Damien is unbeaten after two games and that’s not something the Monarchs are used to.
The Monarchs took command Friday night to beat Kaimuki 31-21 in an interleague football game at Mililani’s John Kauinana Stadium.
After going winless a year ago, coach Eddie Klaneski is thrilled.
"We’re just happy," he said after the win. "So happy for our kids, for our supporters. It means a lot to get some wins. They’ve been waiting a long time. We’re trying to change the culture here."
Syles Choy passed for 131 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Damien offense, which also got a boost from the hard running of Kyle Sato, who rushed for 81 yards. The Monarchs had 190 yards rushing overall in their balanced attack.
Kaimuki grabbed a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Zac Bastatas hauled in a 39-yard pass from Kainalu Spencer.
But Damien turned the tables with a 66-yard drive, capped by Choy’s 1-yard plunge for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter. It was the start of 24 unanswered points.
Defense was a big factor for the Monarchs, as well. They had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Jameson White started the turnover spree with a 50-yard interception return for a 14-7 lead.
Lyle Alloy-Glover’s 25-yard field goal made it 17-7 at the half.
Jashon Ching turned in a huge performance with two interceptions for Damien, while Kana’i Picanco and Brian Lam came up with fumble recoveries.
"We dug ourselves into a hole we couldn’t get out of," said coach Clint Onigama, whose Bulldogs dropped to 0-2. "We got out of our game plan. We’ve got to cut our mistakes."
Choy tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Dalmacio in the third quarter and later scrambled for an 18-yard TD.
Spencer, who threw for 190 yards, kept Kaimuki in the game with two second-half TD passes — a 39-yarder to Fano Tuisila and a 4-yarder to Bastatas for the latter’s second score.
Bastatas, a two-way contributor, picked off a pass, one of two turnovers the Bulldogs capitalized on. Swarrengen Sellet helped out the Kaimuki defensive effort with one and a half sacks.
At Mililani
| Damien (2-0) |
7 |
10 |
14 |
0 |
— |
31 |
| Kaimuki (0-2) |
7 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
— |
21 |
Kaim–Zac Bastatas 39 pass from Kainalu Spencer (Dathan Lloyd kick)
Dam–Syles Choy 1 run (Lyle Alloy-Glover kick)
Dam–Jameson White 50 interception return (Alloy-Glover kick)
Dam–FG Alloy-Glover 25
Dam–Bryson Dalmacio 5 pass from Choy (Alloy-Glover kick)
Kaim–Fano Tuisila pass from Spencer (Lloyd kick)
Dam–Choy 18 run (Alloy-Glover kick)
Kaim–Bastatas 4 pass from Spencer (Lloyd kick)
RUSHING–Damien: Sato 12-81, Edwin Amua 11-64, Trevor Caspillo 9-29, Choy 6-16. Kaimuki: Chanson Exzabe 14-52, Randon Tuitama 9-48, Spencer 3-17, Sione Moata 2-5, Joey Inouye 1-0.
PASSING–Damien: Choy 14-23-1–131, Dallas Labanon 1-1-11. Kaimuki: Spencer 11-19-3–190.
RECEIVING–Damien: Kealii Kaanapu 5-56, Dustin Munar 3-33, Dylan Flores 2-24, Caspillo 2-13, Ka’au Clemente 1-11, Dalmacio 1-5, Sato 1-0. Kaimuki: Bastatas 4-89, Tuisila 4-55, Jonah Lapitan 2-30, Tuitama 1-16.
