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This time the matchup between Kaimuki and Pearl City had a lot less ill will and a lot more late-game drama.

Kaimuki led by two touchdowns at halftime and then held on to beat Pearl City, 14-13, in the first round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference playoffs last night at Kaiser.

Kaimuki, the No. 1 seed, will play for the OIA White title Nov. 5 at Aloha Stadium. The Bulldogs' opponent will be the winner of tonight's Waipahu-Kalaheo matchup. Both finalists will represent the league at the HHSAA First Hawaiian Bank State Division II tournament.

"Our boys have high goals," said Kaimuki coach Clint Onigama. "We have exceeded our expectations because they have a lot of heart and don't know how to give up. I'm so proud of the way they played."

In last week's regular-season finale, the teams met at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium with Kaimuki winning, 34-12. After the game, Pearl City coach Kai Kamaka said members of Kaimuki's team spat on his players and resorted to "dirty plays."

Last night, there were no problems.

"Great actually," Kamaka said of the teams' sportsmanship. "The two coaching staffs prepared their teams well."

Added Onigama: "On our end and Coach Kamaka's end we made it a point for the game to be as clean and have as few distractions as possible."

Last night, Pearl City got within 14-13 on a 30-yard pass from Isaac Shim to Diacorri Briscoe with 6:42 remaining, but the extra-point kick was wide left.

Pearl City, the No. 4 seed, had a chance to take the lead after recovering a fumble at the Bulldogs' 18, but the Chargers gained just 1 yard on three plays and a 33-yard field goal sailed wide left.

Kaimuki (9-1, 9-0) took over with 3:58 remaining and ran eight consecutive rushing plays to run out the clock.

"I'm so proud," Kamaka said. "We played to the last second. We showed heart
and spirit. We left everything on the field."

The Bulldogs' defense picked off three passes in the first half, including Chester Sua's 66-yard interception return for a touchdown with 5:50 left in the first quarter. It was Sua's second interception of the game.

"He contributes a lot on defense," Onigama said of Sua, who also plays running back. "He doesn't want to come off the field."

Kaimuki scored on a 67-yard pass from Nainoa Spencer to Mason Kualii-Moe over the middle on third-and-39 to make it 14-0 with 42 seconds left in the first quarter.

"We practice that play a lot, but we don't always expect to make it at that down and distance," Onigama said.

Pearl City (6-4, 5-4), which used three quarterbacks by halftime, had first-and-goal at the 5 late in the first half, but lost 10 yards before losing the ball on downs.

The play that got the Chargers back in the game in the second half was a 59-yard pass from Shim that deflected off the hands of a Bulldogs' defensive back and was picked out of the air by Shawn Lopez, who got to the Kaimuki 3.

Three plays later, Ray Cooper scored from 1 yard out to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 14-7 with 8:29 left in the third quarter.