The machinations of a sound offense take time to build, so the Saint Louis Crusaders are taking matters into their own hands with dominant defense.
A week after a stunning loss to Kamehameha, the Crusaders rebounded with a 38-7 win over previously unbeaten Pac-Five last night at Aloha Stadium.
“Turnovers are killing us right now and that’s my fault. It was a good effort by our guys. We’re young, playing a lot of 2s and 3s and 4s and 5s. It’s nice to see them get opportunities (to play),” coach Darnell Arceneaux said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re not playing the football I anticipated right now. We’re trying to clean that up. The effort from the guys is all I can ask for.”
Saint Louis, which fell to No. 4 from No. 2 in the StarAdvertiser Football Top 10 this week, harassed Wolfpack quarterback Jack Foster all night and sacked him seven times. Linebacker Colton Goeas, a 6-foot-3, 230pound junior, had two sacks and an interception return for 35 yards. Defensive linemen Kaena Paikai and Kamalei Correa registered two sacks apiece.
“Pac-Five is a very good program and Kip (Botelho) is doing a very good job,” Arceneaux said of the Division II program. “It’s always tough for them. I’ve always had respect for their program, and their kids did a good job tonight.”
Saint Louis quarterback Kawai Mook-Garcia was accurate most of the time, completing 17 of his 25 attempts for 225 yards and two touchdowns. He was picked off on the first play of the game by Pac-Five defensive end Bret Kanoa. In the second half, Pac-Five safety Drew Viena had two interceptions.
Viena, who played wide receiver at Saint Louis until his sophomore year, returned the second pick 49 yards for Pac-Five’s lone touchdown with 6:42 remaining.
Pac-Five’s best opportunity to score offensively came after the pick by Kanoa, who returned the ball 20 yards to the Saint Louis 8-yard line. However, Paikai and Correa sacked Foster on consecutive snaps to snuff out the ’Pack’s early threat.
From there, a balanced offense had Pac-Five’s defense on its heels. Adam Noga split through a hole for a 44yard touchdown run, and after Pac-Five fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return, Mook-Garcia scored on a 12yard keeper. Saint Louis led 14-0 with 7:24 to go in the first quarter.
Goeas’ interception set up a 4-yard score by Noga for a 21-0 lead.
Pac-Five drove into Crusader territory on its next possession, but came up empty. Mook-Garcia then directed an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive, connecting with four receivers, including Kainoa Abreu on a 24yard catch-and-sprint to the end zone. Abreu’s cutback play gave Saint Louis a 28-0 lead with 10:08 to go in the half.
Mook-Garcia found Joseph Kea on a wheel route on the right side for a 46yard touchdown pass with 8:18 remaining in the half.
The second half passed quickly due to the running clock on the 35-point-lead rule. All of Mook-Garcia’s passing yardage was accumulated in the first half.
