GAME NIGHT 10/27: No. 1 Saint Louis/No. 2 Punahou

No. 1 Saint Louis 45, No. 2 Punahou 21

Crusaders nab their fourth straight ILH championship with their 24th consecutive win. Up next is the OIA runner-up on Nov. 16 in the state semis.

UPDATE: Punahou coach Kale Ane says QB Hugh Brady was taken to the hospital at halftime.

BOX SCORE
at Aloha Stadium
Punahou (7-3) 0 7 7 7 — 21
Saint Louis (9-0) 14 14 3 14 — 45

StL—Jordan Botelho 5 fumble return (Garyn Napuunoa kick)
StL—Jayden de Laura 4 run (Napuunoa kick)
StL—Makoa Close 50 pass from de Laura (Napuunoa kick)
Pun—Tamatoa Falatea 36 pass from Kobe Muasau (Tim Horn kick)
StL—de Laura 25 run (Napuunoa kick)
Pun—Falatea 5 pass from Muasau (Horn kick)
StL—FG Napuunoa 26
StL—Chance Beyer 19 pass from de Laura (Napuunoa kick)
StL—Connor Apo 67 run (Napuunoa kick)
Pun—Alex Thompson 5 pass from Muasau (Horn kick)

RUSHING—Punahou: Muasau 8-24, Sitiveni Kaufusi 3-6, team 1-(minus 1), Hugh Brady 1-(minus 13). Saint Louis: Robbie Paikai 9-104, Apo 1-67, de Laura 18-51, Dayton Sam 11-36, Chandan Sappal 1-(minus 1), team 1-(minus 1), Logan Kalawaia 2-(minus 4).
PASSING—Punahou: Muasau 35-63–3-308, Koa Eldredge 0-1-0-0. Saint Louis: de Laura 14-24–1-242.
RECEIVING—Punahou: Falatea 13-143, Moku Dancil-Evans 9-58, Raydan Kiaaina-Caires 4-37, Eldredge 4-19, Kanoa Kalahiki 3-27, Matagi Thompson 1-19, A. Thompson 1-5. Saint Louis: Beyer 5-66, Close 3-113, Roman Wilson 3-41, Paikai 1-10, Matt Sykes 1-7, Koali Nishigaya 1-5.

Punahou gets the ball back at the 10 with 25 seconds to go. Saint Louis calls a timeout. Tight end Alex Thompson catches a 5-yard TD pass from Muasau. 45-21, 11 seconds to go. Muasau 35-63, 308 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT.

(3:04) Saint Louis ball on its 14. Senior Chandan Sappal getting snaps now at QB.

(4:12) First-and-10 at the 20. Falatea with his 13th catch for 143 yards. Muasau closing in on 60 passing attempts. Punt.

(4:25) Saint Louis ball on its 38. Apo in at QB. de Laura 14-24, 242 yards, 2 TD, 18 carries, 51 yards, 2 TD. Apo keeps it and is gone. 67-yard TD run. Saint Louis with 258 rushing yards in this game. 45-14, 4:12, Q4.

(5:26) Punahou ball on its 12. Punahou tries a double reserve pass but Latu stays in coverage and makes a great play to break it up. Punahou three-and-out.

Paikai with an 8-yard gain and he has 100 yards rushing on the night. Crusaders trying to run this clock and Punahou doesn’t help with an obvious facemask. Chance Beyer with a 19-yard TD pass from Jayden de Laura and that will wrap it up. 38-14, 5:32 to go.

(8:47) Punahou ball on its 26. Three completions for Muasau to get it to the 40. Nick Herbig with a crushing hit on a receiver for a gain of only 1 and then Junior Wily with the INT. Wily has balled out tonight. Seven tackles and now the INT. Saint Louis with six takeaways.

(11:23) Crusaders ball on their 8. Sam runs for 11 to the 20. Robbie Paikai rips off a huge 55-yard run with de Laura blocking 50 yards down the field. Inside the 20. Sam drops the handoff on the next play though and Liufau recovers for Punahou.

(11:53) Punahou ball on the Saint Louis 37. Delay of game on Punahou. Matagi Thompson with his first catch for 19 yards and then a Saint Louis penalty puts it on the 12. Third-and-6 at the 8 and Muasau misses Falatea near the goal line. Fourth down. Pressure forces a throw a tad early and Eldredge can’t make the diving catch. Turnover on downs.

de Laura sneaks it and it’s SUPER close. He barely got any penetration. They will measure. HE IS STOPPED. Punahou ball.

———-

THIRD QUARTER
at Aloha Stadium
Punahou (7-2) 0 7 7
Saint Louis (8-0) 14 14 3

StL—Jordan Botelho 5 fumble return (Garyn Napuunoa kick)
StL—Jayden de Laura 4 run (Napuunoa kick)
StL—Makoa Close 50 pass from de Laura (Napuunoa kick)
Pun—Tamatoa Falatea 36 pass from Kobe Muasau (Tim Horn kick)
StL—de Laura 25 run (Napuunoa kick)
Pun—Falatea 5 pass from Muasau (Horn kick)
StL—FG Napuunoa 26

RUSHING—Punahou: Muasau 8-24, Sitiveni Kaufusi 2-4, team 1-(minus 1), Hugh Brady 1-(minus 13). Saint Louis: de Laura 17-51, Robbie Paikai 5-37, Dayton Sam 7-27.
PASSING—Punahou: Muasau 26-47–2-234. Saint Louis: de Laura 12-22–1-216.
RECEIVING—Punahou: Falatea 11-119, Moku Dancil-Evans 5-41, Raydan Kiaaina-Caires 4-37, Koa Eldredge 4-19, Kanoa Kalahiki 2-18. Saint Louis: Chance Beyer 4-47, Close 3-113, Roman Wilson 3-41, Paikai 1-10, Koali Nishigaya 1-5.

(1:47) Crusaders ball on their 28. Third-and-3 after two runs. Paikai down right at the marker and they measure. Just short. Ball on the Crusaders 37. What will Cal do? They will let the quarter run out first.

(2:13) Punahou ball on its 20. Crusaders force a three-and-out.

Saint Louis ball on the Punahou 10 after the fumble return. A 10-yard TD is wiped away by a hold. Third-and-goal at the 19. Inside screen to Paikai goes for 10. Ball at the 9. Garyn Napuunoa 26-yard field goal. 31-14, 2:13, Q3.

(5:07) Saint Louis changes field with a 62-yard punt. Buffanblu on their 23. Crusaders jump early. Saint Louis has been a mess with the penalties. Muasau takes a big shot after a 7-yard run to the 39 moves the chains. Key drop sets up third-and-10. Falatea again with the big third-down catch, this one 11 yards to move the chains at midfield. Falatea with a drop on second-and-15. Would have been a first down. Muasau had time in the pocket. Punahou’s O-Line has done a pretty good job. Third-and-15 and Muasau is drilled and fumbles. Lawai’alani Brown with the recovery.

(6:12) Saint Louis ball on its 22. de Laura can’t handle the snap and it’s a loss of 6. A little jitters out there from both teams now perhaps? Saint Louis tries an inside screen but it’s incomplete. Third-and-long. de Laura has a receiver open but enough pressure forces an incomplete pass. Three-and-out.

(6:48) Punahou ball on the Saint Louis 38. Muasau on a keeper but holding on Punahou. The Saint Louis section with a round of applause. First-and-20. Muasau has a guy open by a step but a high throw and it’s PICKED. Kamo’i Latu with his second INT of the game to go along with a FR.

(8:04) Saint Louis ball on its 20. Incomplete pass and de Laura is down and he looks hurt. Squirming around in pain. Didn’t see it. Trainers looking at him now. It’s his left knee. Sophomore Connor Apo in for third-and-9 and a delay of game is called. Reply showed a Punahou end going low on de Laura. That didn’t look great. de Laura back in though because of the penalty. Check that, Apo takes the snap and it’s a run for 6 yards. Short punt and Punahou has excellent field position.

(12:00) Punahou starts on its 20. Muasau at QB. Eldredge with a 7-yard reception and another late hit by Saint Louis. Fourth-and-1 at the Saint Louis 49 and Muasau keeps for 2 yards and a first down. PI on Saint Louis moves it to the 32. Three straight incomplete passes brings up fourth down and Punahou goes for it. Falatea open for a 12-yard catch to move the chains. DL Stanley McKenzie with a sack of Muasau. Fourth-and-1 at the 11 and Muasau sprints out right. His pass is incomplete but roughing the passer is called on Sonny Masaniai who I think is in there for Botelho. Ball on the 5. Timeout Saint Louis. Muasau to Falatea for a 5-yard TD. 28-14, 8:04, Q3. Muasau 22-37, 213 yards, 2 TD. Falatea 8 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD.

Punahou will receive.

——–

DEFENSIVE STATS
Punahou
Hiram deFries-Saronitman: Tackle
Trent Shiraki: 4 tackles
Alaka’i Gilman: 4 tackles
Marist Liufau: 5 tackles, 2 sacks
Dillon Lundberg: 6 tackles 2, sacks
Tevarua Tafiti: 2 tackles
Jonah Henry: Interception, 1.5 tackles
Kahanu Kia: 2 tackles
Kennedy Freeman: .5 tackles
Maninoa Tufono: 1 tackle
Sitiveni Kaufusi: 1 tackle
Tamatoa Falatea: 1 tackle
Kaulana Makaula: 4 tackles

Saint Louis
Jordan Botelho: 2 tackles, sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, touchdown
Nicholas Herbig: 4 tackles
Kila Kamakawiwo’ole: 3 tackles, TFL, sack
Junior Wily: 5 tackles
Kamo’i Latu: Fumble recovery, tackle, INT
Koali Nishigaya: Tackle
Brian Cox: Tackle
Lawai’alani Brown: Pass breakup
Micah Tupua: Tackle
Harvey Welch: Tackle

HALFTIME
at Aloha Stadium
Punahou (7-2) 0 7
Saint Louis (8-0) 14 14

StL—Jordan Botelho 5 fumble return (Garyn Napuunoa kick)
StL—Jayden de Laura 4 run (Napuunoa kick)
StL—Makoa Close 50 pass from de Laura (Napuunoa kick)
Pun—Tamatoa Falatea 36 pass from Kobe Muasau (Tim Horn kick)
StL—de Laura 25 run (Napuunoa kick)

RUSHING—Punahou: Muasau 4-16, Sitiveni Kaufusi 2-4, team 1-(minus 1), Hugh Brady 1-(minus 13). Saint Louis: de Laura 16-57, Robbie Paikai 3-34, Dayton Sam 3-12.
PASSING—Punahou: Muasau 16-26–1-169. Saint Louis: de Laura 11-17–1-206.
RECEIVING—Punahou: Falatea 5-76, Moku Dancil-Evans 5-41, Raydan Kiaaina-Caires 3-33, Koa Eldredge 2-6, Kanoa Kalahiki 1-13. Saint Louis: Chance Beyer 4-47, Close 3-113, Roman Wilson 3-41, Koali Nishigaya 1-5.

———-

(:11) Punahou ball on its 9 after a penalty. Buffanblu take a knee.

(4:15) Crusaders ball on their 11 after another personal foul on the Crusaders. False start on Saint Louis. Paikai breaks off a 23-yard run right up the middle. Crusaders doing a lot of their work on the ground, setting up the big pass. 18 runs/15 passes so far as the ball is at the Punahou 41. Buffanblu timeout. Liufau gets his second sack but de Laura finds Wilson for 9 yards on third down. Saint Louis timeout with a minute to go. Second-and-9 at the Punahou 35. Lundberg gets a sack and Saint Louis has to call a timeout. Two sacks each for Liufau and Lundberg. Third-and-17 at the 43. de Laura hits Wilson for 18 yards. First down. One timeout and 30 seconds left? de Laura don’t care. 25-yard rushing TD. 28-7, :19, Q2.

(5:36) Punahou ball on its 33 after a short punt of 16 yards. Senior Tamatoa Falatea makes a defender miss and picks up 23 yards into Saint Louis territory on the catch. Punahou has a man open deep but Muasau JUST overthrows him. Close to six. Third down. Pass over the middle is tipped by two different Saint Louis DB’s and into the hands of Falatea who is in for a 36-yard TD. Punahou catches a break and is on the board. 21-7, 4:21, Q2.

(7:00) Saint Louis ball on the Punahou 49. Close with a 14-yard reception and he’s got 113 receiving yards already. Punahou’s Dillon Lundberg with a sack to set up third-and-15. Illegal forward pass and Saint Louis punts.

(7:49) Punahou ball on its 20. Muasau with four short completions and then a shot over the middle goes off the receivers hands and is picked off by Kamo’i Latu. LB Jordan Botelho has been whistled for taunting and that’s his second personal foul and he is ejected.

(9:44) Saint Louis ball on its 14. de Laura hits Beyer for 23 yards. Another snap infraction by Saint Louis. Third-and-8 at midfield. de Laura buys time and then hits a wide open Makoa Close for a 50-yard TD. 21-0, 7:49, Q2.

Punahou second-and-9 at its 45 to start the second quarter. Muasau hits Falatea for 5, Dancil-Evans for 6 and then keeps it for 12 yards to the 32. He gets 11 more to the 21 on the same play. Muasau sacked on third down by Kamakawiwo’ole but then Kamakawiwo’ole is called for an unsportsmanlike penalty after the play. Fourth-and-2 on the 14 and Punahou calls timeout. Incomplete pass and Saint Louis takes over.

———-

FIRST QUARTER
at Aloha Stadium
Punahou (7-2) 0

Saint Louis (8-0) 14

StL—Jordan Botelho 5 fumble return (Garyn Napuunoa kick)
StL—Jayden de Laura 4 run (Napuunoa kick)

RUSHING—Punahou: Sitiveni Kaufusi 2-4, Kobe Muasau 1-1, Hugh Brady 1-(minus 13). Saint Louis: de Laura 8-27, Dayton Sam 3-12, Robbie Paikai 1-9.
PASSING—Punahou: Muasau 6-11–0-71. Saint Louis: de Laura 4-6–1-67.
RECEIVING—Punahou: Koa Eldredge 2-6, Raydan Kiaaina-Caires 1-24, Moku Dancil-Evans 1-23, Kanoa Kalahiki 1-13, Tamatoa Falatea 1-5. Saint Louis: Chance Beyer 2-13, Makoa Close 1-49, Koali Nishigaya 1-5.

———-

(:35) Punahou starts on its 20. Muasau remains in the game. A 24-yard pass to Raydan Kiaaina-Caires right before the end of the quarter.

(3:18) Saint Louis will start on its 14. de Laura has run it on seven of Saint Louis’ first 12 plays. Now two carries by RB Dayton Sam and it’s third-and-1. Sam gets 3 and a first down. Make that 10 running plays out of first 15 for the Crusaders. RB Robbie Paikai in and he gets 9 yards on his first carry. Second-and-1 and Saint Louis catches one deep as Makoa Close with the 49-yard reception. De Laura 4-yard TD run. Perfection. 14-0, :35, Q1.

(4:08) Punahou ball on the 40 and Muasau remains in the game. He gets drilled from behind on an incomplete pass on the first play. Crusaders force quick three-and-out.

(7:48) Saint Louis starts on its 8 and Roman Wilson turns a short pass into a huge gain but a penalty wipes it out. Punahou hit with a late-hit penalty as well. Ball on the 22. Punahou’s Marist Liufau drops de Laura for a loss of 15 yards on a sack. Safety Jonah Henry with an INT on the next play.

(9:52) Punahou starts on its 34. Sophomore Kobe Muasau in at QB. Perfect throw on third down to Moku Dancil-Evans for a gain of 23 yards into Saint Louis territory. Crusaders jump offsides twice to give up a first down. Muasau hits four different receivers on the drive but Kila Kamakawiwo’ole forces a fumble by the Punahou RB inside the 10 and Kamo’i Latu recovers for Saint Louis.

(10:10) Punahou starts on its 18 after an excellent punt. Junior Hugh Brady at QB. First play is junior Jordan Botelho off the edge. SACK, forced fumble, fumble recovery, 5-yard TD. All by Botelho. Brady is hurt. Botelho came in off the edge and had a straight line right at Brady. Crushed him. 7-0 Crusaders, 10:00, Q1. Brady would not return.

(12:00) Saint Louis starts on its 20 after a Tim Horn touchback. Junior Jayden de Laura at QB for Saint Louis. de Laura keeps it for 15 yards on the first play. Same play again but its a loss of 1. First third down is a pass to Chance Beyer for 5 yards but Alaka’i Gilman with the tackle a yard short. Crusaders punt.

Punahou wins the toss and will defer. Crusaders will get the ball first.

———-

———-

Click here for Punahou’s roster
Click here for Saint Louis’ roster

The ILH Open Division championship will be decided in tonight’s winner-take-all final between the top-ranked Crusaders and the second-ranked Buffanblu.

This will be the 18th time No. 1 plays No. 2 in the eight-year history of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser rankings. The No. 1 team is 11-6.

Here are a few links to tide you over until kickoff.

Star-Advertiser Game Preview
Q&A: Saint Louis coach Cal Lee
Q&A: Punahou coach Kale Ane
Q&A: Saint Louis defensive tackle Faatui Tuitele

SERIES HISTORY: Saint Louis leads 66-28-1 (since 1973)

PUNAHOU STATS

SAINT LOUIS STATS