ILH Football
Iolani outlasts Damien in high scoring affair


ScoringLive staff
September 22, 2023, 11:17pm

  


Fri, Sep 22, 2023 @ Iolani [ 3:15 pm ]

Damien

56

Iolani

63

Final 1 2 3 4 T
Damien (8-4-0) 21 14 7 1456
Iolani (6-3-0) 0 21 21 2163
CJ Villanueva 427 yd 7 TD
Alani Tuifua 439 yd 7 TD
Jones Vierra 35 yd 1 TD
Sylas Alaimalo 236 yd 1 TD
Kekama Kane 222 yd 4 TD
Dayton Savea 198 yd 4 TD

In a game that featured 17 combined touchdowns and almost 1,200 yards of total offense, it was only fitting that the game was won on a defensive play.

Taniela Taliauli intercepted a pass in the end zone with 10 seconds left in the contest to seal a 63-56 win for Iolani over Damien.

Iolani got a season-high 13 receptions for 222 yards and four scores from Kekama Kane, including the eventual game-winning score off a 51 yard connection from CJ Villanueva, as the Raiders scored seven touchdowns via the air.

Dayton Savea put up equally gaudy numbers on the afternoon for the Monarchs in the loss, hauling in 12 passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns of his own in the loss.

Both quarterbacks threw for over 400 yards, with Villanueva connecting on 29 of 43 passes for 427 yards and AJ Tuifua putting up 439 yards on 26 of 40 passes completed.

Damien built an early 21 point advantage, with scoring passes to Ian Sera from 19 yards, Nalu Chinen-Zablan from 39 and Savea from 13.

The Raiders got their jump start from the same player that ultimately sealed the win for them on a punt block return from Taliauli that got the home team a critical first score to open the second.

Savea caught touchdown number two from 15 yards out in response to Iolani's opening score, but the Raiders countered with a pair of scores from Villanueva to Hyrum Horita to get them right back in it at 28-21.

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Damien got the final points of the half, however, as Tuifua found Wyatt Ho-Williams from 25 yards out to make it a 35-21 advantage at the break.

The third quarter saw Iolani make its move, scoring 21 unanswered points on a Jones Vierra run, followed by a pair of scoring tosses from Villanueva to Kane that vaulted the home team in front 42-35, but the Monarchs got an equalizing score on yet another Tuifua to Savea connection to end the quarter with the score knotted up at 42-all.

In the fourth, the third Villanueva to Horita connection pushed the Raiders back ahead before Sylas Alaimalo once again tied the score with a 47 yard gallop to make it a 49-49 game.

Kane's third touchdown reception of the game edged Iolani back in front at the 3:44 mark in the fourth, but Damien had an answer once again, tying the contest yet again on a 62  yard scoring play from Tuifua to Savea just 20 seconds of game clock later.

Villanueva found Kane for his last score of the afternoon on a 51 yard pitch and catch with 2:11 left, making it 63-56, but Damien drove the ball down the field in methodical fashion, finding itself well inside the red zone with a chance at the tying score, but Taliauli's interception in the end zone with 10 seconds left put an end to the Monarchs' hopes of one final comeback.

Damien outgained Iolani 713 to 471 in total offense, and held a 274 to 44 advantage in the run game.




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