No. 3 Saint Louis pulls away from No. 5 Kamehameha, 47-20

Saint Louis QB Tua Tagovailoa gets airborne on a run against Kamehameha. Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

HALAWA — It didn't have the same offensive fireworks like last game, but it was enough for No.3 Saint Louis (6-1 ILH, 6-3 overall) as they march into the Interscholastic League of Honolulu postseason final against top-ranked Punahou after dismantling No. 5 Kamehameha, 47-20 at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium on Friday night. The Warriors end their season 4-3 in the ILH, 5-3 overall.

"I feel we got to enjoy it now, it's a good confidence booster," said Tua Tagovailoa.

The Crusaders have gone on a six game winning streak since losing to Punahou, 55-7 on Aug. 29 and this is a totally different Saint Louis squad.

Tagovailoa accounted for four total touchdowns, three rushing and one passing to lead the way for Saint Louis. He finished the game, 18-of-23 passing for 199 yards and threw only one incompletion in the first half.

"Nothing was really different and what we saw on film. We found the gaps and holes in their defense, but they were really tough tonight," said Tagovailoa.

The Crusaders had 278 net rushing yards for the game and 531 yards of total offense, Tagovailoa rushed for 86 yards on 15 attempts and Jahred Silofau rushed for 166 yards on 20 carries.

"The line played really good. A lot of the linemen were a little unsure of their assignments and we had to reassure them in the second half and I felt we picked up and we did pretty good," said Tagovailoa.

Jonathon Manalo rushed for a 3-yard touchdown for the first score of the game after the Crusaders went 87 yards on 11 plays.

Kamehameha answered back as Fatu Sua-Godinet threw an 11-yard touchdown to Dylan Kane and Noah Crabbe's PAT gave the Warriors a 7-6 lead, which turned out to be their only lead of the game. Kane, who normally plays defense, caught seven passes for 50 yards. Sua-Godinet threw for a game-high 245 yards on 17-of-30 passing.

Tua Tagovailoa rushed for two touchdowns in the first half and effectively moved the ball down field on 14 of 15 passing for 165 yards. Tagovailoa ran for his second rushing touchdown 18 seconds remaining before halftime as Saint Louis took a 19-7 lead.

The Warriors drove 72-yards on their opening drive in the second half, capped off by Sua-Godinet rushing for a 7-yard touchdown to bring Kamehameha within five. The Crusaders defense stepped up as they held Kamehameha to 79 net rushing yards. In the first time they met, Jordan Bayudan and Sua-Godinet combined for 264 rushing yards, but tonight they held Sua-Godinet and Bayudan to 69 combined rushing yards.

Tagovailoa threw a 6-yard pass to Cash Searle in the third and in the fourth, the Crusaders used some trickery as Tagovailoa lateraled it to Colton Nascimento, who threw a 54-yard touchdown to a wide open Drew Kobayashi. Kobayashi led all Saint Louis receivers with five catches for 98 yards.

After Sua-Godinet was shaken up, Justice Young came in and threw a 80-yard touchdown to Kumoku Noa to bring the Warriors within two scores. Noa led all receivers with three catches for 123 yards.

However, Tagovailoa added his third rushing touchdown and Toa Augafa picked off Sua-Godinet and returned it for a 55-yard touchdown to seal the game.

Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].