Excerpt from: Wes Nakama’s Hawai’i Sports Mo’olelo

When ‘Iolani plays host to Damien at 3:15 p.m. Friday in a crucial Interscholastic League of Honolulu football showdown, it will be the latest chapter in a tradition-filled rivalry that dates back to Nov. 15, 1965.

That was Damien’s first varsity season, coming three years after the school opened its doors at the current Houghtailing Street campus in Kalihi. The Monarchs’ head coach was former Roosevelt and University of Hawai’i quarterack Don “Spud” Botelho, who would become the first head coach at HUMMERS/Pac-Five eight years later. Imagine … two of the ILH’s current six programs (one-third!) was started by the same man. Way to go, Coach Bo!

Anyway, things were understandably rough that first season for Damien, which entered the game at 0-6-1. ‘Iolani was 4-3 but still fighting for a coveted spot in the prestigious annual Thanksgiving Day doubleheader at Honolulu Stadium.

Interestingly, although ‘Iolani had moved from Nu’uanu to the Ala Wai campus in 1953, this would reportedly be only the second varsity home game at what was then called “Father Bray Field.” And the first home game was only two months prior, against Hilo in the season opener. All other games in the previous 12 seasons were played either at Honolulu Stadium, Neighbor Island venues or one game at Leilehua (1958), Castle (1960) and ‘Aiea (1964).

To read the full article click here ➡️ https://hawaiisportsmoolelo.com/2022/10/08/lees-28-pts-highlighted-the-first-ever-iolani-damien-game-in-1965/