Greg Jayne: Big payoff for Homer’s hard work

It was stunning. It was dramatic. It was everything high school sports are supposed to be.

It was a 17-year-old senior mustering up the desire and the effort and the lessons learned through hours upon hours of practice, delivering a moment that someday he’ll tell his grandchildren about.

And for Dex Quentin Makaunaokauna Homer — yes, that’s his full name — it was the culmination of a lifelong dream.

You see, Homer isn’t designed to be a football hero. He’s a 5-foot-8, 160-pound receiver/defensive back for Union. And, as coach Cale Piland admits, “We graciously list him at 5-8.”

But there he was, standing as the biggest player at the defining moment of Saturday’s Class 3A state quarterfinal playoff against Ferndale. There he was, racing around the end of the line toward the Ferndale kicker. There he was, smothering a 44-yard field attempt with 14 seconds to play and sending the ball bouncing into the arms of teammate Mitch Saylor.

Never mind the questionable strategy of Ferndale attempting such a kick. All that will be remembered was the result, and the result was a 65-yard touchdown for Saylor and a 21-14 victory for Union.

As if statistics and scores could adequately describe what happened at McKenzie Stadium.

“I timed the snap perfectly,” Homer said. “I just laid out my body.

“That was my first block ever. I got another one, but I just nicked it and it still went in. This was my first legitimate one. Then I just looked up and saw Mitch running and screamed my lungs out.”

And along the way, Homer reminded us of why we watch these silly games. He reminded us of the inherent drama of sports and the limitless boundaries of the human spirit.

“He’s a warrior,” Piland said. “If I was going to pick a kid who would block that kick, Dex would be No. 1.”

And why not? Why not choose a senior who has been playing football since third grade, harboring dreams like so many athletes who might more readily fit the profile?

“I just work my tail off,” Homer said. “Football is my passion.

“These are the games you dream of every night. I used to play quarterback when I was younger, and maybe I would dream of throwing the winning touchdown pass.”

Instead, Homer’s dreams came true by virtue of a blocked field-goal attempt. Who could have expected that?

For Union (12-0), it was a fitting end for a remarkable game. The Titans fell behind 14-0, got a huge lift from a long kickoff return by Tyler Coad that set up a touchdown, and took control of the second half.

With Coad and Homer making big plays, the junior-dominated Titans rode the backs of two seniors to the come-from-behind victory.

But winning a playoff game on a blocked kick? Having somebody who is 5-foot-8 say that stretching out his body was the key? Hollywood never would have bought this script. It’s too improbable.

Yet there it was, being played out as the finale of a three-act drama. And there was Homer after the game, accepting congratulations and hugs and anticipating next week’s state semifinal matchup in the Tacoma Dome.

“That was the craziest thing in my life,” he said. “This is the best thing in my life.

“Dude, we’re going to the Dome.”

Greg Jayne is Sports editor of The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4531, or by e-mail at greg.jaynecolumbian.com. To read his blog, go to columbian.com/section/GregJayne