Saturday, September 4, 1999

Iolani does just fine
without ‘Little Joe’

OIA Report

By Ben Henry
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Maybe Joe Igber's feet aren't so big, after all.

Damien found out exactly how Iolani intends on dealing with the graduation of the most prolific rusher in state history, losing 29-7 yesterday at Aloha Stadium.

"It's going to be a collective thing -- not just one guy is going to be able to fill Joe's shoes," Iolani head coach Wendell Look said.

Iolani (1-0) proved that life without Igber might actually be bearable. Kyle Labenz scored on a pair of 29-yard passes and Bronson Melemai recorded three interceptions and ran two back for touchdowns.

"We're a young team," Look said. "We lose a guy of Igber's caliber and it's a big void, but these kids are talented. But they're very inexperienced, so it's going to be a challenge."

Sophomore running back Teo Bennett provided an early spark with 24 yards in the first quarter, but broke his collar bone early in the second quarter, and might beout for six weeks, Look said.

The Monarchs (0-1), who beat Campbell, 32-0, last month, were strong defensively, allowing only 15 offensive points and 180 totals yards. Led by two Ryan Lancaster sacks and a Paul Lutu-Carroll interception, they shut out Iolani's offense in the second half.

"We put our defense in bad field situations," Damien head coach Mel Andres said. "Offensively, we were getting too predictable. We got away from our scheme -- to mix things up."

After an early Nathan Kamahele score put Damien ahead, 7-0, Iolani's Labenz outjumped his coverage and snatched Daniel Chong passes on consecutive drives, as Iolani took a 13-7 lead it would not reliquish.

Iolani	13 9 0 7 -- 29
Damien	7 0 0 0 --  7

Dam -- Nathan Kamahele 9 pass from Jericho Barbieto (Colby Kihoi kick)

Iol -- Kyle Labenz 29 pass from Daniel Chong (Ryan Shinkawa kick)

Iol -- Labenz 29 pass from Chong (kick failed)

Iol -- Shinkawa 36 FG

Iol -- Bronson Melemai 45 interception return (kick failed)

Iol -- Melemai 25 interception return (Shinkawa kick)

RUSHING -- Iolani: Teo Benett 7-37, Landon Paikai 9-31, Daniel Chong 5-12, Ben Karnuth 7-(-8). Damien: Maury-Blu Montez 15-53, B.J. Chong 7-36, Sam Taeu 5-19, Jericho Barbieto 6-13, Bradah Ohelo 1-3, Billy Sullivan 1-0.

PASSING -- Iolani: Chong 6-11-0, 103 yards; Labenz 1-1-0, 5 yards; Kila Kaaihue 0-2-1, 0 yards. Damien: Barbieto 8-29-5, 62 yards.

RECEIVING -- Iolani: Labenz 3-58, Marc Contee 1-26, Karnuth 1-10, David Miyasato 1-9, Jason Teruya 1-5. Damien: Taeu 2-25, Ohelo 2-6, Paul Lutu-Carroll 1-15, Kamahele 1-9, Matthew Derego 1-8, Jared Chun 1-(-1).

St. Louis 84, Pac Five 28:

Individual stats were not reported.