Jeremy Tabuyo, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver, caught scoring passes of 39, 34 and 68 yards and finished with seven receptions for a game-high 177 yards in a losing effort. ScoringLive file photo

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With his team unable to establish a reliable running game, Saint Louis' Jeremy Tabuyo stepped up his game Friday night. However, despite a three-touchdown performance by the junior, the Crusaders came up short in their Interscholastic League of Honolulu opener, losing to Kamehameha, 28-21.
Tabuyo, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver, caught scoring passes of 39, 34 and 68 yards and finished with seven receptions for a game-high 177 yards in a losing effort.
"He's just really been working on his craft over the last few months with his receiver coaches and I think it showed Friday night," Saint Louis head coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "He's trying to be a complete receiver, not just relying on his speed, but working on his route-running. He's really improved his all-around game."
The Crusaders' first four offensive possessions resulted in a fumble, punt, turnover on downs and an interception. By the time Saint Louis got the ball back midway through the second quarter, Kamehameha had built a 17-0 lead on a pair of Bronson Barretto touchdown runs and a 27-yard field goal by Kanekoa Pawn-White.
After the game Friday night, Arceneaux marveled at both teams' efforts and the ability of his to rally from the deficit.
"That's what Saint Louis is about and our kids bring that also to the football field: that mentality of never giving up and believing in the guy next to you," Arceneaux said.
Six plays into the drive - facing a third-and-10 - Tabuyo hauled in a 10-yard pass from quarterback Kawai Mook-Garcia to move the chains. After Mook-Garcia hit Aaron Goo on consecutive passes, Tabuyo got free along the right sideline and Mook-Garcia hit him in stride en route to the end zone to put the Crusaders on the board.
Kamehameha fumbled on its next drive and Saint Louis took over at its own 44-yard line. Five plays later, on fourth-and-11 from the Warriors' 34, Mook-Garcia delivered a strike to Tabuyo - who again got behind the defense - for a 34-yard touchdown. The junior quarterback took a big hit on the play just as he released the pass, which cut the lead to 17-14 just before halftime.
"Everybody always used to tell me that quarterbacks are tough when they run, but I think if you know you're going to get hit in the mouth, but you still have the courage to stand in there and take a shot, that shows a lot of toughness," Arceneaux said of Mook-Garcia. "To have that kind of courage and trust in his teammates and take one for the team - and you know, we watched it (on video) as a staff and the other kids see that, too, and then they want to go play harder for their quarterback."
Arceneaux said the more games Mook-Garcia and Tabuyo have under their belts together, the better they will become.
"I think they both have a pretty good chemistry and over time those things are branded together. You can get some stuff down during the offseason, but I think the game experience is what will make those two guys better," he said.
Mook-Garcia, a junior, was 22-of-38 passing for 309 yards and one interception. Tabuyo, who also stars for the Crusaders' soccer and track and field teams, had six grabs for 109 yards by halftime.
Things looked promising for Tabuyo in the second half as just three plays in, he connected with Mook-Garcia on their third touchdown pass - a 68-yard streak pattern along the left sideline - that gave Saint Louis a 21-17 lead.
However, the Warriors held Tabuyo without a catch the rest of the third quarter and in the game's closing minutes, he had to be carried off the field with an apparent leg injury.
"It's day-to-day," Arceneaux said of Tabuyo's status. "We're just going to see where things are (later in the week). It's unfortunate - we've had a bunch of injuries this year - but, it's one of those things that happens in football and if Jeremy can't go Friday, we'll have to get the next guy ready," Arceneaux said.
Saint Louis, which dropped three spots to fifth in this week's ScoringLive Football Power Rankings, plays No. 9 Pac-Five at 7:45 p.m. Friday night at Aloha Stadium.

TOP PERFORMERS - WEEK 5
Waiakea RB Nu'u Aiava rushed for 180 yards and 1 TD against Kea'au.
Waipahu RB Gregorio Alip rushed for 253 yards and 1 TD against Kalani.
Waimea DB Keoni Ana had a 50-yard punt return for TD, 7 tackles and 2 interceptions, including a 55-yard returned for a TD, against Kauai.
Waimea RB Devan Banasihan Kenney rushed for 102 yards and 1 TD against Kauai.
Kamehameha RB Bronson Barretto rushed for 69 yards and 2 TDs against Saint Louis.
Mililani WR Deshawn Duncan-Benson had 11 receptions for 147 yards and 2 TDs against Wai'anae.
McKinley RB Fia Duarte rushed for 92 yards and 2 TDs against Anuenue.
Baldwin QB Keelan Ewaliko threw for 85 yards and 1 TD and rushed for 76 yards and 2 TD against Lahainaluna.
'Iolani QB Reece Foy threw for 22 yards and 4 TDs against Damien.
McKinley QB Alex Ironside passed for 141 yards and 4 TDs against Anuenue.
Anuenue RB Kainalu Kaleo rushed for 91 yards and 1 TD against McKinley.
Kaimuki RB Brandon Kekoa rushed for 104 yards and 1 TD against Waialua.
Pearl City WR Kelson Laboy had 6 receptions for 116 yards and 1 TD against Nanakuli.
Baldwin RB Vetekina Malafu rushed for 118 yards and 2 TDs against Lahainaluna.
'Iolani RB Kody Mento rushed for 105 yards and 2 TDs against Damien.
Saint Louis QB Kawai Mook-Garcia passed for 309 yards and 3 TD against Kamehameha.
Pearl City QB Kaimi Paredes passed for 210 yards and 2 TD and rushed for 76 yards and 2 TDs against Nanakuli.
Castle DB Layne Suyat had a 90-yard interception return for TD against Farrington.
Farrington RB Tyler Taumua rushed for 215 yards and 3 TDs against Castle.
King Kekaulike WR Michael Teves had 7 receptions for 170 yards and 1 TD against KS-Maui.
Kailua RB Jarrin Young rushed for 105 yards and 2 TDs against Roosevelt.