Monarchs Lock Up State Berth in FHB/HHSAA State Championships
PUBLISHED BY SCORING LIVE: BY SCORING LIVE STAFF. |. OCTOBER 18, 2024
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Damien is headed back to the state tournament. AJ Tuifua passed for 274 yards and four touchdowns to help No. 10 Damien hold off Iolani for a 42-35 win at Kozuki Stadium Friday afternoon.
The Monarchs improved to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and locked up the league's lone berth in next month's First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Championships.
The Raiders saw their season end with a 4-6 record and 3-2 mark in league play.
Tuifua completed 17 of 23 passes and threw a pair of touchdowns to Dayton Savea and Kaysen Dulay-Gorai. Savea caught four passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns of 14 and 67 yards, both part of a 28-point first half for Damien.
Sylas Alaimalo ran for 156 yards on just 14 carries and found the end zone on 80 and 4 yards, both coming after halftime.
Iolani trailed 28-14 at the half and 35-14 after three quarters, but scored three touchdowns in the final quarter.
CJ Villanueva threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns on 26-of-41 passing. Tyger Hayashi recorded 12 receptions for 159 yards and Kekama Kane tallied 11 grabs for 146 yards. Both Hayashi and Kane were on the receiving end of two touchdown passes from Villanueva.
Jones Vierra carried 25 times for 126 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
Damien won both meetings against Iolani this season, including a 55-35 decision on Sept. 21.