Cabanero's 4 TD passes lift P.C. to OIA victory

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

'EWA BEACH — Pearl City went to the air early — and late for that matter — to down Campbell, 33-6, in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division football last night at the Sabers' stadium.

Jensen Cabanero completed 11 of 20 passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns for the Chargers (2-0 OIA, 3-0 overall), who gave up their first points of the season on an 81-yard TD pass from Kenneth Amaral to Isaac Laupola in the first quarter. In their previous two games, the Chargers outscored their opponents 89-0.

Two-way player Nathaniel Nasca, who caught the first TD pass of the game, a 14-yarder from Cabanero, scored on a 38-yard interception return.

"The passing game worked well, but we still have a lot to work on," Pearl City coach Onosai Tanuvasa said. "We're very fortunate. Campbell had all those guys out (because of injuries). We were very fortunate that they did not have guys here playing all the time."

Pearl City beat Campbell (0-2, 0-3) for the first time since 1986. Since that time, the Sabers had won eight consecutive meetings that evened the series at 11. But the end of last night's game wasn't exactly pleasant.

With about 90 seconds to play, the Chargers passed on four of their last nine plays. That doesn't include an apparent 15-yard TD pass nullified by a penalty. Campbell coach Tumoana Kenessey told Tanuvasa he was not happy about the ending.

"They had the game won," he said. "You take three knees (to run out the clock). You don't rub it in to the kids. That's not right."

Tanuvasa defended his team's actions.

"We never stop until it's over," he said. "We're not talking about racking up scores. We're talking about putting the pressure on. We're in the Red Division. This is not the White."

Added Kenessey: "They had a good win. I'm not sour grapes. They deserved to win. They played hard. But they blamed the kids. That's not the kids. You coach that."

PEARL CITY (2-0, 3-0) 7 20 0 6 — 33
CAMPBELL (0-2, 0-3) 6 0 0 0 — 6

• PC—Nathaniel Nasca 14 pass from Jensen Cabanero (Steven King kick)
• Camp—Isaac Laupola 81 pass from Kenneth Amaral (kick blocked)
• PC—Royce Yuen 9 pass from Cabanero (King kick)
• PC—Brandon Green 14 pass from Cabanero (kick blocked)
• PC—Nasca 38 interception return (King kick)
• PC—Keone Peiper 17 pass from Cabanero (kick failed)

RUSHING—Pearl City: Cabanero 4-(minus 13); Michael Yamauchi-Yamate 11-44, Royal Kaua 7-12, Travis Teixeira 2-5, Team 1-(minus 2). Campbell: Anthony Shimizu 8-47, Kealii Basham 14-60, Victor Cachuela 1-(minus 2), Brandon Tanigawa 2-5, Laupola 3-8, Jorden Cadelinia 2-(minus 2), Christopher Daniels 1-(minus 1), Team 2-(minus 55).

PASSING—Pearl City: 11-20-1—198. Campbell: Amaral 2-10-0—88, Tanigawa 3-8-1—25.

RECEIVING—Pearl City: Green 2-49, Nasca 2-42, Yuen 3-71, Peiper 3-28, Dale Valledor 1-8. Campbell: Laupola 1-81, Cachuela 2-16, Basham 1-9, David Veikuni 1-7.

JV—Pearl City 27, Campbell 20

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.