Second-half rally propels Waialua past Kalani


Kai Hoekstra hauls in his second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter in the Bulldogs' win over the Falcons. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Kyler Dicion threw three second-half touchdowns, and Waialua scored 28 unanswered points to rally past Kalani, 36-25.

The Bulldogs trailed 20-7 early in the third quarter, but rallied behind the arm of Dicion, who connected with Hoekstra on two passing scores, including a 23 yard score with 4:22 left in the contest that gave Waialua (4-3-0) the lead for good.

Dicion, who completed 12 of 21 passes for 141, benefited from the strong running of Storm Quilinderino, who carried the ball 18 times for 108 yards and helped set up two scoring pass plays when Dicion caught the Kalani defense selling out on the run.

The Bulldogs struck first, driving down the field methodically on their first drive, capped off by a nine yard rumble by Quilinderino to put the visiting team ahead at the 4:39 mark, 7-0.

The Falcons equalized in the waning moments of the first quarter, getting on the board on a 17 yard pick-six by Jonah Ottenbacher to square the game at 7-7 heading into the second quarter.

Just moments before halftime, Kalani put together a nice drive highlighted by a 29 yard pass from Nick Sakamoto to Jaymyn Mohika-Poche that helped set up a 5 yard plunge by Nathaniel Balangitao to give the host Falcons a 13-7 lead at the break.

Sakamoto, who took over at quarterback in place of regular starter Logan Lim, scored on a one yard sneak to put the Falcons up 20-7.

Waialua took over from that point, as Dicion connected with Hoekstra from 11 yards out for a score, which was followed up by a punt block by Dylan Yadao to give the Bulldogs the lead.

That lead was extended to eight on a 35 yard hook up from Dicion to Justyce Lacar, and all but put out of reach on Hoekstra's second touchdown reception.

Nathaniel Balangitao, came off the bench to lead the Falcons with 82 yards rushing on 16 carries and two touchdowns, narrowed the lead to nine on a 16 yard scoring scamper with 2:11 to go in the contest, but the two point try failed for Kalani, and the ensuing onside kick was recovered by Waialua to end it.