HALAWA — Damien scored 20 unanswered points to rally past Saint Francis, 20-12 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II title game at Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union Field at Aloha Stadium.

It was the Monarchs' second league championship in a row. Damien (6-2), ranked third in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division II Power Rankings, will represent the ILH in the six-team Division II state tournament.

Saint Francis' season is over at 5-3.

Junior quarterback Marcus Faufata-Pedrina led the Monarchs' comeback with three touchdown passes — two to Kapilioha Livingston-Lopez — in the third meeting between the two teams this year.

"This is what we worked for all season, since the beginning," Faufata-Pedrina said about the championship win. "It just feels good to know that we could accomplish our first goal and move on to the second phase of the season."

Damien trailed the Saints, 12-0 with just under seven minutes left in the first half. The Monarchs cut the deficit to 12-7 on Faufata-Pedrina's 27-yard TD strike to Livingston-Lopez with five minutes to go in the second quarter to make it a one score game at the break.

The second half was all in favor of the Monarchs. Saint Francis struggled to move the ball and Damien was able to make enough plays to repeat as league champs.

"We're just ecstatic," said Damien coach Eddie Klaneski. "We talked to the boys at halftime and said we're right where we want to be. We just have to make plays down the stretch Our defense really stood strong in the second half and our offense moved the ball a lot better.

"We just made plays to win this game and we're so proud of our guys for fighting all the way to the end. They never gave up hope at all."

Klaneski said that he and his coaching staff challenged Faufata-Pedrina to lead the team after a rough outing against the Saints in the last contest against each other.

"In order for us to be successful, he's going to have to overcome those demons and step up," said Klaneski. "He was able to make some plays and he did a great job in the second half to lead us to a championship."

The Saints were dealt a big blow early in the game when they lost starting tailback Tyson Shimabukuro and starting quarterback Bubba Akana to knee injuries on the same play with under four minutes to play in the first quarter.

Taputafoki Kailea handled the bulk of the carries when Shimabukuro went down and Jake Smotherman came in under center, but the loss of two starters was too great for the Saints to overcome.

"It affected us because they're our player makers," Saint Francis coach Kip Akana said on the injuries. "We coach next man up, and Smotherman went in there and managed the game well and Foki Kailea picked up the load, but when you lose two of your best guys, it's hard to bounce back from that."

Damien was also without a key player in the contest, losing star linebacker Shawn Borges to a one-game suspension by the league office. Klaneski was proud of how his defense rallied without Borges in the lineup.

"Once we knew he wasn't going to be back after our appeal, it's like these guys knew and they stepped it up," Klaneski said.

JT White led the Monarchs' defensive effort with 10 and 1/2 tackles.

Penalties doomed Saint Francis in the game. The Saints were whistled 15 times for 156 yards while the Monarchs had just five penalties called against them for 29 yards.

Saint Francis' miscues not only wiped away a potential touchdown for the Saints, but it also helped set up the Monarchs' go-ahead score.

Smotherman appeared to have completed a touchdown pass into the end zone to Scott McLeod near the end of the first half, but the play was called back after a holding penalty. 

A late hit on a punt return in the second half gave Damien possession deep into Saint Francis territory midway though the third quarter. This set up Faufata-Pedrina's 18-yard TD pass to Livingston-Lopez in double coverage down the left sideline.

Faufata-Pedrina spoke highly of his wide receiver after the game.

"Kapili, some people sleep on him all the time," he said. "That guy, once he gets open, nobody's going to catch him. He runs some beautiful routes, has beautiful hands and he came out with a big game today."

Shaun Apiki caught a 13-yard TD on a fade route in the fourth quarter for the final points of the game.

"Take nothing away from Damien, they outplayed us in the second half," said coach Akana. "We just couldn't recover and they took advantage of the opportunities that they created for themselves. Make no doubt, we're cheering for the Monarchs to represent the ILH well in the state tournament."

Saint Francis scored first on Kailea's 10-yard burst in the second quarter. A fumble recovery in the end zone by Samson Kaleikau gave the Saints a 12-0 lead with 6:54 remaining in the first half.