HILO —Maybe Hilo doesn’t need to throw the football to win, at least when it comes to Big Island Interscholastic Federation competition. HILO —Maybe Hilo doesn’t need to throw the football to win, at least when it comes to Big
HILO —Maybe Hilo doesn’t need to throw the football to win, at least when it comes to Big Island Interscholastic Federation competition.
Behind a ground game that produced 341 yards and four rushing touchdowns, the Vikings trounced Waiakea 45-20 in a crosstown rivalry game on Saturday at Wong Stadium.
It also helped that Hilo’s defense can score, too. Senior linebacker Sione Holika generated a pair of touchdowns, one on a fumble recovery and another on a pick-six.
Hilo (8-1 overall, 7-0 BIIF) hosts Keaau (1-6, 1-6) in the BIIF Division I semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Wong Stadium.
Waiakea (2-7, 2-5) plays at Kealakehe (3-5, 3-4) in the other BIIF Division I semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Waverider Stadium.
The first half was filled with mistakes, but it was otherwise exciting for fans. Holika capitalized on a pair of Waiakea turnovers for touchdowns for a 25-7 halftime lead. The Warriors finished with six turnovers; the Vikings had three giveaways.
On the first play from scrimmage, the Vikings fumbled the kickoff, and on the very next play Waiakea quarterback Bryce Felipe threw a sideline pass to Shane Picanco. The ball was tipped by a Hilo defender and deflected into the hands of Picanco, who raced in for a 40-yard touchdown.
On the ensuing kickoff, Hilo’s Hunter Macabio scored on a 95-yard return, but a holding penalty canceled that long score and the Vikings eventually punted.
The Warriors fumbled two plays later and Holika scooped up the ball and returned it for a 25-yard touchdown for a 7-7 tie late in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Tristin Spikes scored on a 1-yard run to cap a six-play, 60-yard drive that started when teammate Donavan Kelley ripped off a 23-yard run. (The two-point pass attempt failed.)
Hilo quarterback Saone Atuekaho was 2 of 4 for 35 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to Kelley; Kelley was 0 of 2.
But each got big gains on the ground. Atuekaho rushed for 89 yards on five carries with a score, while Kelley added 57 yards on eight attempts. Spikes led the way with 115 yards on 14 attempts.
Meanwhile, Waiakea senior Devin Preston cracked the 1,000-yard rushing barrier. He finished with 104 yards on 15 carries, pushing his total to 1,049 yards. Felipe was 5 of 15 for 85 yards with two touchdowns and two picks.
Hilo 7 18 6 14 — 45
Waiakea 7 0 0 13 — 20
First quarter
Wai — Shane Picanco 40 pass from Bryce Felipe (Tyler Kerr kick), 11:42
Hilo —Sione Holika 25 fumble return (Rayce Takayesu), 5:16
Second quarter
Hilo — Tristin Spikes 1 run (pass failed), 11:03
Hilo — Ofa Fahiua 19 run (run failed), 1:43
Hilo — Sione Holika 57 interception return (run failed), 1:07
Third quarter
Hilo — Donovan Kelley 27 pass from Sione Atuekaho (pass failed), 4:41
Fourth quarter
Wai — George Hanohano 11 pass from Bryce Felipe (Hanohano kick), 11:48
Hilo — Aven Kualii 24 run (Rayce Takayesu kick), 9:05
Hilo — Atuekaho 3 run (Takayesu kick), 3:25
Wai — Devin Preston 19 run (kick failed), 1:06
