HONOKAA — A football game turned fireworks show closed out the preseason with a bang for Honokaa and Waiakea on Friday night at Honokaa High School.
In the back-and-forth affair, a fourth quarter touchdown strike from Ocean Guerpo to Paki Akau was the difference, as the Dragons (1-0) edged the Warriors 41-35.
Both quarterbacks filled up the box score. Ocean Guerpo finished with 179 yards and five touchdowns through the air, while Waiakea hurler Gehrig Octavio recorded three TD strikes of his own and over 100 yards rushing.
The Dragons set the frantic offensive pace on their first drive. Running back Kealakai Lindsey found the corner on three long runs, and Guerpo connected with Kelvin Falk wide open in the end zone for a 34-yard score. Guerpo ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0 early.
Waiakea (0-3) responded with a ground and pound attack, made up almost exclusively of runs by Austin Deperalta. That’s all the Warriors needed for their first touchdown of the season, as he pounded it in from three yards out.
A stray snap on a punt gave Honokaa stellar field position on its next scoring drive. Guerpo hit Kealakai Lindsey on a short swing route, and the 5-foot-6 back scampered 14 yards untouched into the end zone.
Waiakea didn’t stray from its offensive game plan in the second quarter, riding a steady dose of Deperalta into the Honokaa red zone. Thomas Pakini took over for the short yardage, and the 238-pound back rumbled in to make the game 15-14.
Honokaa’s bag of trick was far from empty, and on 3rd and 15, the Dragons called Akau’s number on a reverse. The junior went 57 yards with a stable of blockers in front of him for the score.
But Waiakea answered again, this time with Octavio’s first touchdown pass of the game — a 13-yarder to Jared Texeria — narrowing Honokaa’s lead to 22-21 at half.
Some of Waiakea’s best plays — many manufactured by Octavio — were wiped out by penalties. He didn’t get discouraged, and put on a show in the second half with his blazing speed and ability to make plays outside of the pocket.
Octavio churned out big play after big play, and connected on two touchdown — one to Wesley Amuimuia and another to Kawaiola Anderson. The quarterback even found the end zone on a 45-yard punt return, although that became the casualty of a yellow hanky.
The Honokaa playmakers didn’t exactly go to sleep though. Kamuela Spencer shined on a touchdown drive, which culminated in a 5-yard catch on a play-action pass at the goal line.
A pass interference penalty nullified a Honokaa interception, and put Waiakea at the 35-yard line with three minutes remaining. After a drop in the end zone, Octavio scrambled out of the pocket, but came up just inches short of the first down. Waiakea got the ball back one more time, and were within striking distance after another pass interference call. However, a Dragon interception put an end to any late heroics for the Warriors.
Honokaa opens its season Aug. 26 against Kealakehe, while Waiakea heads to Kamehameha-Hawaii the same day.