KEAAU – When Honokaa’s offense watches the film of its BIIF season-opener against Keaau, it will probably prefer to fast forward past the anemic first 24 minutes. But with the way the Dragons hummed along after that, the first half
KEAAU – When Honokaa’s offense watches the film of its BIIF season-opener against Keaau, it will probably prefer to fast forward past the anemic first 24 minutes. But with the way the Dragons hummed along after that, the first half will be distant memory anyway.
Nainoa Falk ran for a two touchdowns and passed for a score Thursday night, and the Dragons surged past the Cougars 36-20.
Honokaa’s defense didn’t allow an offensive touchdown unil late in the game, and Trueston Andrade collected 2 1/2 of Dragons’ nine sacks.
Both teams struggled with bad snaps, leading to eight turnovers, four by Keaau (0-1 BIIF Division I, 0-3), which was coming off a winless season.
Ryan Akiau’s nifty 45-yard run in the second quarter set up Falk’s first touchdown run.
After taking possession with under a minute left in the first half, Honokaa (1-0 BIIF Division II, 1-2) elected not to run out the clock, and the Dragons paid for the decision when Dreq Agliam picked up and errant option pitch from Falk and raced 42 yards for a score.
Both squads are carrying larger rosters than they have in past, but their youth and inexperience were evident.
The sloppy first quarter featured seven penalties, three turnovers, only one first down and a safety when Keaau punter Kage Kealamakia retreated to his end zone to recover a bad snap and slipped.
Keaau’s initial first down came on a personal foul penalty late in the first half, and the Cougars were held to negative yardage during the first two quarters.
Honokaa was held to 68 yards of offense in the first half, but Falk and the Dragons picked up steam in the second half to pull away from a 9-6 halftime lead.
Keaau quarterback Dillon Santos ripped off a 46-yard run on the opening drive of the third quarter. But the Cougars elected against trying what would have been a 29-yard field goal an a bad snap forced a long loss on fourth down.
The Dragons took over and engineered their longest drive of the game, marching 72 yards in nine plays, with Akiau taking it in from 11 yards out to give Honokaa a two-score lead.
Honokaa went 70 yards on its next drive, leading to a Weljane Valdez’s 3-yard touchdown run, and the Dragons took advantage of a short field on its next drive. On third down, Falk found Micah Fontes-Sarme for a 4-yard touchdown pass.
Falk scored Honokaa’s final touchdown on a 2-yard run.
Honokaa 2 7 7 20 – 36
Keaau 0 6 0 14 – 20
First quarter
Honokaa – Safety, Kage Kealamakia tackled in end zone, :53
Second quarter
Honokaa – Nainoa Falk 11 run (Zechariag Ugalde kick) , 3:08
Keaau – Dreq Agliam 42 fumble return (run failed), :15
Third quarter
Hono – Ryan Aikau 10 run 9 (Ugalde kick( 4:26
Fourth quarter
Honokaa – Weljane Valdez 3 run 1:01 (Ugalde kick), 11:01
Honokaa – Micah Fontes-Sarme 4 pass from Falk (Ugalde kick), 7:06
Keaau –Damion Scandrick 83 kickoff return (pass failed) , 6:52
Honokaa – Falk 2 run (run failed), 2:04
Keaau – Charles Caldwell-Kaai 5 pass from Dillon Santos (Pass good), 1:26
