No. 5 Saint Louis wallops No. 11 Kamehameha in ILH opener

Greg Yamamoto | SL

KAPALAMA HEIGHTS—Kekahi Graham threw four touchdowns and No. 5 Saint Louis rebounded to shred No. 11 Kamehameha-Kapalama, 49-14, in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Open Division opener at Kunuiakea Stadium Saturday.

The Crusaders (2-2 overall, 1-0 ILH) bounced back in an emphatic way after a 56-14 loss to Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) last week and scored early and often to keep the Warriors (0-2-1 overall, 0-1 ILH) winless on the season.

Graham finished with 301 yards on 21-of-25 passing and threw touchdown passes to four different receivers. He found Chyler DeSilva down the seam for a 45-yard touchdown after the defense forced a Warrior punt.

DeSilva led the Crusader receivers with 87 yards on four receptions and Jaysen Peters-de Laura added six catches for 61 yards. Keola Apduhan had 81 rushing yards on 15 carries and pair of 1-yard scores.

The Crusaders forced another three-and-out, and went on a 14-play, 75 yard drive that resulted in Graham's second touchdown pass to Peters-de Laura from 25 yards out to make it, 14-0.

Kamehameha responded with a scoring drive of their own. Kealii Ah Yat converted a 8-yard pass to Kalai Bradley on fourth-and-5 and two plays later, threw a 8-yard touchdown pass to Kaina Watson.

Peters-de Laura returned the ensuing kick off 57 yards to the Kamehameha 22 and four plays later, Graham's third touchdown pass of the night went to Titan Lacaden for a 21-7 lead.

After Kamehameha's third punt of the first half, Keola Apduhan capped a 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing score on fourth-and-goal.

Kamehameha converted five first downs on the ensuing possession and Ah Yat found Sheldon Iokia for a 22-yard touchdown with 8.7 seconds left to go before halftime. That touchdown turned out to be the Warriors' final points of the night.

Ah Yat finished the game with 95 yards on 11-of-26 passing and was intercepted once.

Saint Louis scored on the opening drive to start the third quarter despite two holding penalties that drove them back. Graham finished the nine-play, 71-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Yosei Takahashi for his final touchdown of the night.

The Crusader defense held the Warriors to 182 yards of total offense and shut out the home team in the second half.

Apduhan scored another rushing touchdown and Hikaa Dancil-Evans rushed for a 7-yard touchdown to send the entire fourth quarter to running clock.

Saint Louis will take on No. 2 Punahou on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Farrington's Edward ‘Skippa' Diaz Stadium at Kusunoki Field.

Kamehameha goes to Las Vegas to face Liberty in a non-league game on Friday, Sept. 16.

Both teams are scheduled to play each other again on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Kunuiakea Stadium.

Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].