All eyes were on Kyler Dicion.
The Waialua quarterback had already put together the finest passing game of his career — three touchdowns, no interceptions and 283 yards in the air in the Bulldogs’ 49-14 homecoming/senior night victory over McKinley.
But this moment was important. He wanted to nail it. And he did.
Dicion, the first up of a dozen Waialua seniors during postgame ceremonies, shredded the Bulldogs’ traditional “senior agility test” put on by coach Lincoln Barit and his staff.
“I’ve been waiting for it a long time, four years over here, especially with Coach,” Dicion said.
Waialua quarterback Kyler Dicion does a senior agility drill after the Bulldogs’ 49-14 homecoming win over McKinley.
Dicion threw for 284 yards and 3 TDs, a top-10 passing performance in Waialua history.@HawaiiPrepWorld pic.twitter.com/aMyVIeOcrO
— Brian McInnis (@Brian_McInnis) September 28, 2019
Waialua quarterback Kyler Dicion after his 3-TD, 0-INT, 283-yard performance in a 49-14 homecoming win over McKinley.@HawaiiPrepWorld pic.twitter.com/06W4jPT90n
— Brian McInnis (@Brian_McInnis) September 28, 2019
Dicion and his teammates picked up an important win in their final home game. The victory moved the Bulldogs to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in a very crowded OIA Division II playoff race.
Waialua will likely have to win out on the road against Kalani (3-3) and Pearl City (2-5) to have a chance of getting in ahead of Nanakuli (4-2) for the fourth and final berth. Barit credited them as “tough teams.”
“We just gotta stay focused. Our goals is real simple,” Barit said. “Right from the beginning of the season, it’s one game at a time. The boys understand we don’t look past any game. And make the playoffs and win the playoffs.”
But, for now, Waialua could savor its homecoming and senior sendoff win.
On this night, Dicion channeled that other Kyler, Heisman Trophy winner Murray, in going 18-for-35 for a passing total that was the most by a Waialua player since William Sacapulo-Uepa’s 331 against Anuenue in 2009. His 283 ranked sixth in Waialua records.
It was by far his best outing of the season; entering the night, he was 38-for-107 with seven TDs against five interceptions. A fellow senior, Justyce Lacar, was actually the Bulldogs quarterback until getting injured in a game at midseason.
“Kyler was always our quarterback, but he’s also a good defensive player,” Barit said. “An all-around athlete. He can play receiver too, you know? Running back. So we trained Lacar for it. And during midseason, Lacar got hurt. We decided to move Kyler in.”
He was not alone in putting up numbers Friday.
Senior running back Storm Quilinderino was on the cusp of a top-10 Waialua performance himself, finishing just outside of the records with 12 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns (Wayne Borges in 1993 and Donovan Matas in 2006 are on the edge tied for 164). And Lacar, who was shifted back to receiver, caught five balls for 90 yards, including TDs of 21 and 20 yards.
Kicker/punter/defensive back/receiver Kayde Mahuka added a 29-yard pick-six touchdown in the second quarter to make it 28-0 at that point.
“All the boys did their job tonight,” Dicion said.
Barit had made a tradition out of having a ball thrown deep to each senior to try to catch. Lately, it’s become something more, the delight of the Waialua fans.
“Usually we just throw the ball, but we decided to make it into an obstacle course (last year),” Barit said.
Here are couple more seniors doing their drill:
A couple more. Senior running back Storm Quilinderino: pic.twitter.com/lgPyjp7eKs
— Brian McInnis (@Brian_McInnis) September 28, 2019
The last Waialua senior: lineman Ryan Jayce Pascua@HawaiiPrepWorld pic.twitter.com/hoPUfIJEVb
— Brian McInnis (@Brian_McInnis) September 28, 2019
Good job bulldogs! #NorthShoreRepresent #RR4L