Refusing to wilt under a blazing afternoon sun and constant pursuit by Punahou defenders, Damien running back Kama Bailey put on a spectacular show yesterday with 317 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 29 carries.

But even that wasn't enough for the visiting Monarchs, who fell 55-38 before a crowd of about 2,000 at Alexander Field.

Punahou, ranked No. 3 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Damien fell to 2-6, 1-5.

Bailey, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior, fell 26 yards short of the ILH single-game rushing record of 343 set by 'Iolani's Joe Igber in 1998.

Mark Atuaia of Kahuku owns the O'ahu Interscholastic Association single-game record with 350 yards against Castle in 1990.

"My (offensive) line gave me some good holes and they kept blocking harder," said Bailey, who had 155 yards by halftime and 273 after three quarters. "I was excited and thought we could come out with the victory, but we just fell short."

His performance overshadowed an impressive aerial display by the Buffanblu. Quarterback Cayman Shutter completed 16 of 21 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns, including four to Robbie Toma (six catches, 165 yards).

Bailey's 39-yard TD run in the second quarter cut Punahou's lead to 20-13, but the Buffanblu answered with three straight touchdowns to lead 41-13 early in the third.

DAMIEN (2-6, 1-5) 7 6 13 12 — 38

PUNAHOU (6-2, 4-2) 20 14 14 7 — 55

Punahou — Robbie Toma 32 pass from Cayman Shutter (Robert Izuta kick)

Punahou — Shutter 1 run (Izuta kick)

Damien — Kama Bailey 33 run (Makana Ka'anoi kick)

Punahou — Mark Silverstein 38 pass from Shutter (kick failed)

Damien — Bailey 39 run (kick failed)

Punahou — Manti Te'o 62 run (kick failed)

Punahou - Toma 4 pass from Shutter (Jeremy Ioane run)

Punahou - Toma 61 pass from Shutter (Izuta kick)

Damien -Bailey 60 run (Ka'anoi kick)

Punahou - Toma 44 pass from Shutter (Izuta kick)

Damien - Bailey 9 run (kick failed)

Punahou - Dalton Hilliard 6 run (Izuta kick)

Damien - Bailey 40 run (kick failed)

Damien - Ka'anoi 93 pass from Anthony Tuitele (pass failed)

RUSHING — Damien: Bailey 29-317, Tuitele 10-83. Punahou: Te'o 3-68, Hilliard 8-51, Shutter 1-1, Stabren Caires 3-10, Kimo Makaula 2-4, Erik Horn 1-(minus-2).

PASSING — Damien: Tuitele 8-17-2-147, Bailey 0-1-0-0. Punahou: Shutter 16-21-1-290, Makaula 1-2-0-3.

RECEIVING — Damien: Ka'anoi 3-110, Chris Cross 3-29, Austin Dawson 1-7, Bailey 1-1. Punahou: Toma 6-165, Silverstein 1-38, Hilliard 2-17, Teo 1-8, Galen Arakawa 2-24, Ioane 1-9, Tobie Reeuwijk 2-15, Keola Kane 2-17.

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.