HONOKA‘A — Honoka‘a High’s football team slipped past Ka‘u High on Friday night, winning 32-30 for the pair’s season finale.
If the Trojans had won, they would have been the only former eight-man team this season to beat a longtime eleven-man program.
The Dragons close out the year 7-3, standing at No. 3 in BIIF DII. The 2022 BIIF DII champions fell twice to No. 1 Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i, and once to No. 2 Hawai‘i Prep.
Honoka‘a notched several big wins this season — 40-7 and 48-8 over Kohala, 45-6 and 35-6 over Pahoa and 44-6 during their first encounter with Ka‘u.
Friday’s victory over the Trojans ended the Dragons’ season on a three-win streak, their most recent loss being 16-12 to HPA — who won the pair’s season series by just three points, as the pair’s season opening bout ended with Honoka‘a on top 13-12.
The Trojans end the season 3-7 with Friday’s loss being their third straight. Ka‘u defeated Kohala twice — 37-24 and 60-14 — and defeated Pahoa 54-28 in a massive comeback in late September, scoring 32 points during the fourth quarter. Ka‘u’s final BIIF DII standing is No. 4 — leading the two other former eight-man programs (Pahoa and Kohala).
The Trojans had a rocky start to the season — with no permanent head coach — but were taken over mid-season by coach Ted Blanco.
Ka‘u will graduate nine seniors — including two-way star Ocean Nihipali-Session, sack artist Joe Buyuan and top receiver TJ Kuahuia-Faafia.
Honoka‘a will lose 14 seniors — including starting quarterback Elijah Kaupu-Alip and play-making receiving back Keaka Cagampanag.