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No. 4 Saint Louis atoned for one its worst losses in its history by rallying past No. 6 Kamehameha, 41-17, Saturday night in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I season opener at Aloha Stadium.

The Crusaders (3-1 overall, 1-0 ILH) trailed 17-13 at the half before blowing the game open with 28 unanswered points against the Warriors (2-2, 0-1). It was only last week that Saint Louis allowed the most points ever in its 91-year history in a 49-27 loss to Kahuku.

"This week of practice was really intense," Tupua said. "We knew we had to bounce back (from last week's loss at Kahuku). This is the start of our season, so we wanted to make a statement."

Quarterback Marcus Mariota passed for 215 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another. Tupua had six catches for 92 yards and hauled in both TD passes (5 and 25 yards).

But it was the defense that really set the tone for the Crusaders, who scored when lineman Marcus Rodrigues returned a shovel pass 26 yards for a touchdown to give Saint Louis a 6-0 lead and later on a 66-yard fumble return by linebacker Starr Sua-Passi.
"Our defense," Saint Louis coach Darnell Arceneaux said. "It's tribute to the coaches and getting the guys to understand, 'Just do your job, so you don't have to be Superman. You don't have to be the hero every time. The guys made plays when the opportunity brought it to them. I have to give credit to my defensive staff, Matt Wright and Chris Brown. All those guys on that side of the ball did a tremendous job."

The Crusaders defense had allowed 240 yards at the half, but only 39 in the second half in blanking the Warriors the rest of the game.

After Saint Louis led on Rodrigues' interception return and the usually reliable Jesse Correa missed the first of three failed PATs, the Warriors stormed back with a 70-yard TD pass from Christian Akana to Charley Bolig IV. Drew Honda's PAT gave the Warriors a 7-6 lead.

Kamehameha bolstered its lead with a 26-yard field goal by Kanekoa Pawn-White to make it 10-6.

But Tupua's five-yard TD catch gave Saint Louis a 13-10 lead that didn't last when running back Tyler Mediitz went up the middle on a 20-yard TD run wit 2:32 left in the half to give the Warriors a 17-13 lead.

The Crusaders could not be stopped in the second half, scoring 15 in the third quarter on a one-yard TD run by running back Derek Nakasato, a 25-yard TD reception by Tupua and a safety in which the Kamehameha punter went down to one knee in the end zone to field a low snap that made ti 28-17.

The Crusaders continued their onslaught with Mariota's three-yard TD run and Sua-Passi's fumble reutrn.

"What a clinic," Kamehameha coach David Stant said of the Crusaders' performance. "They did a good job."

In last year's state championship season, the Warriors were known for their swarming and swift pursuit defense. The Warriors allowed 344 yards last night despite three sacks by highly-touted defensive end Koa Kaai.

"We see the difference in our defense, the DBs, the defensive line front," Stant said. "So it's a big drop off from last year in our cornerbacks and our defensive line. They (the Crusaders) are a way better team than they were last year. (Mariota) picked us apart."

Still, Arceneaux knows it's too early to get excited.

"It was a high-pressure game for our kids," Arceneaux said. "They worked so hard in the off-season and with changes in the staff and at school, there's been so much going on for these young men, but they persevered and came through tonight.

"But we understand this is only one win. ILH, you can win one game and easily lose the next five. That's how our tough our division is. I set the goal high for my guys. I understand we have to regroup and get ready for Damien next week."