LIHUE — Junior quarterback Bransen Apao scored three touchdowns for the Monarchs as Damien Memorial School defeated Kauai High 28-21 Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. Two of Apao’s scores came from quarterback sneaks and one from a 49-yard wide receiver screen to
LIHUE — Junior quarterback Bransen Apao scored three touchdowns for the Monarchs as Damien Memorial School defeated Kauai High 28-21 Saturday at Vidinha Stadium.
Two of Apao’s scores came from quarterback sneaks and one from a 49-yard wide receiver screen to senior wideout Ian Lundberg.
“We do have a lot of weapons here and there. We’re kind of happy with the things we did, but we can still clean them up,” said Damien head coach Eddie Klaneski.
Damien, of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, ran a balanced attack. Running backs Samson Low, Kepono Kawaakoa and Justice White each ran effectively to set up Apao in the passing game with receivers Lundberg and Kapiinaokala King.
“We posed some mismatches here and there. If they cover the guy one-on-one, then we’re going to throw to our big man (King). If they bring a guy to help him, then we’re going to run the ball,” Klaneski said. “We tried to run the clock out and tried to impose our will on them. We kind of did it for a while, but we didn’t finish on certain plays. We still got a lot of things to work on.
“It was our first game in pads. It was a good chance for us to see our kids playing against a quality football team like Kauai High,” he added.
Both Lundberg and King are taller than six feet and used their height as a strength against Kauai’s defensive backs.
“They were just taking advantage of some mismatches and that’s just good coaching on their part,” said Kauai head coach Tommy John Cox. “Our defenders were in good position and that’s all we can ask of them.”
The Red Raiders’ offense had continued success running the ball as junior running back Jhustin Balisacan scored all three of Kauai’s touchdowns.
“We were just trying to hit them quick, hit them with powers. We kept with what was working,” Cox said. “I thought we played hard on both sides of the ball. We got some little things we need to fix, but we showed that we can put up some points. The defense, I know they’ll make plays.”
Klaneski said Kauai’s runners at times “overpowered” his defense’s weak side.
“They’re big. They’re a little bit more physical than us on the inside,” the Monarchs coach said about Kauai. “We were doing our best to stop the run. We knew what they were doing, but they did a great job.”
In addition, kick returner Shaedon Tallano on several occasions gave Kauai good starting field position from inside their own 40-yard line.
“The kick return was one of the highlights. They did it well,” Cox said. “Shaedon got the ball and headed straight up the field and that’s what we ask him to do.”
Kauai sophomore quarterback Aaron Renaud had two interceptions in the game.
“It’s just growing pains. Aaron is doing a good a job as you can,” Cox said of his quarterback. “He’s still our guy no matter what. He’ll get better as the season progresses.”
The Red Raiders’ first Kauai Interscholastic Federation game is on Friday, Sept. 5 against Waimea.
“We’ll continue to get better. (We’ll get) healthy, continue to get better and prepare for Sept. 5,” Cox said.
Damien will play its first ILH game Friday, Aug. 29 at Iolani.
“We definitely got to fix up our sideline things, our penalties. Sometimes, we’re undisciplined on both sides,” Klaneski said.
