Iolani's JT Los Banos elevates to try and intercept a Damien pass attempt. Nick Endo | Special to SL

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092213_NE_IOL-DMS_9-21-12_1.jpg - Nick Endo | Special to SL

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A short-handed, but feisty Damien team gave 'Iolani all they could handle as the Raiders scored 10-points in the fourth quarter to put away the Monarchs at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium. 'Iolani, No. 3 in ScoringLive/OC16 Division II Power Rankings, moves to 2-2 in the ILH (4-3 overall) while Damien falls to 2-2 in the ILH (3-3 overall).

After losing to Kamehameha and Saint Louis in consecutive weeks, the Raiders got back on track with an important divisional victory.

"It's always a scrap when we play Damien, they came out firing and they were riding high and feeling confident. You have to give credit to them because they are short-handed, so to come out with a win like this is huge for us especially coming off the two weeks that we had and also it's a divisional game," said 'Iolani coach Wendell Look.

With the Raiders up 9-3 for most of the game, the Monarchs drove deep to the 'Iolani 11-yard line, but DJ Aumua was stripped of the ball and 'Iolani's Christian Naeole recovered it for the Raiders.

"We talked about guys stepping up and making plays, that's been our problem in the past couple weeks. That strip and fumble recovery was huge," said Look.

"For us this felt like a championship game because we were battling for that number 1 seed. Our kids knew what we had to do and it's tough because half of our guys are playing both ways. They battled to the end and we were one turnover away from getting up in the score, but unfortunately we lost the ball," said Damien coach Eddie Klaneski.

Following the fumble recovery, 'Iolani's Austin Jim On threw a 82-yard touchdown pass to Keoni-Kordell Makekau with 5 minutes 12 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Raiders some breathing room.  Makekau finished the game with 7 catches 152 yards and 1 touchdown. He also kicked 2 field goals from 27 and 26 yards respectively.

The Raiders also made key defensive stops as Wyatt Ma'a and Quinton Slade-Matautia intercepted Syles Choy late in the fourth quarter to prevent a Monarchs rally.

"Anytime you can get turnovers, it's big," said Look.

In the second quarter, 'Iolani running back Jordan Ross scored a 2-yard touchdown, but was injured on the play and he was helped off the field with the assistance of the trainers. He finished with 9 carries for 37 yards and did not return for the remainder of the game.

"He's okay, he's fine," said Look.

On the ensuing kickoff, tempers flared as both teams got into a scuffle and both teams were flagged for unsportsmanlike penalties. However, no one was ejected from the game.

"I just told them that you can't be selfish players," said Klaneski when he huddled his team on the sideline. "We were getting under their skin and I told them, we can't be selfish, we have to play a football game and play between the whistles."

Damien's Nicolas Angoco added a 29-yard field goal for the Monarchs 3:31 left in the second quarter and it was the only points the Monarchs would score in the game.  

Quarterback Easton Tsubata started the game, but in the second half, Look decided to go with Austin Jim On for the rest of the game. Tsubata went 11-of-16 for 125 yards while Jim On went 5-of-9 for 111 yards and 1 touchdown.

'Iolani hosts top-ranked Punahou next week Saturday at 2:30, while Damien plays ScoringLive/OC16 Division I No. 3 Saint Louis on Friday at Aloha Stadium at 5 pm.