Whatever label fans give Saint Louis I-AA this fall doesn’t matter.
Quarterback Jaron Sagapolutele and wide receiver Kache Kaio have one of the best connections in the state regardless of classification.
Kaio, a 6 feet, 1 inch and 200 pounds, simply overwhelmed Damien’s secondary and caught touchdown passes of 24, 15 and 36 yards in the first half as the Crusaders stifled Damien, 34-14, on Friday night at Aloha Stadium.
Saint Louis I-AA, comprised of freshmen and sophomores, had already sat through a postponed game back on Aug. 27. The Crusaders were the last of the ILH’s Open Division, D-I, I-AA and D-II teams to finally play a varsity game.
Sagapolutele, a 6-2, 205-pound freshman, rarely held the ball long and got the ball out to a variety of receivers. Any time Kaio drew single coverage, however, he was more than happy to dial up his former youth league teammate.
“I like when he goes deep. He just beats everyone down the field. When he gets the ball short, he gets extra yards down the field, too,” Sagapolutele said.
The chemistry was undeniable, whether Kaio ran go routes, screens or deep outs.
“I think we did good. Jaron threw to all the open spots. He can throw deep and I go down and get it. I knew their corner, No. 2. He would stay down, so I went up,” Kaio said.
Damien came into the game with a 2-1 record, including a 25-20 win over Kamehameha I-AA two weeks ago.
“Damien is a good team,” Sagapolutele said. “In the beginning, we were pushing the ball. Then when we came back from halftime, we were slow. Then at the end, we came through.”
Saint Louis I-AA’s next game is in two weeks at ‘Iolani. Damien plays at ‘Iolani next Friday.
“We’ve got to keep moving forward,” Kaio said.
I do not want to make fun of the kids or anything and everyone should be respected, but I’m curious to see if anyone thinks there’s something wrong if a JV team of freshmen and sophomores can beat a team with juniors and seniors?
I think what’s most disturbing and frankly pathetic is Iolani “Varsity “ playing in the ILH’s JV league and then listening to Felipe and Darren hype the Raiders instead of slamming them for not playing in the Open Division. Father Bray must be disgusted as Iolani to an all time low bearing up on 9th graders most of whom have little experience. At least Stl, Punahou and Kamehameha played against kids that were in the same grade during the ILHs two-tiered system over the last 21 years.
@Dafun
Don’t forget the HP article about STL holding back a lot of Football players… so technically their not really a JV team cause some kids should be 11th grade.
Well, today they played with all Freshmens and Sophomores, only one, was a Jr. GO SAINTS
@??? Even if you say they played with held back 11th graders, Damien still had seniors so it’s still embarrassing. But who am I know know? You know everything about the ages of these kids
@ ??? Good point on the ages of students and holding them back. I’m surprised how many private school students turn 18 the end of Jr year or the begging of their Sr year. Then, I was equally puzzled by the same issue in Public School…my son will turn just before his scheduled HS graduation.
Punahou has been notorious for holding their students back a year. They have been doing this for decades! Their justification behind that move was that boys do not mature as fast as females. Therefore holding them back a year would put them on an even learning and social level with their female counterparts. So if it is good for the goose it is good for the gander.