Damien’s Marcus Faufata-Pedrina showed some serious dual-threat ability in a lopsided victory Saturday over Kealakehe.
Faufata-Pedrina, a junior, made it clear afterward he likes passing more than running because he wants others to share in the glory.
Faufata-Pedrina completed 13 of 20 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 10 times for 114 yards and another score in the Monarchs’ 41-7 nonleague triumph at Aiea.
When asked if he considered himself a dual threat, Faufata-Pedrina said: “I would think so, but more so I’d like to work on my passing game and get my other teammates the ball. That’s my goal for this season, to get my backs and receivers more involved in the football game.”
Faufata-Pedrina completed a pair of scoring passes to 6-foot-3 tight end Shaun Apiki and one to Alika Arecchi.
“He’s the biggest guy out there,” Faufata-Pedrina said of Apiki. “You can’t miss him, he’s always open. Just throw him the ball and he’ll get the ball.”
Faufata-Pedrina scored on an electrifying 60-yard scramble in the third quarter.
“That’s what he’s going to be doing for us this year,” Damien coach Eddie Klaneski said of his quarterback. “He’s started to make a lot better decisions, more patient throwing the ball and using his feet when he needs to.”
The Monarchs (2-1, 0-0) finished with 283 rushing yards and 243 passing.
The Waveriders (0-1, 0-0) gained 219 yards of total offense.
“First-game jitters, man,” said Kealakehe coach Sam Kekuaokalani. “It’s the first one under our belt. Our (BIIF) season starts next week, so we’re looking forward to getting that started and using this as a means to an end rather than an ending.”
The Waveriders’ lone score came on a 3-yard run by backup quarterback Bryton Lewi in the third quarter, which made it 28-7.
Lewi finished 5-for-6 for 65 yards.
“He did good,” Kekuaokalani said. “He was able to step up and move the ball when we needed to move the ball. He worked on some things. This is preseason and he’s been able to get some reps even prior to this (in scrimmages). So it’s nice that Bryton was able to step in because he’s only a junior.”
