Honokaa put on a blocking and tackling football clinic against Waiakea, which couldn’t match the Dragons’ efficient play and relentless motor.
The energized Dragons dominated on both sides of the ball in a 28-6 preseason win over the Warriors on Saturday at Ken Yamase Memorial Stadium.
Honokaa’s offensive line looked impressive with its run blocking, often opening huge holes for junior running back Klayton Gascon, who rushed for 117 yards on 19 carries out of the Pistol set.
The O-line’s pass blocking was pretty good, too. Senior quarterback Ocean Guerpo-Beamer was well-protected and completed 8 of 13 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown
“We’ve been at it since February, lifting weights,” Honokaa second-year coach Noeau Lindsey said. “I’m happy because we’ve had some lulls at practice. We were not looking for a goose egg. We wanted to try different looks with our defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3. What I saw today were two learning teams.”
Whatever scheme, whether it was a blitz or dropping back in coverage, worked like a charm.
The Dragons brought enough pressure from their front seven and stoned Waiakea’s ground game, which had just 19 yards on 16 attempts, including just five yards in the second half.
The secondary had a great day with three picks of Waiakea junior quarterback Ka‘io Kon, who went 5 of 20 for 107 yards. Kamuela Boneza, Kainalu Swift, and Keahou Kaholoa’a Aguilar each had an interception.
The visitors even won the turnover battle 4-2.
The Dragons took a 13-0 lead into halftime, and over the first 24 minutes looked a lot sharper than the Warriors, who searched all day to find a rhythm or any type of consistency.
After a scoreless first quarter, Honokaa started with a short field after a Waiakea punt, opening up shop near midfield. Two plays later, Guerpo-Beamer threw a simple, sideline pass to Gene Ansagay, who shed two tackles and scored on a 34-yard reception.
On Waiakea’s ensuing possession, Kainalu Swift stepped in front of a Kon pass and raced 42 yards. Two plays later, the Dragons caught the Warriors flat-footed when Kilipaki Akau scored on a 26-yard reverse.
Isaac Aguilar booted the PAT attempt for a 13-0 lead with 6:24 left. Honokaa’s soccer goalie also caught two passes for 28 yards.
Waiakea had a good opportunity to run its two-minute drill after a Honokaa bad snap spotted the ball at the 1-yard line on fourth down.
Daryl Sampaga returned a punt 19 yards, which put the ball at Honokaa’s 21-yard line with 24 seconds left.
Then Sampaga caught a 14-yard pass from Kon. The ball was at Honokaa’s 7-yard line with time ticking down. Later, Ryden Quitoriano’s 23-yard field goal attempt was blocked with :02 showing on the clock on fourth down.
Early in the third quarter, Kamuela Boneza picked off Kon. Six plays later, Aguilar drilled a 29-yard field goal for a 16-0 lead.
On its ensuing series, Waiakea turned into its own worst enemy again. On a four-down punt attempt, the ball was snapped into the end zone for a safety.
The Warriors doubled down on their misfortune on the kickoff with a punt out of bounds. The ball was set at their 45, and the Dragons played bulldozer football.
First, Gascon rushed for eight yards. Then Guerpo-Beamer lofted a sideline rainbow to Kamuela Spencer-Herring, who refused to be tackled and was pushed out of bounds at the 17.
Gascon gashed Waiakea’s run defense again for 15 yards. With the ball at the 2, Gascon was given the handoff and what transpired next symbolized the theme of the day.
He decided to run straight, saw no hole and changed direction to his left. Only green field stood in front of Gascon, who walked in untouched for a 25-0 cushion.
In the fourth quarter, Aguilar ripped a 26-yard field goal on a rare stutter step. He charged, stopped when the hold wasn’t clean but flushed his attempt anyway.
Waiakea followed with a three-and-out, and the Dragons later fumbled. Two plays later, Kon threw a corner ball to Magnus Namohala-Roloos, who hauled in a 29-yard TD.
In the junior varsity game, it was Honokaa 26, Waiakea 18.
Honokaa 0 13 12 3 — 28
Waiakea 0 0 0 6 — 6
