Konawaena held off Damien’s frenzied comeback on Saturday night for a 42-33 win in the Division II first round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships.

By dispatching the Monarchs at Julian Yates Field in Kealakekua, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation D-II champion Wildcats (11-1) advanced to a semifinal against the second-seeded Radford Rams next Saturday.

For visiting Damien (6-2), the dream season is over. It was the Monarchs’ first appearance at states since 2003.

Fueled by the running of Algene Kelekolio, the Wildcats led by 27 points, 33-6, at halftime before Damien charged back.

Kelekolio rushed for 263 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. His 18-yard gain in the final minutes gave the Wildcats a first down that helped them run down the clock and set up Austin Ewing’s 29-yard field goal with 39 seconds left.

One team from each of the four major islands remain in the D-II chase. Top-seeded Kapaa (8-0) from Kauai, Lahainaluna (7-5) from Maui, and Radford (11-0) from Oahu also are in.

With 4:51 left, the Monarchs pulled within 6 points, 39-33, on quarterback Marcus Faufata-Pedrina’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Kepono Kawaakoa.

The win was the Wildcats’ first in state-tournament history in this, their sixth appearance. It was also the fourth win for any Big Island team, D-I or D-II, since the tournament began in 1999.

Faufata-Pedrina threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Bransen Apao. Austin Ballesteros caught five passes for 153 yards for the Monarchs.