Saint Louis QB Jayden deLaura fires a pass against Kamehameha. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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_18101343_StLoKam_0011.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

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HALAWA — After a slow start, No. 1 Saint Louis came out with a strong third quarter to dominate No. 6 Kamehameha, 42-7, Friday night to conclude its Interscholastic League of Honolulu Open regular season at Hawaiian Financial FCU Field at Aloha Stadium.

The third-place Warriors (4-5 overall, 3-5 Open) will play second-place Punahou Friday in a second round game at Aloha Stadium. The winner advances to play Saint Louis for the second round title the following week.

In less than 2 1/2 quarters of play, Crusaders' quarterback Jayden de Laura completed 15 of 18 for 275 passing yards and three touchdowns. Also seeing action at QB were Connor Apo and Chandan Sappal. Saint Louis scored three TDs in the first five minutes, 31 seconds in the second half to run away from Kamehameha.

But it was the Saint Louis defense, which scored a TD on an interception, that stood out.

"We definitely wanted to get our first shutout," Saint Louis linebacker Jordan Botelho said. "We just wanted to come out, try our best, play hard. That's all it is."

The Crusaders came close to blanking the Warriors, who saw nine of their 11 possessions end with a punt with another ending on a fumble. The only other series came after the Crusaders muffed a punt at their own 4 that set up the Warriors only score of the game.

"That's the way it goes," Botelho said of the turnover that allowed the TD. "Things go against us and we just have to bounce back and get it right back."

Kamehameha was limited to 172 yards of offense with 15 first downs, while Saint Louis had 462 yards and 23 first downs.

"Our defense is outstanding," Saint Louis QB de Laura said. "They always got our back, even when we don't execute the first couple quarters."

De Laura's first two TDs — 25 and 50 yards to Roman Wilson — gave Saint Louis a 14-7 lead into halftime. The Warriors' only score came after the muffed punt at the Saints 4. After an illegal procedure penalty, Christmas Togiai hit Titus Maunakea on a fade for a 9-yard TD pass.

Saint Louis scored on its first two series of the second half to pull away. Robbie Paikai scored on a 4-yard run and de Laura tossed a 33-yard TD pass to Koali Nishigaya to make it 28-7.

Twelve seconds later, LB Nicholas Herbig returned an interception 3 yards for a TD to make it 35-7 with 6:29 left in the third period.

With 2:39 left in the third, Apo and Sappal took over at QB. With 4:18 left in the game, Sappal fired a 19-yard TD pass to Prince Solomon to make it 42-7 and ignite the running clock.

With first place and the first round bye for the second round set, the Crusaders planned to work on their execution.

"It wasn't the prettiest of wins when we started out, but we got it done," de Laura said. "(We wanted) execute our plays better; (for) me, making my reads."