Sunday, October 14, 2001
[ PREP FOOTBALL ]
The Damien Monarchs managed to hold Kamehameha's offensive stars, quarterback Caleb Spencer and running back Kelena Hookano, to five pass completions and two carries yesterday. Warriors crown Monarchs
By Marc Dixon
mdixon@starbulletin.comUnfortunately for Damien, that was more than enough for Kamehameha to rout the Monarchs 40-0 at Iolani Field and remain unbeaten in the ILH at 3-0-1.
On the Warriors' first series of the game, Spencer hit Keano Noa twice for first downs. On the fourth snap of the series, Hookano burst through the middle of the Monarch defensive line, cut to the right sideline and raced 40 yards untouched for the game's first score. He would finish the day with two carries for 45 yards.
The lack of playing time was expected.
"It's just one of those things," Hookano said. "I'm all right with it."
Perhaps it was his competitive spirit, but more likely it was the desire to dish out some of the punishment that a ball carrier normally takes, that prompted the Warriors' star runner to try to get back on the field in a different spot.
"I asked if I could play safety, "Hookano said. "The safety coach said OK, but Coach (Kanani) Souza said no."
On Kamehameha's next series it was running back Dane Montez's turn, as he touched the ball on all four plays and finally hauled in a 13-yard swing pass from Spencer for the 13-0 lead.
From there it got worse for Damien and Monarchs quarterback Tevita Williams. In the next two series Williams was picked off by Pili Kitashima and sacked for the third time by JP Kennedy. Williams briefly left the game after the Kennedy sack but returned for the next series.
Kamehameha led 33-0 at halftime.
With the starters benched, the clock constantly moving because of the mercy rule, a light rain and a holding penalty that negated a touchdown run by Bronson Wailehua-Hansen, Kamehameha scored just once in the second half -- on a short pass from Kawai Akina to Justin Konia.
Six players scored for Kamehameha and according to Souza, every player in uniform played.
"It's great that the younger kids got to play. Some had stage fright, but some really showed up too," said Souza.
Souza remarked that some of the backups maybe even got too much playing time.
"I think that's the most some of them have played ever," Souza said. "Some of them looked real tired."
Kamehameha's defense also got big games from Justin Uale, who recorded three sacks, and Jason Fong-Aiu, who intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.
"We're trying to handle our own business, take care of ourselves," Souza said. "Right now we're just having fun, letting everyone get a chance to play."
Kamehameha's next game is against Punahou on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. Damien next faces Iolani at 3:30 p.m. Friday on Iolani's field.
OIA WHITE
Kaiser 24, Waialua 3: The Cougars opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown scamper by quarterback David Chu.Minutes later, Brandon Ching scooped up a Waialua fumble and returned it 5 yards for a 14-0 lead.
On the Cougars' next possesion, Chu hooked up with Marc Esteban for the Cougars' final score of the first quarter. Chu threw for 226 yards but was picked off twice by Waialua's Joseph Jiminez.
The Bulldogs fumbled the ball eight times during the game, losing four of them.
Next week Waialua gets a shot at its first win since 1999 against winless Kalani, which has yet to score this season. The Cougars will try to stop the OIA White's hottest quarterback as they take on Lole Laolagi and Aiea.
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