QB Tua Tagovailoa and eighth-ranked Saint Louis will face off against Akili Gray and fourth-ranked Kamehameha Saturday at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Although the fourth-ranked Kamehameha football team has played just three games this season, it has already overcome its share of adversity.

Among the major injuries the Warriors have been dealt were a torn ACL to Kaulana Apelu, their top running back, a forearm injury to Dylan Kane, their top defensive back and a jarring blow to the head of quarterback Fatu Sua-Godinet, who wasn't able to finish a season-opening win in California.

The bad news is that Apelu will miss his second straight season after leading the team in rushing as a sophomore in 2012. The good news is that Sua-Godinet was cleared and has played in both games since the Warriors returned from the Golden State. They also get back Kane, a University of Oregon-commit, for Saturday's pivotal league game against Saint Louis at Aloha Stadium.

"For the most part we're pretty healthy," Kamehameha coach Doug Cosbie said. "We have a couple receivers coming back, too, so that will help, but you deal with injuries — everybody does — and it's just an opportunity for someone to step up. We've been fortunate that those who stepped up have done a good job."

Despite losing Apelu for another season, Cosbie said his teammates have rallied around him.

"It's tough to replace Apelu because he's such a special talent that won't fully be replaced," Cosbie said. "We will do it by committee and that's going to require guys stepping up and working hard, but it's hard to fill his void physically and emotionally. He is a leader on this team, but that's the great thing about football, you have to adjust to whatever comes your way and find a way to work through it and, you know, things don't always work out. It's been really tough on Apelu going through it two years in a row, but I think it's a life lesson for all of the players and a way to get stronger."

In Apelu's absence, Jordan Bayudan has picked up his work load. The junior has carried 21 times for 143 yards (6.8 yards per rush) in Kamehameha's last two games — wins over Division-II teams Saint Francis and Damien. He rushed for three touchdowns against the Monarchs last week.

However, the competition will be tougher this week against eighth-ranked Saint Louis.

Sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1,247 pass yards, 17 pass TDs) is at the helm of the Crusaders' efficient offense, which averages over 452 yards per game, including 321 through the air.

"They're a good football team and they obviously throw the ball well, they run it efficiently and they're getting better on defense, so it's a big challenge for us," Cosbie said. "We're excited for Saturday night and at getting a chance to play them and finding out where we are as a team."

Saint Louis will be going up against a Kamehameha defense which has allowed less than 11 points and 140 yards per game.

"Our offense is going on all cylinders and their defense is really outstanding, so that should be a real big battle," Crusaders' coach Cal Lee said. "It'll probably come down to their offense against our defense. A big goal for us is to hold them and get our offense in the game, but it's one thing to say and another to do, so hopefully we can get in there and play some defense and make them punt."

Defense has been a sore spot for Lee's squad this year. Through five games it has given up an average of more than 42 points and 527 yards.

"We're coming along defensively," Lee said. "It's just a lot of new guys that have to learn the system and that kind of stuff, but you get experience from playing games. We've gotten better in every game and that's what we're trying to do."

The Warriors and Crusaders are expected to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.

Other games of interest this weekend:
-No. 2 Mililani at No. 6 Campbell, 7:30 p.m. Friday
The Trojans (5-0 overall, 4-0 league) visit the Sabers (4-0) in an OIA D1 Red game and a battle of unbeatens. Mililani has outscored its opponents 148 to 35, while Campbell has allowed just 32 points all season.

-Castle at No. 10 Waianae, 7:30 p.m. Friday
The Knights (1-3) make the long trek to the Leeward Coast to take on the 10th-ranked Seariders (2-2) in an OIA D1 Red game. Castle held a 19-18 lead on No. 3 Kahuku last week before falling, 56-19, while Waianae is coming off a bye.

-Pearl City vs. Radford, 6 p.m. Saturday at Aiea
The Chargers (4-0) and Rams (4-1 overall, 4-0 league) match up in an important OIA D2 game. Fourth-ranked Pearl City has not played since Aug. 29, while sixth-ranked Radford is coming off a 34-3 win over Kalani last week.