Justin Paderes rushed 22 times for 139 yards and a touchdown to lead Kaimuki past Pearl City, 21-7, in last night's O'ahu Interscholastic League White Division playoff game at Kaiser High School.

Bulldog quarterback Kapono Kaiwi-Barrionuebo completed 11 of 20 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 15 yards and another touchdown as Kaimuki advanced to Friday's OIA White final against Roosevelt at 4 p.m. Aloha Stadium.

The Bulldogs (9-1) went to 1,000-yard rusher Paderes early and often and the 5-foot-5, 150-pound junior responded with a relentless, ground-level assault to the heart of the Charger (5-3-2) defense.

Paderes' 7-yard, first-down run helped set up Kaimuki's first score, a 24-yard pass from Kaiwi-Barrionuebo to Pagurayan four minutes into the first quarter.

"After that first score, I felt we could keep it up and seal the deal," Paderes said. "We knew it would be a tough game, but we played with our hearts."

Led by Paderes, the Bulldogs' punishing ground attack found traction midway through the second quarter. On first-and-10 on the Bulldogs' 17, Paderes broke along the right sideline for a 37-yard gain, then followed up with gains of 2 and 10 yards. James Bower gained another first down with a 13-yard rush to get the Bulldogs to the Pearl City 9.

On the next play, Kaiwi-Barrionuebo scrambled right looking for an open receiver before charging straight ahead for a diving touchdown, which gave the Bulldogs a 13-0 lead going into the half.

"Kapono is coming around," said Kaimuki head coach Darren Johnson. "He keeps getting better every week."

The Chargers' offense rebounded in the third quarter, as Pearl City's own 1,000-yard rusher Antoin DeWalt had consecutive gains of 12, 5 and 12 yards to the Kaimuki 12. Quarterback Kawika Borden capped the drive with a 2-yard sneak to cut the lead to 13-7.

Paderes sealed the victory with a 10-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter.

"We started the game a little flat," said Chargers head coach Mel Bicoy. "When you have an opponent like Kaimuki and you have to play catch-up, it's tough."

PEARL CITY (5-3-2) 0 0 7 0— 7

KAIMUKI (9-1) 7 6 0 8—21

Kaimuki — Romnick Pagurayan 24 pass from Kapono Kaiwi-Barrionuebo (Travis Pologa kick)

Kaimuki — Kaiwi-Barrionuebo 10 run (kick failed)

Pearl City — Kawika Borden 2 run (Tony King kick)

Kaimuki — Justin Paderes 10 run (Barrionuebo pass) RUSHING — Pearl City: Jared Cudiamat 4-5, Borden 10-minus 48, Antoin Dewalt 11-72, Bronson Williams 1-0, Tyler Lauifi 1-1, Skye Kaapuni 1-7, Troy Antoque 1-7. Kaimuki: Paderes 22-139, James Bower 7-31, Kaiwi-Barrionuebo 5-15, Maua Tuitele 1-3.

PASSING — Pearl City: Borden 6-9-0-39. Kaimuki: Kaiwi-Barrionuebo 11-20-1-79.

RECEIVING — Pearl City: Kaapuni 1-10, Dewalt 2-3, Williams 1-3, Antoque 1-7, Aaron Puahala 1-16. Kaimuki: Pagurayan 3-33, Bower 3-7, Chris Fiamate 2-9, Chezz Ramos-Diaz 3-30.

JV score — Pearl City vs. Nanakuli

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.