Simao carries load for Kamehameha

Photo gallery: St. Louis v. Kamehameha

With the season on the line, Kamehameha and Saint Louis gave their primary playmakers ample opportunities to carry them into the next round.

In Kamehameha’s case, that meant a heavy workload for running back Kainoa Simao, and the Warriors’ defense forced three second-half turnovers as they advanced in the ILH Division I playoffs with a 34-28 win Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

With Brandon Kahookele sidelined, Simao represented the bulk of the Kamehameha offense and ran for 233 yards on 41 carries.

"My line is awesome, they proved it," Simao said. "All I have to do is stay behind them. … It’s a big line, just stay behind them and be patient and that’s all."

After the Warriors took a 24-21 lead in a roller-coaster first half, Kamehameha linebacker Calen Holt forced a fumble and snagged an interception to set up third-quarter scoring drives and the Warriors set up a meeting with regular-season champion Punahou on Friday.

Simao’s touchdown run and a Tyler Fitzsimmons field goal proved just enough as Saint Louis scored late to close to within six on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Ryder Kuhns to Allan Cui.

The Crusaders got the ball back at their 19 with 47 seconds left. After a 17-yard gain, a pass was batted and Dylan Kane grabbed the game-clinching interception.

"It was very emotional," Kamehameha quarterback Noah Sua-Godinet said. "We put everything we had into this game."

Kuhns completed 10 of 11 passes in the first half for 196 yards, connecting with Devan Stubblefield eight times for 164 yards and two touchdowns in the half.

Although Stubblefield finished with 222 yards, Kamehameha contained the pass-catch duo for much of the second half, ending the Crusaders’ season at 6-3.

"It was a hard-fought game. We killed ourselves with penalties and turnovers. I can’t recall the last time we had that much yardage in penalties," Saint Louis coach Matt Wright said. "But give credit to Kamehameha. They’re well coached. It just didn’t go our way."

Saint Louis struck early, with Kuhns hitting Stubblefield for 60 yards on the Crusaders’ second play from scrimmage that eventually led to Adam Noga’s 3-yard touchdown run.

Kamehameha countered with Simao, who carried the ball 20 times for 131 yards before halftime.

"Actually we did plan on running it 40 times, that’s what we have to do," Kamehameha coach Doug Cosbie said. "The line did great, they have played great all year and they played great tonight."

The Warriors’ defense contributed to the scoring when Kalen Lyman-Risso knocked the ball out of Kuhn’s hand and defensive lineman Ka’aumoana Gifford recovered in the end zone in the second quarter.

Holt forced turnovers that led to Kamehameha’s 10 third-quarter points. He punched the ball loose, Mason Chow recovered and Simao capped a six-play drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. Holt snuffed Saint Louis’ next drive with a leaping interception at the line of scrimmage and a 26-yard return. Fitzsimmons ended the ensuing drive with a 43-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 34-21.