Damien holds off Pac-Five, 26-21

Damien running back Samson Low carried the ball 21 times for a season-high 108 yards in a win over Pac-Five. Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

Damien, ranked No. 7 in the Division II Power Rankings, improved to 2-4 (3-4 overall) in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play with a 26-21 win over Pac-Five at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium Friday night.

The two teams will square off again with each other in the first round of the league's postseason next week.

"It was huge for us, a good confidence booster," Damien coach Eddie Klaneski said on his squad's win. "It was a tough battle. We made a lot of mistakes in the game but we're happy to come out with the victory."

Leading the Monarchs in their veer-option attack was Samson Low who rushed for a season-high 108 yards on a season-high 21 carries. Low shouldered load with Kepono Kawaakoa out for most of the game.

"He was the man. We just kept telling him that because Kepono went down early in the game he just had to carry the load. We kept telling him ‘have confidence with what you do, use your speed and just make one move. Don't dance around,'" Klaneski said on Low. "He ran hard today and he did a good job for us, we're proud of him."

With 6-foot-5 Damien receiver Kapiinaokala King (four catches, 80 yards, touchdown) facing double coverage for most of the night, Ian Lundberg (five catches, 53 yards, touchdown) and Kanai Picanco (three catches, 51 yards) were able to make plays in the passing game.

"When (King) gets double coverage or they put their best guy on him, we got other guys who can catch the ball. It's just a matter of time before we get those guys open," said Klaneski. "We have multiple weapons that we feel can be effective in the game."

The Monarchs drew first blood with quarterback Dallas Labanon's five-yard touchdown run around left end. Pac-Five struck back with two Kainoa Ferreira touchdown passes to its first lead with 3:13 to play in the second quarter. However Damien knotted things up at 14 apiece with a Lundberg's 17-yard touchdown grab with four ticks left in the first half.

Damien reclaim the lead with Dutch Claybaugh's nine-yard scoring run one minute into the third quarter. Elijah Brown's PAT was off its target making the score 20-14.

The Wolfpack took its second lead of the game with Tsubasa Brennan's six-yard touchdown catch with 5:26 remaining in the third quarter. Riley Asuncion's PAT made it 21-20 in favor of Pac-Five. Brennan finished with 13 catches for 150 yards and two scores.

Damien scored its final touchdown of the game with King's 31-yard touchdown reception with two seconds left in the third period. King's touchdown would be the last score of the game and the Monarchs would hold on for the win.

Ferreira completed 28 of his 61 pass attempts for 343 yards and three touchdowns against one interception in the loss.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].