Second-ranked Kamehameha rumbles past Damien, 65-0

Kamehameha running back Kayson Nakatsu breaks free for the big run against Damien. Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

Kamehameha ran their way to a 65-0 victory over Damien Friday night at Kunuiakea stadium, as the Warriors have nothced three straight games since their loss to Punahou on Septmber 14, 2013.

The Warriors, No. 2 in the ScoringLive/OC 16 Division I Power Rankings, improved to 8-1 overall, 5-1 in the ILH while Damien fell to 3-5 overall, 2-4 in the ILH.

Kamehameha amassed 400 yards on the ground, led by senior running back Kainoa Simao who ran for 294 yards on 20 carries with 2 touchdowns and also caught a 58 yard pass another score.

"Every game all credit goes to the line." said Kainoa Simao of his performance, "They create the surge and I just pick and choose."
Damien quarterback Syles Choy finished the night completing 12-of-21 pass attempts for 94 yards and 2 interceptions. Kealii Kaanapu led the Monarchs in receiving catching 5 passes for 34 yards.

It was homecoming as well as senior night for Kamehameha and for their first offensive series of the game the Warriors sent out all seniors on offense. This all senior offensive unit fared well going 68 yards on a drive that took over four minutes. Senior kicker Tyler Fitzsimmons capped off the drive with a 28-yard field goal to put the Warriors up 3-0.

Kamehameha put their starting offensive unit in the game in the second quarter and they got right to work, scoring in three plays on their first offensive series highlighted by a 65-yard touchdown run by Kainoa Simao. The Warriors defense forced a punt on the Monarchs' next drive, and Damien punter Kealii Kaanapu's kick sailed over punt returner Alika Kahaulelio's head. Kahaulelio ran back and picked up the ball on Kamehameha's 18 yard line and proceeded to run the punt back 82-yards for a touchdown. Fitzsimmons extra point put the Warriors ahead 17-0 over the Monarchs.

Kamehameha would go on to score two more touchdowns before the half, one on a screen pass from Noah Sua-Godinet to Simao that went for 58-yards. The second came on a 1-yard run by Sua-Godinet which gave the Warriors a 31-0 lead going into halftime.
Simao would finish the first half with 226 yards rushing on 19 carries.

At the start of the second half Kainoa Simao started right where he left off, scoring on a 68-yard run on Kamehameha's second play of the half. That touchdown run was the last play of the night for Simao.

On Damien's ensuing possession, Kamehameha linebacker Chad Souza intercepted a pass from Damien quarterback Syles Choy setting up a 22-yard touchdown run by Kayson Nakatsu.

Damien fumbled the ball on their next offensive series, was scooped up by Ammon Fukino and returned 4-yards for a touchdown extending the Warriors' lead to 52.

Kamehameha scored two more touchdowns before the end of the game, one on a 3-yard touchdown run by Maximillian Roe and the other on a 26-yard touchdown run by Makoa Freitas, giving the Warriors a 65-0 victory over the Monarchs.

"This is a momentum builder going into Saint Louis." said Simao, "They're a tough team, they played real hard against Punahou so we have to step up our game just to get that 'W' and not take anything lightly."

Kamehameha enters postseason play next week where they will face-off against Saint Louis, No. 4 in the ScoringLive/OC 16 Division I Power Rankings, a team that the Warriors beat 38-17 this season.