Damien hands Pac-Five first loss

Note: Mentioned in this score recap, Seth Miller, Kage Fine, and Colten Amai-Nakagawa are Jr. Bows.

By Paul Honda for the Star*Advertiser

AJ Tuifua threw four touchdown passes and Sylas Alaimalo accounted for 180 yards and three TDs from scrimmage as No. 9 Damien overwhelmed previously unbeaten Pac-Five 48-23 on Friday night at John Velasco Stadium.

With the win, Damien clinched a berth in the Division I state championships. The Monarchs are now 5-0 ILH D-I play, while ‘Iolani (2-2) was virtually eliminated from contention with one game remaining.

Damien used a balanced offense and a physical, patient defense to limit the Wolfpack’s opportunities. Coming off a 272-yard game against ‘Iolani, Pac-Five running back Seth Miller managed 65 yards and one TD on 16 carries.

Miller also had four receptions for 38 yards but seemed to draw plenty of attention wherever he lined up, from the backfield to the sideline as a receiver.

“We wanted to stop the run and get off the field on third downs. We wanted make them more one-dimensional,” Damien coach Anthony Tuitele said. “That’s why they were able to capitalize on some passing plays. But I think our defense did their job. Everybody get to the ball and wrap up.”

Tuifua’s most scintillating play was on the ground with a nifty 33-yard scramble from the pocket, turning the corner to sprint for the rushing touchdown.

“Credit to the O-line. Pac-Five has some big boys. The O-line had to put in extra work this week to get ready for those boys,” the 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior quarterback said. “When I turned that corner, I thought to myself, just run. Believing my receivers will block for me, and then I just have to do the rest. I’ve been trying to get faster every day. With the speed work we get from our coaches, I try to put it in the game.”

Alaimalo’s strength is his ability to make tacklers miss, but his yardage after contact is matched by few. Between the spin moves and lateral shifts, he often overpowers first tacklers. He has a max squat of 445 pounds.

“It’s a lot of work in the offseason. We tried to take advantage of their three-front (defensive line). I was confident that our line could dominate them,” said Alaimalo, who had a touchdown catch late in the came to cool off a potential Pac-Five rally.

Pac-Five lost for the first time after winning its first six games. It was the best start by a Wolfpack team since 1982. Coach Kena Heffernan’s team will play Kamehameha I-AA next Friday.

Damien will have a bye next week before playing ‘Iolani (3-5, 2-2) on Oct. 18.

After forcing Pac-Five into a three-and-out to open the game, Damien scored on its first series. Tuifua found Champ Buffet on a slant pattern for a 10-yard touchdown.

Moments later, with the entire Monarchs defense within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage, keying on Miller, Braden Sarahina lofted a deep pass to Rome Lilio for an easy 53-yard touchdown. That tied the game at 7 with 7:24 left in the first quarter.

Damien answered with a methodical 13-play, 72-yard drive. Tuifua faked a handoff to Alaimalo and fired a quick pass to Buffet, who cut back and scored untouched — a 24-yard TD. Damien led 14-7 with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter.

Pac-Five two-way lineman Kage Fine, a sophomore, went down with a leg injury during the ensuing series. The Wolfpack came up empty on their next two possessions, and Damien opened the lead to 14 points on an 11-yard TD pass from Tuifua to Wyatt Ho-Williams. The Monarchs led 21-7 with 5:51 to go in the first half.

Alaimalo’s 13-yard touchdown run opened the lead to 28-7 with 4:36 left until halftime.

Alaimalo’s second TD, a 1-yard run, opened the second half. Damien led 34-7 with 7:46 to go in the third quarter.

Tuifua’s speed came into play on the next series with a 33-yard scramble from the pocket to the right pylon. That extended Damien’s lead to 41-7 with 6:09 to go in the third stanza.

Junior Colten Amai-Nakagawa replaced Sarahina in the second half. He led the Pack on a 16-play, 80-yard march, and Miller scored on a 5-yard run for their first points since the first quarter.

Amai-Nakagawa’s 4-yard TD pass to Avari Zion- Branch cut the lead to 41-21 with 5:52 remaining.

That was enough for the Monarchs to send their first-teamers, including Alaimalo and Tuifua back in the game. They sealed the win with a eight-play, 35-yard drive. Alaimalo made a diving catch in the end zone on a 10-yard TD pass from Tuifua with 1:42 to go.