HALAWA — Division II No. 10 Damien prevailed under the sun to defeat Saint Francis, 46-18 to capture their first Interscholastic League of Honolulu victory of the season for their homecoming on a hot Saturday afternoon at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium. The Monarchs snap a three-game losing streak to improve to 2-3 overall, 1-3 in the ILH, while the Saints fall to 2-4 overall, 0-4 in the ILH.

Dallas Labanon threw four touchdowns to four different receivers in the first half to catapult the Monarchs to a 28-0 halftime lead over the Saints. Labanon finished the game 11-of-23 passing for 106 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. 

Labanon threw a 4-yard touchdown to Elijah Brown and an 11-yard touchdown to Kapiinaokala King to go up, 13-0 in the first quarter. 

The running game aided the Monarchs as Kepono Kawaakoa gouged the Saints with 16 carries for 124 yards. Damien had 10 rushing first downs for the game and finished with 38 rushing attempts for 165 yards. 

In the second quarter, Labanon threw an 11-yard touchdown to Ian Lundberg which covered 15 plays for 80 yards and 7 minutes and 24 seconds. Following an interception by Jarin Manuel, he threw a 29-yard touchdown to Kaeo Arakaki to put the Monarchs up, 28-0. 

Labanon went 8-of-17 passing for 93 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in the first half. 

The Monarchs had four interceptions and forced seven turnovers, three of them led to scores. Damien’s defense held Saint Francis to -9 yards of net rushing and had 11 tackle-for-losses for the game, five of them were sacks. Elijah Brown led the way with three sacks. 

In the third quarter, Manuel had his second interception of the game and returned it 28-yards for the score, but the kick was blocked to make it, 34-0.  

The Saints scored 18 unanswered points as Leighton Rosa scored two rushing touchdowns in the quarter. The Saints marched 67 yards on seven plays as Rosa scored a 5-yard touchdown. Kawika Ulufale threw a 5-yard touchdown to Janson Kupau after Rosa’s fumble recovery. Tyson Creekmur stripped Labanon of the ball and Viliami Taufoou Pua recovered his second fumble recovery. Rosa scored on a 5-yard touchdown to bring the Saints within 16, 34-18. 

In the fourth, Chayse Conceicao intercepted Ulufale’s pass and returned it for a 45-yard touchdown and Samson Low added a 3-yard rushing touchdown late in the quarter. 

It wasn’t a clean game as both teams combined for 28 penalties and 196 yards (Damien: 16 penalties for 116 yards and Saint Francis: 12 penalties for 80 yards). 

Damien has a bye next week before they take on Saint Louis on Oct. 3 at Aloha Stadium, while Saint Francis takes on the Crusaders on Sept. 27 at Aloha Stadium.