Saint Louis makes move in league race

It was now or never for the second-ranked Saint Louis Crusaders.

Facing their largest deficit of the season midway through the second quarter, Saint Louis responded with the next 38 points to remain in control of its own destiny in the ILH with a 51-36 victory over No. 5 Kamehameha on Thursday night at Aloha Stadium.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns and defensive back Ronson Timbreza had three interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown, to give the Crusaders (5-1, 3-1) a needed win six days after a 51-45 double overtime loss to No. 1 Punahou.

"I told them we only had two quarters to play and we have to make something happen or we’re going to go home early this season," Saint Louis coach Cal Lee said. "They took it upon themselves to pick it up and do what they’re supposed to do."

Saint Louis played without its top three running backs and was down players on defense as well, including defensive lineman Tristan Nichols, who sat out after he was ejected from the Buffanblu game.

Kamehameha (4-3, 1-3) quarterback Justice Young was 26-for-51 for 381 yards, breaking the school record of 374 he set last week against ‘Iolani. He tossed two touchdown passes but also threw four interceptions.

Timbreza returned his third pick 52 yards for a score to cap a dominant third quarter that saw a 22-13 halftime deficit become a 44-22 lead.

"Every day we just push ourselves as hard as we can," Timbreza said. "We’re lucky because our coaches are good. They gave us the right plays and formations."

Saint Louis’ 22-point lead didn’t last long, as the Warriors scored 14 points in six seconds of the fourth quarter to make it 44-36 with more than 11 minutes remaining.

Kanoa Shannon scored a 19-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter and Kanoa Gilliland scooped and scored on a 14-yard fumble return on Saint Louis’ next offensive play to make it a one-possession game.

The Crusaders got the big answer on the next drive that lasted 4:36 and covered 85 yards in 13 plays, including three big throws to receiver Drew Kobayashi, who totaled six catches for 121 yards.

Tagovailoa capped it off with a 6-yard TD run.

His 9-yard reception on fourth-and-5 moved the chains to the Kamehameha 11 and the Crusaders scored the final points two plays later.

"He became big this game. He really stood out," Lee said of his senior receiver, who has committed to Cal. "I’ve got to go and grab him and give him a kiss. He made some big catches for us."

Kamehameha outgained Saint Louis 519-427 but couldn’t overcome the turnovers.

"Look at the scoreboard. We lost by 15 points," Kamehameha coach Doug Cosbie said. "You score more than the other team, you win. We didn’t. We made too many mistakes."

Kamehameha running back Jordan Bayudan had 116 total yards from scrimmage when he injured his right arm and fumbled on a hit in the third quarter.

Kamehameha had Saint Louis in a 22-6 hole with receiver Kumoku Noa catching two first-half touchdown passes.

Noa scored on a 1-yard fade and then had a 79-yard catch-and-run for a score.

"We always preach to finish harder than our opponents, but there’s some mistakes we have to fix," said Noa, who had nine catches for 195 yards. "We’ve still got a chance, I believe, so next week is a new week and we have to come out strong."

Kamehameha can still win out and would need a lot of help, but it hasn’t been mathematically eliminated from the ILH race.

Noa now owns four of the five best single-game receiving performances at Kamehameha.

KS–Safety, Ronson Young tackled by Tainoa Foster in end zone

KS–FG Adam Stack 43

KS–Kumoku Noa 1 pass from Justice Young (Stack kick)

StL–Young 57 pass from Tua Tagovailoa (kick failed)

KS–Noa 79 pass from Young (Stack kick)

KS–FG Stack 36

StL–Leelan Oasay 13 pass from Tagovailoa (Jacob Tobias kick)

StL–Drew Kobayashi 58 pass from Tagovailoa (Tobias kick)

StL–Austin Tuisano 7 run (Tobias kick)

StL–Jahvin Spear 59 pass from Tagovailoa (Tobias kick)

StL–FG Tobias 25

StL–Ronson Timbreza 52 interception return (Tobias kick)

KS–Kanoa Shannon 19 run (kick failed)

KS–Kanoa Gilliland 15 fumble return (Noa pass from Noah Sua-Godinet)

StL–Tagovailoa 6 run (Tobias kick)

RUSHING–Saint Louis: Saitaua Lefau 10-42, Tagovailoa 13-34, Dylan Silva 5-24, Tuisano 4-7. Kamehameha: Jordan Bayudan 13-80, Sua-Godinet 6-31, Shannon 3-22, Jaykob Cabunoc 5-14, Young 9-(minus 9).

PASSING–Saint Louis: Tagovailoa 21-35-0-320. Kamehameha: Young 26-51-4-381, Sua-Godinet 0-1-1-0.

RECEIVING–Saint Louis: Kobayashi 6-121, Young 6-83, Oasay 6-44, Spear 2-63, Joshua Tokunaga 1-9. Kamehameha: Noa 9-195, Sua-Godinet 8-89, Cabunoc 5-61, Bayudan 4-36.