Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes and ran for another TD last night to help Saint Louis roll past Roosevelt, 48-8, in Darnell Areneaux's return as Crusaders head coach.

A near-capacity crowd of about 2,000 at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium watched Saint Louis overcome a sluggish start to take a 34-0 halftime lead in the nonleague season opener for both teams.

Arceneaux, a former Crusaders standout quarterback who coached his alma mater in 2003, made a triumphant return after coaching at Mililani the past three seasons.

Mariota, a nimble 6-foot-5, 190-pound senior, invoked memories of Arceneaux's playing days as he completed 9 of 14 passes for 187 yards and added 28 yards rushing on four carries. He led Saint Louis on a 13-play, 99-yard touchdown drive and capped it with a 30-yard scoring pass to Kaeo Aliviado, and Jesse Correa's extra point made it 7-0 with 2:23 remaining in the first quarter.

The Crusaders went up 14-0 midway through the second quarter after Mariota's 3-yard TD pass to Joshua Tupua. Roosevelt speedster Agaese Tago returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for an apparent touchdown, but the play was called back due to a block-in-the-back penalty and a short Rough Riders drive stalled at midfield.

Saint Louis capitalized quickly after the punt, with Mariota connecting with All-State receiver Duke Bukoski on a 78-yard pass play that helped make it 21-0 with 3:40 left in the half.

After Roosevelt went three-and-out on the next series, Saint Louis again responded quickly, this time with Derek Nakasato's 80-yard zig-zagging run to the end zone. The Rough Riders fumbled two plays after the ensuing kickoff, and the Crusaders scored three plays later when Mariota ran it in from 8 yards out to make it 34-0 twelve seconds before halftime.

"We had opportunities, chances to make a game of it here and there, but we need to take the bullets out of our foot," Roosevelt coach Pat Silva said. "We made mistakes at the wrong times, but give Saint Louis credit - when opportunity knocked, they answered."

The loss was a costly one for the Rough Riders, as starting slotback/halfback Drayson Ito was injured on the opening kickoff.

"It might be a possible broken ankle," Silva said. "It's a big blow to us, because with him and Ese out there we try to get them as many touches as we can. Dray is one of our kickoff/punt return guys, too, and with Ese, they make an exciting combo."

Kaipo Pale, a 6-3 receiver, also left the game later with a sprained ankle.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly credited Marcus Mariota with 5 carries for 112 yards.