Roosevelt overpowers Pearl City to make it three straight OIA D2 crowns

Rayden Aoki | SL

Ioane Kamanao did a little bit of everything to help lead Roosevelt to a 31-14 win over Pearl City in the OIA Division II championship, claiming the school''s third straight league title.

"It's great. We all come from a small place so you know it warms our hearts," said Kamanao of the win. "We're going to go home, celebrate for a bit but we got to come back to work Monday."

Kamanao, a four year player for the Rough Riders, caught 7 passes for 91 yards and a score, rushed the ball 5 times for 13 yards for another score, registered an interception on defense and even added a field goal for good measure.

The six-foot-five Kamanao, listed as a quarterback on the roster, has spent the majority of the season lined up at receiver on offense and a ball hawker in the backfield on defense.

"It doesn't matter if I'm wide receiver, it doesn't matter if I'm quarterback, whatever, " said Kamanao of his roles on the team. "I'll play for my boys and my boys will play for me."

Kaeo Bush, who took over signal calling duties this season, completed 15 of 25 passes for 158 yards and two scores. The stability he has provided at the QB position has allowed Roosevelt to deploy Kamanao in the ways it has this year.

"He stepped up to the plate," said Kamanao of Bush. "He put his head down and kept working, and he came out and balled today."

Roosevelt opened up its account via the pass, as Kaeo Bush found Ioane Kamanao from 23 yards out for the game's first score, then just a minute of game clock later, Kona Siamani recovered a punt blocked by Sailosi Taufoou in the end zone to make it 14-0 in favor of the Rough Riders.

"We come in and put a lot of time for special teams at practice," said Kamanao of the play. "So our expectation is to dominate on that side of the field."

A fumble on an end around by Kamanao gave the ball back to Pearl City but the two-way player atoned for that miscue two plays later, picking off a sailed ball to give the ball back to the Riders deep in Chargers' territory.

The second quarter was the continuation of that drive inside the Chargers' five yard line, but credit Pearl City's defense making Roosevelt settle for an 18 yard field goal at the 10:02 mark of the second.

Roosevelt picked up the scoring again in the third, with Kamanao lining up quickly under center, scampering untouched into the end zone on an option read to increase the lead to 24-0.

The Rough Riders defense held the Chargers offense largely in check for 2 1/2 quarters, but a well designed screen pass from Ikaika Torres to Rylan Bala went for 44 yards, setting up a one yard plunge by Aiden Minami to get Pearl City on the board with 4:10 left in the third.

Other than that scoring drive and another one allowed with the game all but in hand late in the fourth, the Rough Riders defense was dominant, holding the Chargers' offense to just 3 yards rushing and 153 in total.

"We are all brothers on and off the field, so you know we trust each other. That's the most important thing," said linebacker Ezekiel Soon.

The Roosevelt offense lost a pair of fumbles, but those two turnovers did not result in points as the first was thwarted by Kamanao's pick and the other a turnover on downs at the midway point of the fourth.

Both teams qualify for the upcoming Division II state tournament. Roosevelt is making its third straight appearance, while Pearl City is in its first since 2014.