[sixcol_five_last]
By Robert Balajadia

FD Friars’ Zavier Damian zipped around the GW Geckos defensive line running a total of 126 yards and 2 touchdowns in Friday night’s game. (photo by Jesse Castro)
Friars running back Zavier Damian had 13 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns as FD defeated the GW Geckos 27-14 during IIAAG’s Friday night football. The Friar defense came up big in the second half, holding the Geckos to just six points.
Damian scored the final two touchdowns for FD in the fourth quarter, including a 42-yard touchdown run to push the Friar lead 20-12. Damian took the handoff and followed his blocking until he got into the Gecko secondary where he made two defenders miss while sprinting past teammate receiver Nicolas Aglubat, who made the final block for Damian to break free for the score.
“I play a lot of rugby,” stated Damian when asked how he was able to avoid getting hit by the Gecko defense. “There is a tradition here at FD where each captain passes down the flag since 08 and I got the flag this year so I have to contribute to my team and show up at practice and this is just the result of it.”
Damian then punched in a seven-yard touchdown run on a toss play later in the quarter to extend the lead 27-12 off the extra point conversion by kicker Brian Leon Guerrero.
The Friar offense got off to a slow start in their opening game against the JFK Islanders and the offense still seemed slow in the first half against the Geckos with FD’s only score coming right before the half on a play-action pass at the goal line where quarterback Tyler Okiyama hit Aglubat for a wide-open touchdown to go up 7-6.
The second half was a different story for FD on offense and defense as cornerback Roy Taimanglo sparked the third quarter with a 35-yard interception return for touchdown, picking off Geckos quarterback Brendan Santos right in front of the Geckos sidelines and streaked down the field untouched. Taimanglo had a big day against the Gecko passing game nearly coming away with three interceptions.
The Geckos responded after the interception as running back Hank Sablan capped off a 70-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run to trim the Friar lead 14-12. A failed two-point conversion had GW still trailing, though it would be the last time the offense scored.
Fighting for a comeback, the Gecko defense managed to trap Friars’ running back Albert Johnston in the end zone for a safety.

On a kick-off return GW Geckos’ Hank Sablan broke the attempted tackle by FD Friars’ Tristen Hocog at the 23-yard line and continued his run to the 42-yard line before being stopped. (photo by Jesse Castro)
Okiyama went 13 for 19 for 91 yards and one touchdown while receiver Bryton Cepeda caught seven passes for 54 yards and also had an interception on defense. Aglubat had five catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Sablan led GW with eight carries for 55 yards and one touchdown. Santos scored the other touchdown for GW in the first quarter on a quarterback sneak at the goal line.
Damian credits his big night to his coaching staff and how good their play calling has been while saying, “My results are their results and I’m just a key player. Their coaching ethics are good and they train me to do everything I can.”
The Friars improve to 2-0 and will play the Southern Dolphins next weekend, which will be the Dolphins first game of the season after two forfeits. The Geckos drop to 1-2, suffering their second straight loss, and will play the Okkodo Bulldogs next Friday.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

GW Geckos’ Rick Guevara with an 8 yard run past the Friars defense before being chased down by FD Friars’ Joshua Miranda. (photo by Jesse Castro)
[fbshare url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/football/damian-runs-wild-in-fd-win/” type=”button”] [fblike url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/football/damian-runs-wild-in-fd-win/” style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]
[/sixcol_five_last]


GPS Sports Calendar
July 2025
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for June
1st
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
2nd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
3rd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
4th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
5th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
6th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
7th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
8th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
9th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
10th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Events for July
11th
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
Events for July
12th
Events for July
13th
Events for July
14th
Events for July
15th
Events for July
16th
Events for July
17th
Events for July
18th
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
Events for July
19th
Events for July
20th
Events for July
21st
Events for July
22nd
Events for July
23rd
Events for July
24th
Events for July
25th
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
Events for July
26th
Events for July
27th
Events for July
28th
Events for July
29th
Events for July
30th

Pacific Mini Games
SOFTBALL COMES UP BIG OVER PALAU 11-4

Volleyball
GUAHAN BOYS WIN NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Pacific Mini Games
BASEBALL ADVANCES TO GOLD MEDAL GAME

Pacific Mini Games
PMG DAY 2: GUAM STILL SEARCHES FOR FIRST MEDAL

Jiu-Jitsu
CRUZ BROS. CRUISE THROUGH STATESIDE COMP

Pacific Mini Games
WATER SPORTS KICKS THINGS OFF IN DAY 1

Basketball
YI NAMED NEW UOG BASKETBALL COACH

Pacific Mini Games
KENT GETS GOLD IN 10K, AS EXPECTED
COMING SOON …
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament June 27-July 18
Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9
QUICK HITS