HONOKAA — Coach Fred Lau hinted at as much each of the past two weeks, and the third time did the trick.
The Honokaa Dragons are making strides.
They scored their first offensive touchdown of the season on their opening drive Thursday night against Kohala, and they completed their first pass of the year on their next possession for another score. The Dragons cruised to a 29-6 victory as the North Hawaii rivals resumed BIIF Division II football acquaintances for the first time in nine years.
“It’s a process, just get better every week,” Lau said. “A little better tackling.”
Better decision-making as well from quarterback Aka Spencer in running Honokaa’s triple option offense. Justin Pascua took a pitch down the left side 57 yards for a score and Bruce Reinbolt ran up the middle for a touchdown as the Dragons (1-2) surpassed 200 yards on the ground. Micah Acdal led the way with 74 yards rushing.
“The line did their job and I was able to get the ball into the right hands, and they were making plays,” Spencer said.
He wasn’t as impressed by his two touchdown passes, a 35-yarder to Blaysin Bernard Erece in the first quarter and a dagger – on the scoreboard, at least – to Ka’eo Nakamoto in the fourth quarter.
“It wasn’t pretty lucky, but it counts,” Spencer said.
One week after a spirited “17 strong” win at Ka’u in which Kohala finished with just 16 players, Cowboys (1-2) appeared to dress 20 this time, but that didn’t include Legend Libron. The running back, his team’s best playmaker, was injured against the Trojans and watched Thursday’s game from he sidelines.
“With the situation we’re in right now, they made the most of their opportunity,” Kohala coach Jay Blanco said. “Honokaa, they played one hell of a game. We fought to the end.”
Kohala’s best drive was its second of the game, a 10-play, 67-yard march in the second quarter that was spurred by a pass interference penalty. Tamatasi Sauta rumbled in from the 4 to make it 14-6. A 255-pound fullback, Sauta finished with 46 yards, but the Cowboys accomplished little else on the ground.
After the teams exchanged possessions, Honokaa got its running game going on a drive that started near midfield. Reinbolt and Nakamoto each ripped of a pair of nice runs, leading to Reinbolt’s relatively easy jaunt through a big hole for a touchdown.
“Just trying to perfect our craft,” Spencer said.
Kohala worked on its short passing game, with quarterback Kona Ledward completing of 10 of 16 for 75 yards and two interceptions.
The Dragons forced four turnovers, including picks by Pascua and Erece.
Honokaa put the game away early in the fourth quarter when Spencer found Nakamoto in the end zone for a 20-yard score on fourth-and-long. The short drive started when the Dragons stuffed Sauta on a fourth-and-short.
Lau said he would like to see Spencer keep the ball more on option plays to open up the pitch and make crisper decisions in the passing game.
But on a night in which fans were back and sitting in Honokaa’s new bleachers, and Dominic Yagong resumed his role as play-by-play announcer, strides were made.
“They get (Friday) off from practice,” Lau said. “They earned it.”
Kohala 0 6 0 0 – 6
Honokaa 14 8 0 7 – 29
First quarter
Honokaa – Justin Pascua 57 run (Kamuela Andrade-Stout kick)
Honokaa – Blaysin Bernard Erece 35 pass from Aka Spencer (Andrade-Stout kick)
Second quarter
Kohala — Tamatasi Sauta 4 run (kick blocked)
Honokaa – Bruce Reinbolt 7 run (Reinbolt run)
Fourth quarter
Honokaa — Ka’eo Nakamoto 20 pass from (Andrade-Stout kick)