Hilo senior Koa Akui took the opening kickoff and returned it for a 60-yard touchdown, immediately bringing back the ugly memory of 2019 when the Vikings hammered Waiakea 104-0.
It was ugly, not for the Warriors, but for the Vikings in a BIIF Division I game Saturday night at refurbished Wong Stadium, which includes press box new flooring and painted cement steps but the same old wooden seats.
The Viking still won 49-6, but it was sloppy for the seven-time BIIF champions, who committed three turnovers in the first half and had two touchdowns called back because of penalties, and a 33-yard field goal was blocked.
Hilo just looked undisciplined in the first half, which saw them lead 23-0. It was the same thing in the second half with five yellow flags, including a personal foul and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, each 15 yards.
The Vikings were pass happy extreme with quarterback Kimo Ibanez, who completed 18 of 26 for 306 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
Akui caught five balls for 104 yards, Leha Harman had four receptions for 84 yards, and Damien Kai snagged two passes for 51 yards. Kai scored through the air and on the ground.
Jayden Pasco rushed for 61 yards on seven carries, and Ibanez added 37 yards on six attempts to help Hilo (1-1) compile 151 yards on 14 carries, a healthy 10.7 yard average.
The Warriors (0-3) just couldn’t generate any type of ground production, running out of the I-formation or the spread. They rushed 22 times for negative 16 yards.
Waiakea senior QB Reyn Segovia-Tanonaka completed 7 of 17 for 106 yards, including a well-placed 65-yard scoring strike to John Torres.
After the yellow flag on Akui’s apparent opening kickoff TD, the ball was placed at the Waiakea 40-yard line, and Tre Nelson-Langacker eventually kicked a 35-yard field goal.
On Hilo’s next series, Ibanez threw an 8-yard scoring strike to Akui and the Vikings led 10-0.
Waiakea’s lack of a rushing attack helped Hilo get healthy field position.
In the second quarter, Ibanez fired a 19-yard scoring strike to Akui and Hilo led 17-0, then Ibanez rifled a 30-yard touchdown pass to Damien Kai. The PAT was no good, but the Viking had a nice 23-0 lead.
But that production was sandwiched by a Hilo fumble, the blocked field goal and an interception.
The Warriors couldn’t move the ball in the first half, but at least they didn’t hurt themselves. They had no turnovers with fewer penalties.
In the third quarter, on Hilo’s first series, Kai busted through the teeth of Waiakea’s defense for a 53-yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was good, and Hilo led 30-0, five points away from a running clock.
Akui scored on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Ibanez, and after the PAT was no good, the Vikings led 36-0, and the running clock was on.
But Hilo still had penalty problems and undisciplined play in the second half: two personal fouls, a snap over Ibanez’s head on fourth down, and a holding penalty that deleted a 20-yard run.
The Warriors got on the scoreboard late middle of the fourth quarter when Segovia-Tanonaka fired a 65-yard touchdown pass to Torres. The PAT was no good, and Waiakea trailed 36-6.
That good feeling only lasted a moment, because the Vikings scored on their next possession. Xiah Kanae ran right up the middle for a 33-yard touchdown and a 43-6 cushion.
Akui got a 55-yard pick-six to seal the lid on Hilo’s blowout – yet ugly and undisciplined – win.
Waiakea 0 0 0 6 — 6
Hilo 10 13 13 13 — 49
First quarter
Hilo — FG 35 Tre Nelson-Langacker
Hilo — 8 pass Koa Akui from Kimo Ibanez (Nelson-Langacker kick)
Second quarter
Hilo —19 pass Koa Akui from Ibanez (Nelson-Langacker kick)
Hilo — 30 pass Damien Kai from Ibanez (kick no good)
Third quarter
Hilo — 53 run Kai (Nelson-Langacker kick)
Hilo — 55 pass Akui from Ibanez (kick no good)
Fourth quarter
Waiakea — 65 pass John Torres from Reyn Segovia-Tanonaka (kick no good)
Hilo — 33 run Xiah Kanae (Nelson-Langacker kick)
Hilo — 55 interception return Akui (kick no good)