OIA Football
Nanakuli edges Pearl City in overtime classic


Michael Lasquero | ScoringLive
September 15, 2019, 12:27am

  

Sat, Sep 14, 2019 @ Nanakuli [ 6:30 pm ]

Pearl City

34

Nanakuli

35

Final/OT 1 2 3 4 OT T
Pearl City (3-7-0) 0 14 0 14734
Nanakuli (5-5-0) 12 0 8 8735
Sedric Crawford 89 yd 1 TD
Makanaokalani Canyon 371 yd 4 TD
Nainoa Paz 47 yd 1 TD
Isaiah Cruz-Ameperosa 204 yd 1 TD



NANAKULI — This one was well worth the price of admission.

Nanakuli won an overtime duel with visiting Pearl City, 35-34, Saturday night in a key OIA Division II contest that saw the Golden Hawks improved to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in league play.

Quarterback Sedric Crawford rushed for 165 yards and accounted for three Nanakuli touchdowns, including an 8-yard run on the Golden Hawks' third play from scrimmage in the extra period.

"It's amazing because we've been practicing for this and been practicing hard," said Crawford, who also passed for 89 yards. "Thanks to my boys, the defense and O-line. Without them I wouldn't able to make all these rushing and passing yards."

It was the Golden Hawks' fourth straight win over the Chargers (2-4 overall, 2-3 OIA D2), with each game in the winning streak coming down to seven points or less. Nanakuli also bested Pearl City in the 2014 league championship game in overtime, 37-36.

"I cannot get these guys off my back. These guys played real good, good coaching and good players," said Pearl City coach Robin Kami.

Pearl City lost to the Golden Hawks in the 2014 title game on a missed PAT. So instead of having history repeat itself, the Chargers went for the win after Makana Canyon tossed a 9-yard TD pass to Joshua Gleason to make the score 35-34. However, Canyon rolled to his right on the 2-point try and threw a ball that was well short of his intended receiver to end the game.

"I'm definitely proud of the boys. Pearl City's game is always a little bit more special because of our history," said Nanakuli coach Kili Watson. "They dug deep. I'm proud of both sides of the ball. Both offense and defense did their jobs."

The opening quarter belonged to the Nanakuli defense.

Nanakuli recovered a fumble on Pearl City's second play of the game that allowed the Golden Hawks to start their opening drive at the Pearl City 25-yard line. The home team ended up turning it over on downs, but the defense forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball at the 1-yard line on the following play. Tahj Hauhio punched it in one play later to give Nanakuli an early 6-0 lead.

"Our defense was just amazing out there," said Crawford. "Those guys are always holding it down for us, even when sometimes the offense doesn't execute the plays."

Kekoa Bright, who kicked the PAT in overtime for Nanakuli, attempted a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff that was recovered by Randy McCabe for the Golden Hawks.

Nanakuli capitalized on the heads-up special teams play with four-play drive that ended in Crawford's 8-yard TD pass to Nainoa Paz to give the Golden Hawks a 12-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

"I'm not sure what happened. I'm not sure if it's nerves, first-quarter jitters," said Kami.

However, Pearl City bounced back in the second quarter to take a 14-12 halftime lead on TD passes to Alii Gaspar and Isaiah Cruz-Ameperosa, who finished with six receptions for 204 yards.

The two teams would trade possessions in the second half until Hauhio scored on a 15-yard run with 1:38 to play in the third quarter. Crawford also hooked up with Paz on the 2-point conversion to give Nanakuli a 20-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Canyon, who finished with 371 passing yards, scored on a 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 20-20.

Crawford scored on a 10-yard run and ran in the 2-point conversion to give Nanakuli the apparent go-ahead score with 2:03 left in regulation, but the Chargers scored 30 seconds later on Canyon's 9-yard TD pass to Gleason and 2-point conversion throw to Juan Vargas.


Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




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