The first game of the day kicks off at 3:15 p.m. as ‘Iolani hosts Damien at 3:15 p.m. at Kozuki Stadium in the ILH opener for both teams.
The Raiders had their run of six consecutive Division II state championships end last season but have won 10 straight ILH Division II titles. ‘Iolani also owns a 15-game winning streak against Damien, which hasn’t beat the Raiders since a 14-10 win on Oct 10, 2006.
‘Iolani receives the opening kickoff. Running back KJ Pascua with four runs on the first drive for 32 yards. Quarterback Austin Jim On finds Keoni-Kordell Makekau twice for 20 yards but they can’t convert a third-and-4 from the 8. Makekau kicks a 25-yard field goal and ‘Iolani takes an early 3-0 lead.
Damien’s first drive starts with a tough third-and-9 but quarterback Dallas Labanon finds Bransen Apao for 10 yards and a first. After two short runs and a delay of game penalty, Damien is third-and-12 from the 29. Short pass is incomplete and Monarchs have to punt.
‘Iolani gets the ball back and Makekau with a huge leaping catch on third-and-9. Four receptions on the first two drives for Makekau. Pascua with a nice 14-yard burst up the middle and scores on an 8-yard TD run on the next play. ‘Iolani 10, Damien 0, 3:20, Q1.
Monarchs get the ball back and Kapiinaokala King makes a nice catch for a 31-yard pass from Labanon. Elijah Brown misplays a pitch from Labanon and Damien has a third-and-18. Labanon with a nice touch pass over the middle to Apao for 24 yards and a first down. First quarter ends with Damien facing second-and-12 at the ‘Iolani 30 following a false start.
Samson Low takes a swing pass 10 yards to make it third-and-2. Damien throws a fade to the end zone and they call a ticky-tacky pass interference on the defense. Kepono Kawaakoa with a 7-yard reception and Labanon sneaks it twice to eventually score from a yard out. ‘Iolani 10, Damien 7, 10:42, Q2.
Raiders answer in two plays. Pascua with a 7-yard run and then Makekau takes a short pass from Jim On and flies past the Monarchs defense, beating everyone down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown reception. ‘Iolani 17, Damien 7, 9:55, Q2.
Monarchs go three-and-out as Labanon eludes a sack and then has some room but slips trying to make a cut behind the block. ‘Iolani takes over on its own 40. After a first down running, ‘Iolani converts on third-and-7 as Makekau makes a diving catch. Raiders facing a fourth-and-2 at the Damien 28 and go for it. Pass over the middle for Tamatane Aga is broken up by Dutch Claybaugh. Big stop for Damien.
Monarchs get a first down on third-and-3 as ‘Iolani jumps early. Brown with a nice reception out of the backfield for 6 yards on third down and Damien converts again, just over midfield. After a Labanon run for 9 yards and a first down completion to Ian Lundberg, ‘Iolani calls timeout with 39 seconds left to set its defense. Labanon to King deep down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown and Damien scores with 31 seconds left. ‘Iolani 17, Damien 14, :31, Q2.
‘Iolani takes over on its own 30 with 24 seconds left and two timeouts. Pascua with a 6-yard run and ‘Iolani lets the time wind down. It’s halftime.
HALFTIME BOX
At Kozuki Stadium
Damien (1-0, 0-0) 0 14
‘Iolani (1-0, 0-0) 10 7
Iol—FG Keoni-Kordell Makekau 25
Iol—KJ Pascua 8 run (Evan Minami kick)
Dam—Dallas Labanon 1 run (Elijah Brown kick)
Iol—Makekau 61 pass from Austin Jim On (Minami kick)
Dam— Kapiinaokala King 35 pass from Labanon (Brown kick)
RUSHING—Damien: Labanon 5-11, Samson Low 4-11, Brown 5-(minus 1). ‘Iolani: KJ Pascua 11-76, Storm Lotomau 1-5, Tamatane Aga 1-(minus 3), Jim On 3-(minus 16).
PASSING—Damien: Labanon 10-14-0-137. ‘Iolani: Jim On 10-14-0-152.
RECEIVING—Damien: Ian Lundberg 3-15, King 2-66, Bransen Apao 2-34, Low 1-10, Kawaakoa 1-7, Brown 1-5. ‘Iolani: Makekau 7-130, Tyler Teruya 1-8, Connor Ohira 1-8, Nick Kennedy 1-6.
Second half kick about 4:33 p.m.
Both teams trade three-and-outs as Damien comes up with two big stops on second-and-1 and third-and-1, stuffing Pascua for no yards.
Apao with a 10-yard reception to give Damien the first first down of the second half. Third-and-7 and Labanon goes deep to the 6-foot-5 King. Ball is overthrown but another ticky-tacky pass interference call on ‘Iolani moves it past midfield and gives Damien a first down. Third-and-10 now from the ‘Iolani 49. Deep pass is incomplete and Damien has to punt.
Pascua nears the 100-yard mark with a 15-yard run. Jim On and Connor Ohira hook up twice in a row. Short third down and Makekau with a rare drop. ‘Iolani punts and Damien has it on its 24.
Lundberg hauls in a big 19-yard reception and ‘Iolani is whistled for roughing the passer. Ball now in ‘Iolani territory at the 43. Labanon has a pass go off a defender, it kind of holds up on his back and Wyatt Ma’a picks it off. Huge play for ‘Iolani. First turnover of the game.
Pascua with a 15-yard run to put him over 100 yards. A 12-yard run moves it to the 28. Lotomau with a 12-yard run and Damien gets flagged for unnecessary roughness. Third-and-goal at the 2 after two runs for ‘Iolani. Jim On fakes the run hits Tyler Teruya out of the backfield. Teruya stretches before going out of bounds and hits the pylon for a 2-yard TD reception. ‘Iolani 24, Damien 14, 1:12, Q3.
After two incomplete passes, Labanon is intercepted by Melvin Hoomanawanui. ‘Iolani has it first and goal at the 6 after a 24-yard return. Jim On runs for no gain and ‘Iolani gets hit with a personal foul. Second-and-goal from the 21 and it’s incomplete, and is the next pass, which is tipped by Kana’i Picanco. Damien jumps offside on the field-goal try and gives Makekau 5 extra yards. Makekau is good from 34 yards. ‘Iolani 27, Damien 14, :29, Q3.
Monarchs run it to start the drive. OL Seamus McCarthy is banged up on the play but eventually hops up and gets off the field on his own. Monarchs pounding the ball down the ‘Iolani defense with Low picking up 4 yards a pop. Damien tries a deep ball to King and Bradley Hayashi picks it off.
‘Iolani chews up the clock with a 12-play drive, converting a fourth-and-6 as Makekau hauls in a 14-yard reception. Fourth-and-6 on the 15 and Makekau boots a 33-yard field goal. ‘Iolani 30, Damien 14, 3:28, Q4.
Damien comes out trying to throw bombs but three straight incompletions with one drop. They go for it on fourth down and Christian Naeole gets the sacks for the Raiders.
Lotomau with an 8-yard TD run makes it 37-14 with 2:13 left. Heading down to the field now.
‘Iolani 37, Damien 14
At Kozuki Stadium
Damien (1-1, 0-1) 0 14 0 0 — 14
‘Iolani (2-0, 1-0) 10 7 10 10 — 37
Iol—FG Keoni-Kordell Makekau 25
Iol—KJ Pascua 8 run (Evan Minami kick)
Dam—Dallas Labanon 1 run (Elijah Brown kick)
Iol—Makekau 61 pass from Austin Jim On (Minami kick)
Dam— Kapiinaokala King 35 pass from Labanon (Brown kick)
Iol—Tyler Teruya 2 pass from Jim On (Minami kick)
Iol— FG Makekau 34
Iol—FG Makekau 33
Iol—Storm Lotomau 8 run (Minami kick)
RUSHING—Damien: Samson Low 14-62, Labanon 7-7, Kepono Kawaakoa 2-5, Brown 9-3. ‘Iolani: Pascua 23-132, Lotomau 8-35, team 1-6, Tamatane Aga 1-(minus 3), Jim On 6-(minus 6).
PASSING—Damien: Labanon 16-31-3-186. ‘Iolani: Jim On 17-25-0-241.
RECEIVING—Damien: Bransen Apao 5-65, Ian Lundberg 4-34, King 3-65, Low 2-10, Kawaakoa 1-7, Brown 1-5. ‘Iolani: Makekau 9-154, Connor Ohira 4-32, Teruya 2-10, Pascua 1-39, Nick Kennedy 1-6.
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