MAKIKI - Running back Joe Maneafaiga did not start the game, but sure finished it for Pearl City.

The Chargers' running back rushed 204 yards to help Pearl City secure a 14-7 win agaisnt Roosevelt Friday night in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II football season opener at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

The Chargers (1-0 overall, 1-0 OIA D2), ranked 10th in the Hawaiian Electric Division II Power Rankings, dominated the ground game with 313 yards rushing, including 10 of their 14 first downs from rushing plays.  

"I think the O-line did a gread job for us," Pearl City coach Robin Kami said. "Had some big holes.  Joe Maneafaiga ran it real good tonight."

He was Pearl City's third running back to touch the ball, but ended up with more than four times as many carries than Tala Moeone and Kobe Jackson. 

"He had a situation at school; he was sick a little bit and couldn't practice," Kami said of Maneafaiga coming off the bench. "We had to make sure he was all right."

The 5-11, 170-pound junior has good vision and did a lot of damage on cutbacks.

"He keeps his legs pumping and he sees the holes real good," Kami said.

Maneafaiga was just happy to back in action after missing most of last season with a torn MCL.

"First game back; I felt a little rusty, but I'm feeling great," Maneafaiga said. "I didn't carry the ball last year; I've been waiting for my turn."

While Maneafaiga did the most statistically, Moeone and Jackson were effective before Maneafaiga took over.

"They have a couple of running backs," Roosevelt coach Jeff Azuma said. "They're really tough. Tough runners. They probably hurt us more on the cutbacks."

Meanwhile, the Chargers' defense smothered Roosevelt to just 96 yards of offense.

The Chargers scored on their second series of the game, moving 74 yards in seven plays with Tala Moeone taking the ball in from 27 yards with 28 seconds left in the first quarter.  Zameer Khan's PAT made it 7-0.

But the Rough Riders answered back on their ensuing possession that was extended on a muffed punt at the Chargers' 13.  Two plays later, Shastyn Kekahuna threw a 13-yard TD pass to Shayne Teruya with 10:28 in the second quarter.  Dillon Yamamoto's PAT tied the game at 7.

Pearl City would miss a 37-yard field goal midway through the second quarter and a 35-yarder with 1:06 left in the third quarter as the game remained deadlocked until with 8:49 left in the fourth quarter when 6-foot, 220-pound Alosina Toomalatai, listed as a defensive end, blasted through for a four-year TD run that proved to be the difference.