri Dec 10	Kalani	L, 30-16