Alohi Gaspar is having exactly the type of season his coach expected of him.

Gaspar, a running back on the Pearl City football team, is in the midst of a breakout junior season this fall and is coming off his best performance to-date in the Chargers' playoff win over Kalaheo Friday night.

The 5-foot-7, 160-pound Gaspar ran for a season-high 133 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries (7.8 yards per rush) in Pearl City's 24-7 win over the Mustangs at Farrington's Kusunoki Field at Edward ‘Skippa' Diaz Stadium.

Gaspar was one of two backs to go over the century mark Friday night. Aidan Minami gashed the Kalaheo defense for 140 yards on only six carries. As a team, the Chargers amassed 335 of their 399 total yards by rush.

"I think we just took what they gave us," Pearl City coach Robin Kami said of the Mustangs. "They were playing deep, trying to take away the pass from us so we just took advantage of the run."

By comparison to the regular season meeting between the teams — which Kalaheo won by a 35-14 margin and out-gained Pearl City in total offense, 456 yards to 194 — Friday's rematch played out in opposite fashion as the Mustangs were limited to only 157 total yards.

Kami's squad first meeting against the Mustangs came just about three weeks prior on Oct. 11. That was followed by a 37-23 win at Castle on Oct. 17. The Chargers had two weeks after that to prepare for their playoff opener against Kalaheo in semifinals of the OIA Division II tournament.

"I think that bye week helped us a lot. We went back to basic fundamentals because the first time we played them we had so much offsides (penalties), so we went back to basics and the kids really worked hard, they studied film and this time they played fast. They weren't thinking about the game, they were just reacting and playing fast," Kami said.

Gaspar and the run game certainly played a big part in the turnaround. As a team the Chargers averaged seven yards per carry. Gaspar accounted for all three of his team's touchdowns with runs of eight, six and four yards.

Kami praised the play of the offense line — left tackle Tomasi Tognga, left guard Ezra Mafi, center Micah Nacnac, right guard Saimonepita Mafi and right tackle Landon Peterson — for opening up running lanes for the ball-carries.

"I think our strength is our o-line this year so running the ball helps us because we try to shorten the game and run some clock and then that in turn helps us for the passing game, bringing guys down and now we got one-one-one (matchups) outside on the coverages," Kami explained.

Along with the quintet of starters, Kami also noted the contributions of Nofo Moeone, Zyan Akau and Kohala McPherson in the rotation of offensive linemen, as well as tight end Treyver Leavy.

Gaspar, who has accumulated 695 yards on 78 carries and 14 total touchdowns on the year, is one of three backs that share the workload in the offensive backfield. Seniors Minami (45 carries for 395 yards, 2 TDs) and Adriel Jonas Garrido (66 for 390, 4) make up the rest of the three-headed rushing attack.

"The work hard at practice and they complement each other, they support each other, they cheer for each other and it's a good competition at practice so it helps them out to get better for the games," Kami said.

While both Minami and Garrido have defensive backgrounds, Gaspar has been an offensive guy since small-kid time.

"I think he's a true running back because he's been playing running back all his life, so he has that knack to find the holes and try to do whatever he can do. The three of them have almost the same style, but Alohi is pretty much a slasher. He has power and he has good IQ of how to run and how to read the holes," Kami said.

Part of Gaspar's motivation can be traced to familial origins. Two of his older brothers played football for Kami at Pearl City. One of them, Alii, also played running back for the Chargers about five years ago.

"His brother was also a good running back, so I think Alohi wants to be better than his brother. He's been around the program for a while now and I think in the back of his mind he always wants to be better than his brother," Kami said.

Alohi Gaspar not only draws inspiration from his older brothers, but also get pushed by them, as well as their father, during their weight training sessions.

"He works very hard in the offseason. He works hard with his brother and his dad, they work him out during the offseason, plus he works out with us, so he's very strong in the weight room and you can see that on the field because after he gets hit, his legs keep on pumping; the first guy doesn't usually take him down," Kami said.

Gaspar has put together a solid debut season on the varsity level, to be sure. In his very first varsity contest, Gaspar ran for 84 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just nine carries in a road win over Kohala. A week later, in a loss to Kaiser, he averaging better than 10 yards a carry and added three receptions for 22 yards.

In a Thursday-night victory over Waialua in the first week of September, Gaspar registered 12 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown. He recorded his first 100-plus yard game eight days later, when he ran for 107 yards and five touchdowns on only seven carries, in a rout of Kaimuki. Gaspar tallied 115 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries in a win over Kalani on Oct. 3.

None of it has necessarily come as a surprise to Kami.

"I expected him to be a good running back. Having watched him (on JV) for the past two years, I knew how much of a good, hard runner he is and again, he puts in the hard work in the offseason, so what he's doing what right, we expected that from him, plus we know he has the blood line to do it and he just works very hard, so what he does doesn't surprise us," Kami said.

Gaspar is averaging 8.9 yards per carry and ranked second among all D2 rushes in the OIA in rushing yards, 65 yards behind Roosevelt's Cameron Jackson. His 14 rushing touchdowns is the third most among the entire OIA, two behind Kapolei's Chazz-Michael Kapahu and Waipahu's Tristan Pacheco.

"He just has a knack for the end zone and he always wants to get there," Kami said.

Pearl City, which is seeded third in the four-team OIA D2 tournament, will be trying for its very first league football title when it faces off against two-time defending champion and No. 1 seed Roosevelt Thursday night.

Since going 1-2 in the non-league portion of their schedule, the Chargers have won six of their last eight games.

"I think we're peaking at the right time. In the beginning we struggled a little bit, but now the offense is clicking, the defense is playing real good — they're playing fast and everybody is running to the ball finally — but it's a new defense for us so it took time to get to know the strategies and what the schemes are about, so now they're picking it up and playing real fast," Kami said.

It will certainly a complete game to knock off the Rough Riders, who have won eight straight and has outscored its 10 opponents this season by a margin of 388 points scored against 110 points allowed.

"Roosevelt is averaging 50 points a game, so I don't think we can stop them, all we can do is to try to slow them down and I think our best defense is gonna be out offense," Kami said.

He added: "We're going to have keep their offense off the field. Whether we run or pass, we're gonna have to run clock and shorten the game so that we have a chance in the fourth quarter. We're gonna have to play great in all three phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams — and we're gonna have to play a flawless game to complete with them. They're the two-time defending champs, so hopefully that night the stars in the sky will align for us."

Kickoff between the Chargers (7-4) and Rough Riders (9-1) is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Both teams will represent the OIA in the upcoming First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA D2 State Championships.

FOOTBALL

Rhino Aumua, Kahuku — Caught four passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in a win over Campbell 

Isaac Aurello, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Ran 10 times for 131 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kohala 

Champ Colburn, Aiea — Caught seven passes for 104 yards in a win over Waianae 

Keoki Cypriano, Kailua — Recorded 16 tackles and two interceptions in a win over Waipahu 

Tenari Fuamatu-Maafala, Saint Louis — Ran 18 times for 134 yards in a loss to Punahou 

Hunter Fujikawa, Punahou — Threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-41 passing without an interception and ran for another touchdown in a win over Saint Louis 

Cameron Jackson, Roosevelt — Ran 14 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in a win over Castle 

Chanse Kaaua-Long, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Caught two touchdown passes and ran for another in a win over Kohala 

Ioane Kamanao, Roosevelt — Caught a touchdown pass and scored on an interception return for touchdown in a win over Castle 

Chazz-Michael Kapahu, Kapolei — Ran 23 times for 148 yards and a touchdown in a win over Mililani 

Kealiiomana Keola, Pearl City — Intercepted a pass, broke-up another and forced a fumble in a win over Kalaheo 

Toa Leffler, Kapolei — Recorded two interceptions in a win over Mililani 

Nainoa Lopes, Saint Louis — Threw for 210 yards and four touchdowns on 16-of-21 passing without an interception in a loss to Punahou 

Kahekili Makekau, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns on 13-of-22 passing without an interception in a win over Kohala 

Aidan Minami, Pearl City — Ran six times for 140 yards in a win over Kalaheo 

Jordan Nunuha, Saint Louis — Caught six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Punahou 

Taimua Pule, Kahuku — Scored on a 40-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Campbell 

JacobJames Ramos, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Caught five passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kohala 

Jahsiah Souza-Armstead, Konawaena — Caught three passes for 108 yards and a touchdown and intercepted a pass in a win over Kealakehe

Lii Tamashiro, Konawaena — Intercepted two passes in a win over Kealakehe 

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Uilani Ahana, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 15 kills, 13 digs, four aces and one block assist in a five-set loss to Moanalua 

Taimane Ainuu, Iolani — Had 17 kills, 10 digs, eight set assists, two block assists and one solo block in a three-set win over Moanalua 

Hiilei Alo, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 46 set assists, eight digs, three kills, two aces and one block assist in a five-set loss to Moanalua 

Kylie Ancheta, Hawaii Baptist — Had 21 kills, 13 digs, one block assist, one set assist and one ace in a four-set win over Waipahu and had 24 kills, 12 digs and two aces in a five-set loss to Seabury Hall 

Shay Beals, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 19 kills, 12 digs, two aces and one block assist in a three-set win over Mililani 

Naida Beymer, Konawaena — Had 18 kills, six digs, two block assists, one set assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Mililani

Nevaeh Brown, Roosevelt — Had 42 set assists, five digs and one ace in a four-set loss to Kapaa and had 17 set assists, 12 digs, one block assist and an ace in a three-set loss to Hawaii Baptist 

Leah Camello, Waipahu — Had 41 set assists, seven digs, two kills and one ace in a four-set loss to Hawaii Baptist 

Kalaweloilehua Chock, Kamehameha — Had 16 kills, eight digs, five block assists, two aces, one solo block and one set assist in a three-set win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Parker Chuckovich, Maryknoll — Had 16 kills, five digs and three aces in a four-set win over Leilehua and had 11 kills, 11 digs, three aces and one set assist in a four-set win over Parker 

Kyleigh Civets, Konawaena — Had 27 digs and two set assists in a five-set loss to Mililani 

Mehani Dahlin, Maryknoll — Had 42 set assists, 12 digs, one kill and one ace in a four-set win over Leilehua and had 40 set assists, 19 digs, three kills, one solo block and an ace in a four-set win over Parker 

Kealohi Dudoit, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 21 digs, 18 set assists and two block assists in a three-set loss to Kamehameha and had 31 set assists, eight digs and two block assists in a three-set win over Mililani 

Tulsi Erlemann, Seabury Hall — Had 17 digs, three set assists and one ace in a five-set loss to Kapaa 

Harlem Espejo-Reyes, Kan — Had 15 kills, 11 digs and six aces in a three-set win over Molokai 

Archer Fabrao, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 17 kills, 23 digs, three aces and one block assist in a five-set win loss to Moanalua 

Faleaka Fonua, Moanalua — Had 30 set assists, 12 digs, two aces and a kill in a five-set win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Kaycie Garnett, Roosevelt — Had 11 kills, 10 digs, six aces and one set assist in a three-set win over Hawaii Prep and had 23 kills, 10 digs, two aces and one solo block in a four-set loss to Kapaa 

Mandy Gokan, Kapaa — Had 16 digs, four set assists and two aces in a five-set win over Seabury Hall 

Surfia Grounds, Moanalua — Had 20 kills, eight digs, two block assists and two aces in a five-set win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Kaulaloa Hooper, Konawaena — Had 14 kills, 18 digs, one set assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Mililani 

Liliana Hooper, Konawaena — Had 41 set assists, 12 digs, two block assists, one kill and an ace in a five-set loss to Mililani 

Kuuipo Hunt, Kapaa — Had 21 kills, 11 digs and two aces in a four-set win over Roosevelt, had 17 kills, nine digs and one ace in a three-set win over University Lab and had 14 kills, 21 digs and six aces in a five-set win over Seabury Hall 

Zaylee Hunziker, Roosevelt — Had 20 digs and four aces in a three-set win over Hawaii Prep 

Maihana Jara-Hess, Parker — Had 22 digs and an ace in a four-set loss to Maryknoll 

Clia Kafka, Seabury Hall — Had 13 kills, 10 digs and one ace in a five-set win over Hawaii Baptist 

Lyla Kahele-Alapai, Konawaena — Had 14 kills, 14 digs, two block assists, one solo block, one set assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Mililani

Poema Kalama-Kingma, Iolani — Had 11 kills, 12 digs, one block assist, one set assist and one ace in a three-set win over Moanalua and had 11 kills, seven digs and four aces in a three-set win over Kahuku 

Carlyn Kamoku-Rapozo, Kapaa — Had 16 kills, 10 digs, two aces, two block assists and one solo block in a four-set win over Roosevelt, had 10 kills, 12 digs and five block assists in a three-set win over University Lab and had 31 kills, 14 digs, four block assists and one ace in a five-set win over Seabury Hall  

Destiny Keomaka-Wood, Seabury Hall — Had 50 set assists, seven digs, four kills, one block assist and an ace in a five-set win over Hawaii Baptist, had 39 set assists, seven digs, two kills and two aces in a three-set win over Maryknoll and had 54 set assists, six digs, four block assists and two kills in a five-set loss to Kapaa 

Chloe Lau, Maryknoll — Had 10 kills and 11 digs in a four-set win over Leilehua and had 10 kills, 10 digs, three aces and one set assist in a three-set loss to Seabury Hall 

Georgie Lee, Iolani — Had 10 kills, 10 digs, three block assists and one ace in a three-set win over Moanalua and had 15 digs, nine kills, two set assists, one block assist and an ace in a three-set win over Kahuku 

Sienna Lee, Moanalua — Had 23 digs, five set assists and an ace in a five-set win over Kamehameha-Maui, had 25 digs and five set assists in a three-set loss to Iolani and had 16 digs and a set assist in a two-set loss to Kamehameha 

Ashli Lum, Kamehameha — Had 17 digs and two set assists in a two-set win over Moanalua 

Maille Malone, Mililani — Had 15 kills and two digs in a five-set win over Konawaena 

Gwyneth McKillip, Kekaulike — Had 15 kills and one block assist in a five-set loss to Campbell 

Dillon McLellan, Seabury Hall — Had 17 kills, five block assists and three digs in a five-set win over Hawaii Baptist and had 20 kills, nine digs and two aces in a five-set loss to Kapaa 

Jaclyn Miyazawa, Hawaii Baptist — Had 27 digs, three set assists and three aces in a four-set win over Waipahu 

Cali Moniz-Kealoha, Leilehua — Had 14 kills, 15 digs and three aces in a four-set loss to Maryknoll 

Bailey Nakanelua, Iolani — Had 26 set assists, 10 digs and one block assist in a three-set win over Moanalua and had 36 set assists, five digs, two kills, two aces and a block assist in a three-set win over Kahuku

Kiara Ortega-Oliveira, Kau — Had 16 set assists, 10 digs, three kills and an ace in a three-set win over Molokai 

Milaniakai Padilla, Seabury Hall — Had 26 kills, 14 digs, five aces and two set assists in a five-set win over Hawaii Baptist, had 18 kills, nine digs, two set assists, two aces and one solo block in a three-set win over Maryknoll and had 32 kills, 23 digs, one block assist, one set assist and one ace in a five-set loss to Kapaa 

Sophia Scholz, Parker — Had 15 kills, 14 digs, two block assists, one solo block, one set assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Maryknoll 

Anny Scott, Kapolei — Had 30 set assists, 16 digs, two block assists, two aces and one kill in a three-set loss to Kamehameha 

Kanani Silva, Kapaa — Had 43 set assists, 15 digs and four aces in a four-set win over Roosevelt and had 48 set assists, 11 digs, one kill and an ace in a five-set win over Seabury Hall 

Kealananea Stephens, Mililani — Had 61 set assists, 14 digs, two block assists and a kill in a five-set win over Konawaena 

Tea Suan, Waipahu — Had 11 kills, 17 digs, two aces, one block assist and one set assist in a four-set loss to Hawaii Baptist 

Maddix Taniguchi, Iolani — Had 18 digs, two set assists and one ace in a three-set win over Kahuku 

Maila Tawata, Waipahu — Had 32 digs, one set assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Hawaii Baptist 

Kailie Theler, Campbell — Had 15 kills, one block assist and one set assist in a five-set win over Kekaulike 

Allie Tom, Hawaii Baptist — Had 45 set assists, five kills, five digs, two block assists, one solo block and one ace in a four-set win over Waipahu and had 29 set assists, 13 digs, three aces, two solo blocks, two block assists and two kills in a three-set win over Roosevelt 

Alayah Wilson, Kamehameha — Had 11 set assists and 11 digs in a three-set win over Kapolei 

Kadence Wilson, Mililani — Had 29 digs, one set assist and a kill in a five-set win over Konawaena and had 16 digs, two set assists and one ace in a three-set loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii