Sixth-ranked Saint Louis upends Damien, 40-7

Saint Louis RB Kaulana Vinoya carries the ball against Damien. Eugene Tanner | SL

Saint Louis scored early and often in a 40-7 rout of Damien in the first game of an Interscholastic League of Honolulu doubleheader at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.

Damien received the opening kick off and Kyle Sato had a 30 yard run taking it to the 50 yard line. Syles Choy connected with two different receivers and led them to the St. Louis 34 yard-line. Instead of going for it, they decided to punt.

Saint Louis got on the board first with a 9 play, 80 yard drive as Kuhns connected with Ricky Ahlo-Pinera at the 5:28 mark in the first quarter on a 27-yard catch-and-run, but the point after failed.

Damien drove deep into Saint Louis territory late in the quarter, taking the ball to the 19, but a Lyle Alloy-Glover field goal was blocked by Tanner Oshiro to keep the Monarchs off the board.

Saint Louis would strike again in their opening drive of the second quarter, culminating with a 2-yard dive by Kaulana Vinoya to give the Crusaders a 13-0 lead following an Ihaka Johnson kick. Kunhs would run one in from 9 yards out on a keeper with 3:27 left until halftime to push the lead out to 20-0.

Following a Damien fumble on a botched handoff, Saint Louis would score on a 3 yard run by Allan Cui, set up by a 15-yard pass from Kawai Mook-Garcia to Jerrick Taboada at the 2:55 to complete the scoring for the half.

The Crusaders continued the offensive onslaught in the second half, as Ryder Kuhns' 54-yard toss to Jerrick Taboada for a touchdown was followed by Kaulana Vinoya's 90-yard touchdown scamper down the right sideline to extend the Crusader lead to 40-0.

Syles Choy would put Damien on the board at the 6:24 mark in the fourth quarter, hitting Dustin Munar in stride down the left sideline for a 61-yard score to make the score 40-7.

The Crusaders used four different players behind center, cycling between Kuhns, Mook-Garcia, Robert Faleafine and Nick Paio.

Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].