KAILUA-KONA — In front of the Waveriders’ faithful for their annual homecoming matchup, Kealakehe football outlasted Waiakea on Friday night at Waverider Stadium by a score of 39-28. It was the Waveriders’ highest-scoring outing of the season thus far.
The Waveriders earned their second win of 2023 and elevated to 2-6, while the Warriors dropped to 0-7 — remaining in the cellar of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division I standings.
Kealakehe’s offense was led by wide receiver Alika Rigaud, who finished with a receiving touchdown and rushing touchdown. Running back Hercules Nahale additionally added two rushing touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, Waveriders defensive back Kainalu Macabio-Ebaniz grabbed an interception while lineman Calvin Grace scooped up a forced fumble.
Waiakea’s offense was heralded by receiver Justin Ah Sing, who finished with two scores. Lineman Kaimi Santos and defensive back Haiden Kay both notched an interception apiece for the Warriors.
Kealakehe struck first after Rigaud caught a screen pass from quarterback Cody Jones, slithering through defenders to return it for over 50 yards for a score. After halting Waiakea’s offense in the next possession, the Warriors punted to returnman Kawika Gouveia, who then ran it back it 60 yards for another Waverider touchdown.
However, Waiakea began to find rhythm in the beginning of the second quarter, as Micah Lopes punched it inside the 5-yard line for the Warriors’ first touchdown. While Jones later threw a pick to Kay, Kealakehe responded immediately with Macabio-Ebaniz intercepting Warriors quarterback Dylan Nakamoto-Baltazar to end the half — maintaining the Waveriders’ 12-7 lead.
The Waveriders began the second half with how they started the preceding one: marching downfield to set up another Rigaud touchdown — but this time scoring on the ground. On Kealakehe’s next drive, Jones led the offense downfield once more, running the ball into the end zone for himself to lengthen the Waveriders’ lead.
Waiakea didn’t score again until the fourth quarter, when Nakamoto-Baltazar dove over the goal line for a 1-yard sneak.
Kealakehe answered right back after Nahale ran it in from 30 yards back to extend the Waveriders’ lead to 19.
The two teams traded blows one more time the final minutes of regulation, with Justin Ah Sing scoring for the Warriors and Nahale notching another rushing touchdown for the Waveriders. Ah Sing scored the final touchdown of the night from a quick screen pass inside the 5-yard line with 2:30 to go, but it was not enough to match Kealakehe.
Up next
With just two games remaining in the regular season for the Waveriders, Kealakehe will next host Hilo at 7 p.m. Friday at Waverider Stadium. Waiakea has just one matchup left, also taking on the Vikings next at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at home.