HILO – Featuring an offense that picked up yardage in big chunks, a defense that didn’t give an inch and efficient special teams, Hilo put forth a second consecutive performance indicative of a team that’s game to try and defend its BIIF Division I title.
Ka’ale Tiogangco engineered Hilo’s short, quick-hitting attack with four touchdown passes Saturday night, and the Vikings suffocated Honokaa 45-6 on a rainy Saturday night at Wong Stadium.
David Pakele scored a defensive touchdown, a trick play on special teams set up another score and Hilo made all three of its field-goal attempts in its first regular-season home game. The return to Wong not only brought on the rain, but also a stifling Hilo defense reminiscent of last season.
The Vikings grounded what had been a high-flying Honokaa passing attack.
Dragons quarterback Nainoa Falk entered having amassed more than 700 yards through the air in his past two games, but the senior completed just two passes for a paltry yard against the Vikings (3-1 BIIF, 3-3).
Hilo collected four more turnovers, giving it 11 in its past two games, including a 41-6 victory against at Kamehameha on Sept. 11.
The Dragons (2-2 BIIF Division II, 2-4) managed just 46 yards of offense.
Honokaa’s seven first-half possessions included three turnovers and three punts. In the second quarter, the Dragons took advantage of a bad punt snap and took over at the Hilo 9, and Falk ran it in from 6 yards out on third down to cut the lead to 8-6.
But the Vikings responded quickly when Pono Landford took a short pass from Tiogangco, broke a few tackles and ran down the left sidelines for a 66-yard scoring play.
After the Vikings forced a quick three-and-out, Dallas Mata returned a punt 26 yards to the Hilo 47, Landford picked up 15 yards on a run and on third-and-7 at the 22, Tiogangco found Ka’ono Boteilho in the end zone.
Less than 20 seconds later, Pakele’s scoop and score made it 28-6.
Tiogangco threw for 237 yards, Isaac Lerma added 131 yards on the ground and Lukas Kuipers made two field goals and caught a 64-yard touchdown pass.
Iosaia Lavatai also saw time at quarterback for Hilo, but his most important throw came as an upback on the Vikings’ first possession. On fourth down in the first quarter deep in Hilo territory, Lavatai took the punt snap and hooked up with Josh Whisler to sustain a drive. Five plays later, Tiogangco hit Kalei Tolentino-Perry down the right sideline on a 49-yard scoring play.
Honokaa 0 6 0 0 —6
Hilo 8 21 13 3 — 45
