KAILUA-KONA — For a second, it looked like Keaau and Kealakehe were going to have a good ol’ fashion shootout at Waverider Stadium on Friday night.
But when the points came for Kealakehe, they came in the form of a tidal wave, sinking and stunning Keaau 43-12.
After falling behind 12-8, the Waveriders reeled off the next 35 points in the contest to close out the victory on homecoming night.
Waverider quarterback Jorden Himalaya played sparingly in the second half, but still managed a night that included 238 yards passing and a pair of scores.
The senior QB completed his passes (15 of 21) at a 72 percent clip, his highest of the season.
Boo Jones and Kalani Piltz proved reliable targets in the passing game, racking up yards after catch. Piltz collected three catches for 94 yards and a score, while Jones had six for 71 yards and a score. Piltz also rushed for a TD, while Jones filled in at QB in the second half, mostly running option plays until he connected with Kaden Baptista on a long bomb for the final score of the game.
As a team, the Waveriders used a diverse running game to rack up just under 200 yards.
Elijah Kahele (66 yards), Raymond Skillern (44 yards) and Joshua Mangayayam (54 yards, 2 TDs) spearheaded the running attack.
With the win, Kealakehe moves to 3-1 this season in BIIF play and are in the thick of the Division I race. There’s a very good chance the Waveriders will have a chance to lock up a title game berth next weekend at Waiakea. The Warriors (3-1) play Hilo (3-0) Saturday at Wong Stadium.
Quarterback Bryant Respicio-Mercado got off to a fast start for Keaau, but tapered off late. He finished the night 18 of 31 for 213 yards, rushing for two scores.
Respicio-Mercado connected on his first three passes and then plowed his way into the end zone from 6 yards out for the first score of the game.
Kealakehe had some trouble on its first drive — which featured two fumbles — but looked like a well-oiled machine on its next, with Himalaya finding Boo Jones on a short pass that he was able to turn into a 26-yard touchdown.
It took just three plays for the ‘Riders to move down the field.
The Cougars continued to hit on all cylinders with their intermediate passing game, with Respicio-Mercado having four completions over 15 yards in the first quarter.
He finished off the Cougs second TD drive of the night with a rolling run into the right corner of the end zone.
That would be all the night held in store for the Keaau offense in terms of scoring, and the Waveriders were just getting started.
The second quarter saw a pair of scores by Piltz — one rushing and one receiving — and Joshua Mangayayam scored his first of two touchdowns on a 7-yard plunge.
The 22-point surge was enough to put the Waveriders in firm control heading into the break.
In the second half, Mangayayam found the end zone for the only score of the third quarter, and Jones connected with Baptista to put a bow on the successful bounce back night for the Waveriders.
Konawaena 0 21 0 17 –38
Honokaa 0 0 0 0 –0
Second quarter
KONA – Kealakai Kihe 5 pass from Sheyten Nahale (Harry Hill)
KONA – Nahale 5 run (Hill kick)
KONA – Hunter Wehrsig 11 pass from Nahale (Hill kick)
Fourth quarter
KONA – Harry Hill 32 field goal
KONA – Jesse Canda 41 pass from Nahale (Hill kick)
KONA – Cyrus Jumalon 3 run (Hill kick)