KAHUKU - Kahuku turned a close game at the half into a rout with a three-touchdown third quarter to demolish Saint Louis, 49-27, Friday night at Carelton E. Weimer Athletic Field.

A standing-room only crowd of about 4,000 - including a large number of Saint Louis supporters - watched Saint Louis allow the most points in its history since it started playing football in 1920. In 1998, the Crusaders gave up 42 points and still won, 77-42, against Joe Igber-led Iolani.

The Crusaders (2-1) pulled to 21-20 with no time showing on the clock before the half on a 36-yard field goal by Jesse Correa, who also kicked one for 30 earlier in the game.

The Red Raiders (3-0) opened the second half with a five minute, 13-second scoring drive to increase their lead to 28-20. But they really blew it open after the Crusaders failed a fake punt on fourth-and-11 at their own 27, when punter Aaron Goo's pass fell incomplete. It took the Red Raiders just two plays to score on tailback Aofaga Wily's nine-yard touchdown run to begin the runaway, making it 35-20.

"It's a check we made," Crusaders' coach Darnell Arceaneaux said. "It's my fault. We weren't clear on it. A couple guys weren't clear on it. That's on me. That's something we have to work on, like clean up special teams."

"That could've gone either way," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "It they had gotten it, they would've gained momentum themselves because they were struggling. It was a chance they took because we were giving up an such an area had they completed it. But our corner did a great job on the man technique. He stayed with that wide receiver and it messed things up on their part."

Then it got worse for Saint Louis when Ben Mamea blocked a punt that was picked up by Mikeli Fiso, who returned the ball 11 yards for a TD to make it 42-20.

Saint Louis quarterback Marcus Mariota accounted for most of the Crusaders' offense, passing for 282 yards and rushing for 82. It looked like Saint Louis was going to be on control when Mariota scored on a 52-yard run on the second play of the game.

"We were looking for ways to contain their quarterback," Torres said. "Look what he did to us in the first half. But second half, we hunkered down and did better."

"Marcus, he's a really good quarterback," Kahuku safety Tigi Hill said. "I played with him in Game Plan, the football camp. He's improved since then. His scrambling out there is like having Michael Vick run all over us."

Hill the defense was sloppy in the first half, when it was still a close game.

"I'm surprised they didn't score (more often)," Hill said. "You give'em a shot to score, they'll score every time."

Hill aided in the scoring in the close first half. After Saint Louis took a 17-14 lead on running back Keanu Mook-Garcia's four-yard TD run, Hill blocked a punt that set up a Ben Mamea two-yard TD run that put Kahuku ahead, 21-17 before Correa pulled his Crusaders to within one on his field goal before the half.

"I made like I was going to double team (the gunner), but at the last second, I came in (to rush the punter)," Hill said.

While Kahuku has been touting its receiving duo of wideouts Punga Vea and Shairone Thompson, it was the running of Wily - 19 carries for 124 yards and two TDs - that helped hamper the Crusaders.

Still, QB Evan Moe was efficient, completing 9 of 13 passes for 163 yards. Vea had five receptions for 119 yards.

"Our offense has been clicking since our first preseason game against Waianae. We've been getting better ever since."

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