Despite a slow start, the Hilo HS football team blasted Kealakehe HS 35-0 on Friday night at Wong Stadium for its second straight home victory.
The Waveriders — missing their starting quarterback due to injury — managed to move the ball throughout the game, but were repeatedly unable to capitalize.
KHS’ main highlight of the first quarter was a fumble recovery by Masi Lolo.
After both teams entered the second quarter scoreless, the Vikings went on a 21-point roll.
That scoring streak started less than a minute into the second quarter when quarterback Austin Aguiar connected a 40-yard touchdown pass to Peyton Pana. Kolomanu Kahana made the extra point kick.
Several minutes later, after both teams had stopped each other’s offenses, Hilo was back in possession. Aguiar connected a 45-yard pass to Tazein Sykes from the 25-yard line, but a couple of penalties on the following plays moved the Vikings far back. This ultimately did not deter Hilo, as Aguiar connected a 40-yard TD pass to Kadek Kaneta.
With just over two minutes left in the half, the Vikings attempted an onside kick. The kick didn’t go as planned, and the Waveriders got the ball on their own 45-yard line. One play later, Hilo’s Nahulu Chartrand-Barco intercepted a pass and made some headway.
Soon after, Kahanu carried the ball 30 yards into the endzone.
The Vikings quickly caused another turnover, as Exodus Francisco got an interception with 40 seconds left on the clock. However, Hilo was unable to capitalize — and entered halftime with a not-so-modest 21-0 lead.
The third quarter saw another cold start for both teams, and the heavy rainfall didn’t make things any easier. Neither opponent put up any points in the quarter, and both of them struggled to move the slippery ball.
As the final quarter opened, the Waveriders began to get their offense moving. A facemask penalty on Hilo brought KHS to the 25-yard line, but the Vikings made the fourth-down stop to take back possession.
Shortly after that, Aguiar completed his third touchdown pass of the game — a 45-yard bomb to Sykes, who broke a tackle to cross the goal line.
The Waveriders fumbled during their next drive, and Chartrand-Barco was there to recover the ball at the ten-yard line.
The Vikings didn’t waste their excellent scoring position, as Aguiar connected a touchdown pass to Kamani Cazimero-Galderia.
With Hilo up 35-0, a running clock was imposed.
Kealakehe made a touchdown effort as the final seconds of the clock ticked away, but it failed.
Hilo is now 2-1, and will host its third straight home game on Friday against Waiakea HS.
Kealakehe dropped to 1-2 in BIIF DI and 1-4 overall. On Thursday, the Waveriders will face the challenge of playing away at Konawaena HS.