The wind was brisk and wild, and in the faces of the ‘Iolani Raiders.
They trusted Allison Chang anyway. The senior nailed a 24-yard field goal with 1:41 as No. 7 ‘Iolani pulled out a 13-12 win over Damien on Saturday night at Skippa Diaz Stadium.
‘Iolani improved to 2-0 in ILH Division I play (5-0 overall) thanks to two field goals and an incredibly valuable — if routine — point-after kick by Chang in the first half.
“I owe it all to my teammates. I owe it to the other 10 guys on the field blocking for me. Holding the ball and snapping. I owe it all to them,” Chang said as she jogged off the field to the team bus.
The Raiders were down 12-10 with less than two minutes to play, facing fourth down. Coach Wendell Look let the play clock run down to one second before calling time out.
Chang was calm and cool. As a rule, she talks with nobody during a game with the exception of her coaches.
“We drill it every day in practice. I always feel that my teammates, my holder, they’ve got me,” she said, noting that the headwinds and crosswinds are irrelevant. “It’s just like our field at school. You cannot make excuses. I felt normal. I try to take my big breaths.”
Damien is 0-1 in league play (2-2 overall).
Damien’s defense was stalwart at the start. Pono Sales intercepted Micah Ho‘omanawanui’s sideline pass and returned it 35 yards to the ‘Iolani 15-yard line. The Monarchs came up empty, however.
On the next series, Kaliko Wilson sacked Iolani quarterback Kualau Manuel, forcing a fumble that Sylas Alaimalo returned 25 yards for the game’s first touchdown. After the PAT was blocked by Ha‘aheo Dela Cruz, Damien had a 6-0 lead with 5:31 to play in the opening quarter.
Ho‘omanawanui returned for the Raiders’ third series and drove them down the field for Chang’s 26-yard field goal with 2:39 left in the first quarter.
Momentum swung to the Raiders while Damien’s offense had two punts and a turnover on downs to close the first half. Ho‘omanawanui directed ‘Iolani on a six-play, 55-yard scoring drive, finding Taniela Taliauli near the left pylon for a 17-yard touchdown. The Raiders took the lead, 10-6, with 6:28 to go in the first half.
The third quarter was a display of defensive prominence for each team. AJ Kanae picked off a Ho‘omanawanui pass, and Jacob Gaudi made a leaping pick on an AJ Tuifua pass.
Damien marched 69 yards in 11 plays to regain the lead with six minutes left in the final quarter, Zion Vea’s 1-yard run giving the Monarchs a 12-10 edge. They missed the PAT kick for a second time.
‘Iolani responded by opening up the offense a bit as Ho‘omanawanui found Keao Kawa‘akoa, his running back, open for two completions as they drove into Damien territory. The Raiders drove deep, to the Damien 6, before stalling, losing 1 yard to set up Chang’s field-goal try.
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‘IOLANI 13, DAMIEN 12
At Skippa Diaz Stadium
‘Iolani (5-0, 2-0) 3 7 0 3 — 13
Damien (2-2, 0-1)6 0 0 6 — 12
DMS—Sylas Avaimalo 25 fumble return (kick blocked)
IOL—Allison Chang FG 26
IOL—Taniela Taliauli 17 pass from Micah Ho’omanawanui (Chang kick)
DMS—Zion Vea 1 run (kick failed)
IOL—Chang FG 24
RUSHING—‘Iolani: Keao Kawa‘akoa 25-103, Ho‘omanawanui 4-7, Kualau Manuel 2-7, No. 81 1-2, Martinez 1-(minus 3). Damien: Peyton Dalmacio 14-17, AJ Tuifua 5-5, Champ Buffett 2-3, Vea 1-1.
PASSING—‘Iolani: Ho‘omanawanui 21-36-2-181, Manuel 1-2-0-8. Damien: Tuifua 15-32-1-167.
RECEIVING—‘Iolani: Jazz Preister 5-32, Taliauli 5-71, Kawa‘akoa 3-24, Martinez 4-28, Keon Preusser 1-2, Tyger Hayashi 4-32. Damien: Bryse Hopeau-Lampitoc 3-46, Nalu Chinen-Zablan 3-34, Ian Sera 2-19, Dayton Savea 2-5, Champ Buffett 4-37.
