For all the attention Iolani School's football team gets for its offensive fireworks, it was the Raiders' defense that came up big in last night's 24-7 victory over Damien.

Iolani, ranked No. 4 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 4-1 overall after its Interscholastic League of Honolulu opener at Aloha Stadium. Damien fell to 3-2 and 1-1.

The Monarchs matched the Raiders' dynamic passing game early on with an impressive ground attack. But Iolani broke a 7-7 tie with a 53-yard touchdown pass from Kiran Kepo'o to Mike Hirokawa with 25 seconds remaining in the half. Kody Adams' extra point made it 14-7, and the Raiders' defense shut out Damien in the final two quarters to preserve the victory.

In particular, they held Monarchs running back Kealoha Pilares to 37 second-half yards, after he gained 110 yards on 18 carries in the first two quarters.

"He was amazing in the first half, but we also were tackling horribly," said Iolani linebacker Jon Takamura. "They had long drives and it was really humid, so yeah, it was tiring. But our conditioning paid off in the second half. We rallied and hung together."

On one second-quarter drive, Damien marched 55 yards in 13 plays and ate up more than six minutes, only to lose the ball on downs. The Monarchs then got an interception on the next play, but the Raiders forced a three-and-out to set up the late touchdown.

"I thought that was the turning point of the game," Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "Our defense stayed on the field a long time but still came up with two big stops. I was concerned, because our offense wasn't getting opportunities. But our defense was stellar. Our defensive front was outweighed physically, but they contained a great runner."

The Raiders stretched the lead to 17-7 midway through the third quarter on Kody Adams' 19-yard field goal, then made it 24-7 with Kekai Kealoha's 4-yard TD end run with 8:57 left in the game.

Pilares finished with 147 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries. Hirokawa gained 125 yards on 25 carries, and Kepo'o was 20 of 27 for 258 yards and two touchdowns.

IOLANI (4-1, 1-0) 7 7 3 7 — 24

DAMIEN (3-2, 1-1) 0 7 0 0 — 7

Iol—Kekai Kealoha 34 pass from Kiran Kepo'o (Kody Adams kick)

Dam—Kealoha Pilares 1 run (Matt Tom kick)

Iol—Mike Hirokawa 53 pass from Kepo'o (Adams kick)

Iol—FG Adams 19

Iol—Kealoha 4 run (Adams kick)

RUSHING—Iol: Hirokawa 25-125, Kepo'o 2-(minus-12), Kealoha 1-4. Dam: Pilares 28-147, Sheldon Bailey 4-41, James Skizewski 3-9, George Martin 1-14.

PASSING—Iol: Kepo'o 20-27-1—258. Dam: Skizewski 9-13-0—50, Martin 7-15-0—75.

RECEIVING—Iol: David Whitehouse 4-21, Travis Nishioka 3-25, Hirokawa 3-81, Kealoha 7-97, Blayne Yama 3-34. Dam: Breydan Torres 3-38, Kenneth Rossi 1-11, Bailey 2-9, Bronson Sonico 6-41, Pilares 1-9, Bronson Ahakuelo 1-11, Rein Ota 2-6.

INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF HONOLULU

LEAGUE OVERALL

DIVISION I W L T PF PA W L T PF PA

Punahou 1 0 0 31 20 4 0 0 123 55

Kamehameha 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 67 49

Saint Louis 0 1 0 20 3 1 2 2 0 153 87

DIVISION II W L T PF PA W L T PF PA

Iolani 1 0 0 24 7 4 1 0 185 85

Damien 1 1 0 48 27 3 2 0 114 70

Pac-Five 0 1 0 3 41 2 3 0 90 154

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.