HILO — In theory, Kyan Miyasato was green when the game started, but it didn’t take him long to transform – not just into a game manager, but an efficient field general.
HILO — In theory, Kyan Miyasato was green when the game started, but it didn’t take him long to transform – not just into a game manager, but an efficient field general.
The Vikings turned to Miyasato to convert on an early fourth down, and it was the freshman who made up for a senior’s mistake later on the drive, which he capped by improvising for a touchdown.
“He took command of the offense,” senior left guard Trestan Mahoe said Friday night. “He took command right away.
“When we were all tight, he came in and said we can do this, and we just drove down and scored.”
Miyasato’s jersey, meanwhile, remained exactly like it had been when the game started: unblemished.
“After the game,” Mahoe said,” a coach came up to us and said, “Look at your quarterback, his jersey is clean.”
And the Vikings’ quarterback situation is a little more clearer.
The Vikings stomped Waiakea 42-7 at Wong Stadium to clinch a berth in the BIIF Division I football championship game and a trip to the state tournament. As important, they received every indication from Miyasato’s play that their offense will remain dangerous when they get there should they still be without the services of all-BIIF quarterback Ka’ale Tiogangco.
Kahale Huddleston ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns and Kashten Ioane Sadlon recovered a fumble in the end zone and had one of three interceptions for Hilo (5-0 BIIF, 5-1), which clinched at least a tie for first place. Miyasato finished 12 of 16 for 103 yards and two scores for the Vikings.
“(Kyan) did what we asked of him, and it was to trust his eyes and try to take care of the football,” coach Kaeo Drummondo said.
The Warriors (2-3 BIIF, 2-6) committed five turnovers, including interceptions by Ka’aina Louis and Rylen Kaniaupio, and were held to 101 yards of offense, most of which came on the ground from Gehrig Octavio. They host Kealakehe next Saturday in a key game in figuring out the other title game participant.
Making his first start in place of the injured Tiogangco, Miyasato guided Hilo to touchdowns on three of its four possessions, while the Vikings defense dominated, stopping Waiakea the first five times it had the ball.
If Miyasato needed to find a comfort zone, he got it when Huddleston ran 73 yards for a score on the second play of the game.
“Once we scored that first touchdown, we were so loosened up that we thought we could just keep going,” Mahoe said.
On Hilo’s second drive, Miyasato displayed poise, converting a fourth down with a completion to Kainalu Tiogangco. Miyasato threw a pass down the right sideline for an apparent touchdown to Kalei Tolentino-Perry that was wiped out by a penalty. Undaunted, Miyasato promptly completed a pass down the left sideline to Lukas Kuipers for 40 yards, setting up Miyasato’s short scoring pass to Kainalu Tiogangco.
That 2-yard pass play was what impressed Drummondo the most.
“He could have given it to the running back, but decided he liked the picture outside,” Drummondo said. “
Huddleston’s 40-yard run featured a nifty spin move, and Miyasato finished the drive with a touchdown pass to Tolentino-Perry to make the score 21-0.
Hilo ammased more than 340 yards on ground.
“I was happy with the way the offensive line stepped up and opened up holes,
Drummondo said. ‘We’ll need that aspect of our offense to cintinue to improve in the coming weeks.”
Waiakea often featured a full-house backfield with either Octavio or Makoa Andres at quarterback. Andres finished with Waiakea’s two completions and Hilo’s S. Wela Mamone was in on two of the Vikings’ five sacks.
Waiakea’s only touchdown, a 21-yard scamper by Octavio, came after Hilo failed to recover an onsides kick in the second quarter.
Octavio ran for 92 yards.
Waiakea 0 7 0 0 — 7
Hilo 14 13 9 6 —42
First quarter
Hilo — Kahale Huddleston 73 run (Kalei Tolentino-Perry kick), 11:11
Hilo — Kainalu Tiogangco 2 pass from Cyan Miyasato (Tolentino-Perry kick), 5:34
Second quarter
Hilo — Tolentino-Perry 10 pass from Miyasato (Tolentino-Perry kick), 8:23
Hilo — Kashten Ioane Sadlon fumble recovery in end zone, 3:36
Waiakea — Gehrig Octavio 21 run (Michael Scott kick), 2:48
Third quarter
Hilo — Huddleston 8 run (pass failed), 4:43
Hilo — FG Tolentino-Perry 28, 1:26
Fourth quarter
Hilo — Beau Ramos 1 run (kick failed), 3:24