This time, Damien’s offensive outburst was enough against its Interscholastic League of Honolulu rival.
Monarchs back Sylas Alaimalo ran for six touchdowns and quarterback AJ Tuifua accounted for four more as Damien routed Iolani 69-35 at Farrington on Saturday night to even the teams’ ILH Division I season series and potentially force a playoff game.
The possible playoff for the league's overall title and state berth would be Nov. 3 at a site to be announced, Iolani coach Wendell Look told Spectrum News, but only if both teams with 4-1 ILH records take care of business in their last games against the secondary varsity squads for Kamehameha and Saint Louis over the next two weeks.
As in the teams’ meeting Sept. 22 at Iolani, Damien got off to a hot start; the Monarchs led 27-0 early in the second quarter. Unlike the 63-56 shootout in the first meeting won by the Raiders on an end-zone interception, Anthony Tuitele’s team kept piling it on and managed to hold the lead. It was 41-21 at halftime and 55-28 after three quarters.
It snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Raiders going back to 2018.
Alaimalo scored on runs of 4, 55, 7, 1, 3 and 5 yards, tallying 216 yards on 31 touches, and added 13-yard receiving touchdown in the third quarter.
Tuifua, a sophomore, was 16-for-19 for 262 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He ran in one more for 3 yards. Receiver Ian Sera had five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Damien has scored more than 50 points in four straight games.
Overshadowed in the loss, Iolani quarterback CJ Villanueva was 33-for-44 for 341 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Kekama Kane caught three of the TDs among his eight grabs for 127 yards and Keon Preusser had 11 catches for 132 yards and a score.
Iolani hosts Kamehameha II on Friday and Damien plays Saint Louis II on Oct. 27.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.