Facing the biggest threat to its place atop the state rankings to date, Saint Louis delivered a resounding statement in a 49-13 win over No. 4 Punahou on Saturday.
The Crusaders (4-0, 2-0 ILH) — ranked first in the Star-Advertiser Top 10 throughout the season — found high gear in the second quarter and roared away from the Buffanblu (4-1, 1-1) in the second game of Saturday’s ILH doubleheader at Aloha Stadium.
While the Saint Louis offense sputtered a bit early on, the Crusaders defense pushed Punahou backward with 10 tackles for losses in the first half. The Crusaders pressure and two errant snaps resulted in a net rushing total of minus-66 yards for the Buffanblu. Saint Louis finished the game with 516 yards in total offense to Punahou’s 119.
“Just capitalizing on each down, making it count every time, that was the main focus,” Saint Louis defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele said.
Saint Louis quarterback Chevan Cordeiro completed three of his first nine passes, then went 16-for-19 the rest of the way and finished with 345 yards and four touchdowns. He also scrambled for 32 yards and scored on a 1-yard sneak.
Although the Crusaders had three receivers out of action, Mitchell Quinn stepped forward with 142 yards on six receptions and three touchdowns.
“Just taking what they give us,” Cordeiro said of the Crusaders’ attack. “The corners were playing off and we just hit the delays.
“We just have to score and not turn the ball (over), because we’ve got the best defense in the state.”
The Crusaders contained dual-threat Punahou quarterback Stephen Barber for most of the night, dropping the 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior for losses seven times for 48 yards.
“I thought our defensive backs did a nice job,” Saint Louis coach Cal Lee said. “Everybody containing him and playing pass defense I think was the key.”
Barber completed 11 of 20 pass attempts, all in the first half, for 123 yards before leaving the game with an injury to his throwing arm after taking a hard hit midway through the third quarter.
“We’re hoping some rest will allow him to play,” Punahou coach Kale Ane said of this Friday’s rematch with Kamehameha. “He actually wanted to go (back) in.”
Punahou opened the game by driving to the Saint Louis 14, aided by roughing the kicker and pass interference penalties that extended the possession. But a fourth-down sack by Tuitele ended the initial threat and the teams finished the first quarter scoreless.
The Crusaders came up empty inside the Punahou 5 early in the second quarter, but Tuitele forced Barber out of the back of the end zone for a safety to open the scoring.
“We ran a stunt and the hole in the middle opened up and I saw my chance right there to get that sack,” Tuitele said.
After the free kick, a 39-yard completion from Cordeiro to Chance Beyer set up a 9-yard scoring pass to Quinn, who had four catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. His touchdown on a 25-yard reception, set up by a 70-yard strike to Koali Nishigaya, gave Saint Louis a 26-7 lead going into halftime.
The Crusaders scored on their first three possessions of the second half, with Cordeiro going 10-for-11 for 123 yards. Maika Bonner took over late in the third quarter and led an 11-play drive capped by his 11-yard touchdown run.
More photos of the game between Punahou and Saint Louis.
