HONOKAA — Hilo head coach David Baldwin said his team is not talking to the media this season to concentrate solely on football, but Friday the Vikings made a statement with their play that will be heard loud and clear around the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.
Needing a bounce-back game after squeaking out an overtime win against Kamehameha despite eight turnovers, the Vikings (3-0 BIIF Division I, 4-0) stormed into Honokaa and left with a swift 51-0 victory.
On top of pitching a shutout, the defense scored three times — twice on interceptions and once on a blocked punt. Melvin Kikau and Brock Sherlock had the pick-6s, and both traveled 45-plus yards on the returns.
The Hilo offense turned an Ofa Fahiua interception into points early in the second quarter, when quarterback Sione Atuekaho evaded nearly a half-dozen Dragon defenders on a 4-yard scramble into the end zone. A 32-yard reception by Cohlby Espaniola set up the score.
Atuekaho bounced back from a four-interception game, going 6 for 15 for 134 yards and recording two touchdowns. He also had a single, harmless interception.
Hilo added a field goal and another touchdown on a 10-yard strike from Atuekaho to Espaniola to enter the break up 30-0.
The Vikings did not slow down in the second half. After a three-and-out from Honokaa to open the half, Atuekaho connected with Espaniola again for a 46-yard gain to the Dragons’ 4-yard line. The Vikings backed themselves up to the 34-yard line with bad snaps and penalties, but Tristin Spikes went the distance on third-and-goal for the score.
Isaac Lerma added the final touchdown for the Vikings, scoring on a 4-yard plunge late in the fourth quarter.
Honokaa (1-2, 1-2) never got going on offense, with the longest sustained drive coming on its first possession. Honokaa marched into Hilo territory, assisted by multiple penalties against the Vikings. The Dragons’ biggest play of the game — a 27-yard pass from Nainoa Falk to Isaiah Paiva — also came on the opening drive.
Falk finished the game 8 for 15 for 59 yards and three interceptions. No Honokaa rusher had more than 25 yards.
Hilo 0 30 7 14 — 51
Honokaa 0 0 0 0 — 0
Second quarter
Hilo — Sione Atuekaho 4-yard run (Lukas Kuipers kick failed), 11:36
Hilo — Kuipers 37-yard FG, 5:00
Hilo — Melvin Kikau 55-yard interception return (Tristin Spikes run), 2:43
Hilo — Atuekaho 10-yard pass to Cohlby Espaniola (Kuipers kick), 1:24
Hilo — Blocked punt (run failed), :01
Third quarter
Hilo — Spikes 34-yard run (Kuipers kick), 6:03
Fourth quarter
Hilo — Brock Sherlock 46-yard interception return (Kuipers kick), 11:09
Hilo — Issac Lerma 4-yard touchdown run (Kuipers kick) 3:57