Damien RB Aperamo Sulu rushed for 54 yards on 16 carries with a score. CJ Caraang | SL

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_18081153_FB_DMS-RAD_CJCARAANG-4678.jpg - CJ Caraang | SL

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ALIAMANU — Jake Holtz passed for 189 yards and two touchdowns to help Damien pull away from host Radford, 28-6, in an interleague Division I football game before a crowd of about 800 fans at John E. Velasco Stadium Friday night.

It was the defense, however, that shined brightest for the Monarchs (1-0) in their season opener, accounting for four takeaways and holding the Rams (0-2) to 144 yards of total offense.

"Great job on the defensive side," eighth-year Damien coach Eddie Klaneski said. "We kind of schemed it well. They kind of did what we thought they were gonna do, (but) I still think we should have played a lot better."

While Radford was coming off a season-opening 28-21 loss to Saint Francis last week, the Monarchs were playing their first contest since falling to Hilo, 35-19, in the D1 state final last November.

"It's been a longtime coming. We've been working really through the spring and summer," Klaneski said. "That's something that really motivated us throughout the summer. We couldn't wait for our opportunity to get on the field and we're young, you know, we made a lot of mistakes, but coming out with the victory, that's the main thing at the end of the day."

Sophomore linebacker Anstyn "Bubba" Kauhi said the team utilized their bye week wisely.

"I feel like we were well-prepared because we were watching film (on Radford) for two weeks now. We had mistakes here and there, but we cleaned it up and at the end of the day, we did good," said Kauhi, who had one of his team's two second-half interceptions.

Kauhi's most impactful play, however, came midway through the third quarter when Radford punter Makaala Sakimi had a long snap sail over his head and down toward the goal line. Kauhi, after a brief struggle, recovered the loose ball for a Damien touchdown.

"Coach told me to go, I rushed in, I saw the fumble and I don't know, I thought that was my chance to shine, so I recovered it," Kauhi said.

Damien's lead at that point was 21-0 following Christian Souza's PAT.

Later in the half, a Radford fumble was covered up by the Monarchs' Jonathan Dalmacio at the Rams' 43-yard line.

Damien converted a pair of third downs on Holtz-to-Logan Lauti pass completions on its ensuing possession, including a 12-yard touchdown pass on third-and-6. The drive was extended when the same two hooked up for a 25-yard pick-up three plays prior.

Souza tacked on the PAT to give the Monarchs their largest lead at 28-0 with 5:35 left in the game.

Holtz, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior transfer from Saint Louis, completed 18 of his 30 pass attempts and was not intercepted. It was his first start at the varsity level.

After a scoreless first period, Holtz opened the scoring with a 13-yard TD pass to Lindon Sevilleja Jr. with four minutes left in the first half. One play after Holtz hit Jarvis Natividad for a 26-yard completion over the middle, he faked a handoff to running back Aperamo Sulu to his right before rolling out to his left and lofting a well-placed pass near the back corner of the end zone for Sevilleja Jr.

Sevilleja Jr. finished with six catches for 42 yards. Lauti led all receivers with seven grabs for 74 yards.