Kauhi's three TDs leads Damien over PAC-5, 30-20

Damien RB Keoua Kauhi runs through big hole in the PAC-5 defense. John Lujan | SL

Keoua Kauhi scored three touchdowns and No. 5 Damien downed PAC-5, 30-20, Friday night in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II second-round game at Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

The Monarchs (8-2) will play Saint Francis next Saturday for the second-round title. The Saints need to win to force a playoff for the ILH D2 championship. Damien, the first-round champion, can win the title with a win against the Saints. The teams split the two regular-season meetings.

Kauhi, who had 153 rushing yards on 21 carries, scored on runs of 9 and 65 yards and on a 57-yard pass from Marcus Faufata-Pedrina.

Linebacker Matthew Faufata-Pedrina accounted for the other scoring with a 24-yard fumble return for a TD and when he sacked PAC-5 QB Cade Rapozo for a safety.

As it has most of the season, Damien had to play catch up. The Wolf Pack took an early 7-0 lead on the first of two Jett Uechi 30-yard TD catches from Rapozo.

Damien scored three TDs in the second quarter to take a 21-7 lead before Uechi hauled in his second 30-yard TD pass from Rapozo. Braden Halili blocked the PAT to keep the score 21-13 at the half.

Kauhi opened the second hafl with his 65-yard TD run, but Pac-Five stayed close with a 1-yard TD run by Nathan Bek to pull PAC-5 to 28-20.

Late in the fourth period, Matthew Faufata-Pedrina registered his second sack of the game when he tackled Rapozo in the end zone for the safety.

Bek, also a linebacker, had three tackles for losses for PAC-5.