HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Monarchs, Governors play to a 14-14 standoff
The rivalry between neighboring schools Damien and Farrington will have to wait another year to be settled.
Monarchs running back Kama Bailey rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown, but Governors receiver Jimmy Robinson answered with two touchdown catches as Farrington and Damien played to a 14-14 tie in a nonleague game last night at Kamehameha.
Farrington was attempting to snap a seven-game losing steak against ILH teams, but trailed 14-6 midway through the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Alefesio Iu led the Governors on an 11-play, 64-yard drive that took more than 5 minutes off the clock. With less than 2 to go, Iu hit Robinson for a 10-yard touchdown to make it a 14-12 game. Farrington had to go for 2, and Iu hooked up with Cameron Matautia in the flat on a perfect pass to tie the game.
"We finally started to get into a rhythm at the end and I'm happy about that," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "I'm disappointed in the penalties because we had even more than we did last week."
Damien coach Brian Derby was just as upset about the penalties his own team committed. Twice on Farrington's final touchdown drive, Damien drew flags that resulted in Farrington first downs, including one offside on a fourth-down play that would have otherwise secured the victory for the Monarchs.
"We basically stunk," Derby said. "We kept them in the game with mistakes and we didn't convert on plays we should have made. We have a lot of work to do."
Bailey's only touchdown run came midway through the first quarter on a 93-yard scamper up the middle on a halfback draw. The senior was swallowed up at the line but somehow squeaked out of the pile and then went untouched down the middle of the field for the score.
That play was responsible for more than double Damien's total yardage in the half as the Farrington defense clamped down. Senior defensive linemen Pita Latu recorded two key sacks in the first half and held Damien quarterback James Skizewski to just 25 passing yards.
The Farrington offense couldn't capitalize, however, as the Governors turned the ball over twice in the first half and managed only 98 total yards as the score remained 6-0 at halftime.
"Our priority was to correct the mistakes we made last week against Waianae," Okimoto said. "We felt we could have success running the ball against them, but we struggled early."
The Governors came out in the second half and made a conscious effort to try to ram the ball down Damien's throats. Farrington rushed the ball on nine of its first 10 plays of the second half.
With the Monarchs defense thinking run, Iu caught Damien sleeping as he found Robinson on a slant across the middle for a 46-yard touchdown to tie the game at 6. The extra point was missed.
With the game still tied going into the fourth quarter, Farrington embarked on a 51-yard drive highlighted by two long scampers by Iu to move the ball into the red zone. Matt Stowers had a chance to give Farrington the lead on a 37-yard field goal, but missed the kick wide left.
That left the door open for Damien and Skizewski, who had completed just six attempts in the first three quarters. But the senior quarterback found Makana Kaanoi with three key passes, including one for 29 yards that put the ball on the Farrington 1-yard line. Skizewski than followed his center into the end zone on a quarterback sneak to push Damien back up by six.
The Monarchs missed the extra point, but the Governors were flagged for running into the kicker. With a second chance, JJ Kaina ran in the 2-point conversion to give Damien a 14-6 lead.
INTERLEAGUE
Kapolei 42, McKinley 27
Mason Koa rushed for 118 yards and passed for 144 yards to lead the Hurricanes past the Tigers. McKinley quarterback Earwin Sione passed for 255 yards and had two interceptions in the loss.
Moanalua 28, Pac-Five 7
Elijah Cruz's interception return of a Wolfpack screen pass broke open the interleague game after a scoreless first half at Moanalua. Pono Tiave ran for two long third-quarter scores to put Na Menehune up 21-0.
Lahainaluna 48, Waiakea 0
Jacob Boteilho, Blaise Smith and Jake Manning combined for 94 rushing yards and two touchdowns each as the Lunas routed the Warriors.