HONOKAA — Honokaa and Waiakea were fairly even on first, second and third downs.
It was on fourth down where the Dragons showed not just their trademark P.R.I.D.E., but also a little pizzazz and panache.
Honokaa converted four key fourth downs Friday night, two on a momentum-changing drive to open the third quarter, beating Waiakea for the second time this month, 25-8 in a BIIF football regular season-opener played under a steady rain for much of the first half.
Klayton Gascon ran for two touchdowns, one on fourth down in the third quarter, and Ocean Guerpo-Beamer hit Thomas Au for a short touchdown pass on fourth down earlier in the third to spur Honokaa (2-0, 1-0 BIIF Division II).
Oshen Nobriga scored a defensive touchdown, falling on a fumble in the end zone on the first play from scrimmage, as the Dragons held the Warriors (1-3, 0-1 BIIF Division I) to just 86 yards of offense
The Dragons lost the turnover battle three to one, but they used the extra down to their advantage.
Nursing a 12-8 halftime lead and taking over near midfield, Guerpo-Beamer ran for 7 yards on fourth-and-4, following that up with a 20-yard scramble to the 7. The drive appeared to stall at the 2, but coach Noeau Lindsey eschewed a short field goal and Akau’s reception gave Honokaa a two-score lead.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Dragons took over at midfield when Kamuela Spencer-Herring hauled in a long pass down to the 8. Three plays later, Lindsey turned down another field goal, and Gascon plowed in from the 1 for his second touchdown.
Guerpo-Beamer finished 5 off 11 for 96 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, and Gascon ran for 63 yards as Honokaa churned out 201 yards of offense.
Midway through the first quarter, Guerpo-Beamer hit Gene Ansagay for 37 yards on fourth-and-11 from the 40, and Gascon scored on the next play, putting Waiakea down 12-0
At that point, the Warriors had been outscored 68-0 in the past four-plus quarters, but they answered right back.
Noah Eblacas hooked up twice with Kingsley Kalili, first for 14 yards to give the Warriors’ their second first down, then after Eblacas scrambled to convert a third down, he converted another by finding Kalili streaking down the right sideline on a 27-yard scoring play.
Cheyn Tam-Switzer picked off Guerpo-Beamer on Honokaa’s second possession, and Waiakea moved down to the Honokaa 11 — Eblacas scrambled for 24 yards — but the Warriors had to settle for a Ryden Quitoriano’s 31-yard field-goal attempt, which sailed wide.
Eblacas was 4 of 18 for 52 yards. Waiakea didn’t complete a pass in the second half.
Rylan Evangelista had an interception in the fourth quarter for Waiakea, returning it 70 yards, but the Warriors couldn’t convert on fourth down and finished with just one yard of offense in the second half.
Kolten Caravalho picked off a pass for Honokaa, which was led defensively by Sheltyn Carvalho, who amassed four sacks.
