GAME NIGHT 8/23: Damien/Waipahu

Holtz taking a couple of knees to end this thing in a 30-21 win for the Monarchs. Damien 3-0.

Waipahu turns it over on downs at the Damien 46. 1:38 remaining, Monarchs looking to kill the clock.

10:17: Damien’s Fosi Ulima with two sacks on this Waipahu drive, and three total for the game.

Holtz tosses a great fade to Jarvis Natividad for the 10-yard score and the XP is good as Damien goes back up by two scores, 30-21, with 6:19 left.

Impressive spin move by Holtz yields a 21-yard gain on a keeper, followed by a 27-yard run by Amo Sulu to get into the red zone.

Tough diving fair catch called by Natividad. He fields it at the Damien 41. 8:08 remaining in the game

Clutch throw by Marques on third and 15, gain of 11 to Solofa Setu. Looks like they tried to draw Damien offsides on fourth down, no avail. Waipahu burns its first timeout and the punting unit is now out there.

9:55 Three straight incomplete Holtz heaves and Waipahu just fielded the return. But penalty on Waipahu and they’re starting this drive on the 12. 10:08 remaining. Waipahu looking for its first lead.

9:50: Waipahu got within 23-21 on a Cody Marques 6-yard keeper. His 2-point pass was incomplete. Damien starts at its 27.

9:44: Alfred Failauga with some serious momentum here. He just uncorked a game-long rush of 16 yards. He’s got Waipahu up at the 6 at the start of the fourth quarter.

9:40: Damien goes three-and-out and Holtz was sacked by acked for a loss of 10. Waipahu takes over at the Damien 41. A lot of momentum for Waipahu here.

9:37: Hold your horses, folks. Waipahu finally has something going here. The Marauders get up to near midfield on a nice return. Then, Marques finds Failauga … and he’s gone, weaving through the secondary for a 45-yard TD. 2-point attempt by Failauga is GOOD as his helmet pops of going for a power push into the end zone.

9:30: Damien turns that into a score almost immediately. Holtz hooks up with Ezra Kaina for 27 yards. 2-point try by Damien is no good.

9:26: Waipahu is unraveling a bit here. More penalties — sounds like they have tallied about 150 yards worth so far — and the Marauders punt from just in front of the goal line. Damien takes over at the Waipahu 30.

9:18: Damien covers 44 yards in four plays, aided by a Waipahu roughing the passer penalty. Amo Sulu punches it in from 1 yard after setting it up himself with runs of 17 and 2. XP good and it’s 17-7 Damien.

9:14: Failauga dropped for a loss of 2 on first down and a couple of errant passes means a three-and-out for Waipahu. Damien tstarts at the Waipahu 44.

9:11: The Monarchs line up to go for it on fourth down at the 43 needing 3 yards, but a false start stops that and they punt.

9:07: Wow! Damien catches everyone napping, including me, with an onside kick to open the third quarter. Natividad recovers it at the Waipahu 45.

HALF

9:03: Receiver Jarvis Natividad with five catches for 128 yards at halftime for Damien.

8:51: Damien nearly goes 73 yards in the final 52.1 seconds of the half, aided by two Waipahu pass interference calls. Flags everywhere tonight. Monarchs get a couple of shots at the end zone, but a drop prevents a touchdown and the Monarchs’ 36-yard field-goal try is blown up by the Waipahu special teams unit. That’s two straight they have blocked. Damien goes into the half with its 10-7 lead.

8:42: Ballsy call to go for it on fourth and 4 from Waipahu’s own territory. They get 5 yards on a Marques QB sneak. Wow. But Waipahu has to punt a few plays later. Failauga has had some nice runs but others where he’s just getting bottled up. He’s got eight carries for 29 yards in this half (but the 80-yard TD pass).

8:37: Some more costly penalties on Waipahu allow Damien out of its own danger zone, and Holtz hooks up with Natividad for a 50-yard gain. But the Monarchs’ 33-yard field goal try is not cleanly snapped and it is blocked. Waipahu from its 28.

8:31: Welp, so much for that. Marques is picked off by a diving Monarch at the 3. Looked like maybe Bubba Kauhi who came down with it.

8:28: Marauders faced third and very long, and get a Marques connection with Logan Lauti to make it a manageable fourth-down attempt … and Failauga picks it up in traffic! Waipahu drive continues.

8:24: Waipahu has ANOTHER Marques-to-Failauga touchdown pass nullified due to a penalty. This one is a hold in the backfield. Waipahu backed up to the Damien 49.

8:20: First quarter ends with Waipahu moving backwards due to an illegal block in the back penalty.

8:16: Waipahu has a 44-yard TD pass from Marques to Failauga, on a seemingly well-executed screen play, wiped off because of an illegal man downfield penalty.

8:12: Waipahu secondary steps up in the red zone, and Holtz goes incomplete on three straight balls. Dippy Souza then converts a 28-yard field goal for Damien. 10-7 Monarchs.

8:06: Sulu immediately gets those 20 yards back with a run up the gut. Timeout has been called with 4 minutes left in the quarter, Damien with a fresh set of downs at the Waipahu 28.

8:04: Damien stops Failauga for a 1-yard gain on first down and there’s nothing doing with the Marauder pass game on second and third. 20-yard punt and Damien takes over at the Waipahu 48.

7:59: Good coverage by the Waipahu defense on Damien’s second drive, despite a pass interference call. Holtz goes incomplete on four straight balls and the Monarchs get a short punt. Waipahu takes over at its 27.

7:51: Whoa! Trickeration right from the jump for Waipahu. State rushing career leader Alfred Failauga takes an option pitch from QB Cody Marques … then stops and heaves it deep to a WIIIIIDE open Jovan Gooman, who takes it the remaining 50 yards for the 80-yard TD on the Marauders’ first play from scrimmage. XP good and this thing immediately tied at 7.

7:46: Damien drives 60 yards in eight plays, with the big gain a Jake Holtz sling deep to Natividad for 39 yards. Damien cleans it up on third down from the 4 with a quick slant from Holtz to running back Amo Sulu. XP is good, 7-0 Monarchs.

7:38: Kick being rekicked because of a Waipahu offsides penalty. Let’s try this again. Damien’s Jarvis Natividad returns it about 13 yards to the 40.

7:37 p.m.: Waipahu kicking off left to right to Damien. Here we go.

7:34 p.m.: Anthem, Hawaii Pono‘i and Alma maters have been performed. We’re about ready to get it on here in Waipahu.

7:24 p.m.: Because of Waipahu’s balky press box (there is a weight limit) and TV occupying space up there, the rest of the media and broadcast crews are hanging out underneath the box. It’s been intermittently rainy, so hopefully that doesn’t affect us down here. Drizzling right now.

7:22 p.m.: Waipahu defensive lineman Kealii Barrett will apparently not play tonight for team rules reasons.

7:19 p.m.: No JV matchup here tonight, so we will proceed straight into the varsity game pegged for a 7:30 start.

7:15 p.m.: Damien coach Eddie Klaneski says pregame that because of a schedule switch last year, the Monarchs are technically the home team for this matchup.

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Series history: Damien leads 2-0
Damien roster
Waipahu roster