HONOKAA – It rained sideways, it rained straight, and then it stopped for a minute before a thick mist hovered above.
It was a typical Honokaa football Friday night on homecoming.
All the while, Konawaena flooded the field with receivers and Sheynen Nahale put up a dizzying number of passes as the Wildcats washed away an ugly start.
Nahale accounted for four scores and Konawaena stifled the Dragons 38-0, wrapping up their eighth consecutive trip to the BIIF Division II championship game.
More often than not, Nahale had ample time to pass and looked to his right. The freshman attempted 33 passes in the first half alone and finished 26 of 49 for 270 yards, with three touchdown passes and two interceptions.
The freshman also ran for a score, and his pass total was inflated because Konawaena often didn’t click until third down in the first half.
It wasn’t always pretty, but the Wildcats (4-0) overcame four turnovers and held the Dragons (0-5) to just 132 yards of offense thanks to five more sacks, securing the program’s 19th consecutive conference victory.
Konawaena couldn’t have started uglier on offense, turning the ball over on its first two possessions in its own territory, but each time its defense responded by forcing a four-and-out.
The highlight of the night for the Dragons was a goal-line stand on four plays from inside their 5 that kept the game scoreless.
The Wildcats finally scored on their fourth and fifth possessions, thanks to three fourth-down conversions, and each time they cashed in on third-and-goal from the 5. Nahale found Kealakai Kihe to open the scoring, and on the next series he ran around the right side for a score.
Late in the half, Jesse Canda hauled in a 36-yard catch, and on the next play Nahale hit Hunter Wehrsig for an 11-yard score.
Canda was Nahale’s favorite target, the two combining for a 41-yard scoring play in the fourth quarter.
Cryus Jumalon ran for 57 yards and late score and Riley Sato led the Wildcats’ ground attack with 63 yards.
Nalu Swift ripped off a 43-yarder to help the Dragons reach the red zone on their first drive of the second half, but Noah Bredeson ended the threat, intercepting Honokaa quarterback Malu Kanekoa in the end zone.
Swift ran for 56 yards and also has an interception.
Kanekoa often passed under duress and finished 4 for 19 for 21 yards.
In another bid to make state history, Harry Hill was just short on a 57-yard field goal attempt on a free kick near the end of the first half. In a similar situation last season at Waiakea, Hill nailed a 58-yarder to set a state record. Hill made a field goal from 32 on Friday night.
The Wildcats will try to win their fourth consecutive Division II title on either Oct. 26 or 27, most likely against Kamehameha, which can lock down its title game berth today with a win at Hawaii Prep.
Home field in the championship game ultimately could be decided next Saturday when the Wildcats host the Warriors.
