Defending Florida 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas ended Saint Louis’ 38-game winning streak with a 35-19 victory in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series on Saturday at Fertitta Field in Las Vegas.
Three Raiders rushed for touchdowns as St. Thomas Aquinas (15-0), which won its state title eight days earlier, shut out the Crusaders (12-1) in the second half.
Saint Louis hadn’t played since beating Kahuku 45-6 to win its fourth consecutive Open Division state championship in Hawaii on Nov. 29.
Crusaders quarterback Jayden de Laura, who signed with Washington State on Wednesday, finished 27-for-47 for 273 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another score but turned the ball over four times.
Koali Nishigaya had 11 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown and Isaac Silva added 10 receptions for 85 yards to lead Saint Louis, which hadn’t lost since a 33-20 defeat against Punahou in September 2016.
The Raiders forced a Saint Louis fumble on the first play from scrimmage and scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Zion Turner to Antonio Johnson on the next play.
Saint Louis settled down and took a 13-7 lead after de Laura threw touchdown passes to Roman Wilson and Nishigaya.
De Laura scored on a 22-yard run late in the first half to cut the deficit to 21-19, but the Crusaders were stopped going for a 2-point conversion to tie the game.
Saint Louis didn’t score over the final 25:43.
The Crusaders played their first game off island in 20 years.
Nick Herbig blocked a punt and had three sacks to lead the Saint Louis defense. The Crusaders were ranked No. 6 in the nation in the USA Today Super 25. St. Thomas Aquinas was No. 3.
For more, read our live blog.
At Fertitta Field
Saint Louis (12-1) 13 6 0 0 — 19
St. Thomas Aquinas (15-0) 7 14 14 0 — 35
StA—Antonio Johnson 32 pass from Zion Turner (Noah Botsford kick)
StL—Roman Wilson 17 pass from Jayden de Laura (kick blocked)
StL—Koali Nishigaya 8 pass from de Laura (Lason Napuunoa kick)
StA—Marcus Rosemy 19 pass from Turner (Botsford kick)
StA—Travis Dixon 12 run (Botsford kick)
StL—de Laura 22 run (run failed)
StA—Anthony Hankerson 3 run (Botsford kick)
StA—Jaedon Henry 11 run (Botsford kick)
RUSHING—Saint Louis: de Laura 7-31, Kainalu Tumpap 5-21, Mason Taliulu 3-15, Ka’ohu Kamakawiwo’ole 1-2. St. Thomas Aquinas: Hankerson 24-110, Dixon 9-40, Henry 7-35, team 2-(minus 4), Turner 7-(minus 14).
PASSING—Saint Louis: de Laura 27-47-3-273. St. Thomas Aquinas: Turner 8-14–0-120, Derek Wingo 1-1-0-23, Rosemy 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—Saint Louis: Nishigaya 11-84, Isaac Silva 10-85, Wilson 4-53, Matt Sykes 1-30, Makena Ramos-Kamaka 1-21. St. Thomas Aquinas: Rosemy 3-44, Johnson 1-32, The’andris Freeman 1-23, Ethan Corbin 1-19, Jahvante Royal 1-12, Henry 1-9, Hankerson 1-4.
@ Recruited not rooted, ILH, Unity=strength etc…
What excuses are you guys going to give after this STL Loss?
St Thomas Recruit?
Too Cold?
Botelho didn’t play?
The Referee’s cheat?
Players Jet Lag?
STL didn’t play in 3-4 weeks?
When you guys have time please give your input, we’ll be waiting.
??? Give it a while for us to come up with one…its been a while since we been here ya know. Unlike whatever team you claim to represent…. Hate doesn’t look good on anyone, even you confused.
SAINTS LUV YOU!
??? Leave your real name and address and I’ll personally come give you our excuse
No excuses. Plain and simple STL lost. Period! So their 38 (HOW MUCH? THIRTY-EIGHT?) game winning streak is ended. Oh well….BTW where was YOUR team today?
Lol @dennis tell um! Idk what’s with the hate ???
These boys are representing Hawaii on a big stage we should be happy for them. They lost, I’m still danm proud, and I’m not even from St. Louis.
Hats off to STL, Herbig showed out big time, and so did Jayden. You can tell the difference of speed STL had to deal with compared to local teams, both Nishigaya and Silva had 10+ catches but kept under 100yds rec. If they had those same 10+ catches here in the islands they both would have easily went for 100+ and maybe multiple tds, just goes to show the speed difference in the secondary on the mainland. Also St. Thomas did somthing no other school in Hawaii does outside of STL, and that’s adjust at halftime nd shutout the Saints in the 2nd half. If you ask me, Coach Lee probably took the game as a refreshing challenge.
Finally we got the Crusaders on a equal playing field..This is where they belong…Still believe that the California teams are alot better, especially the Trinity league where I don’t think both of these teams would beat the Top 5…Not sure who makes up these National polls, but these 2 teams does not belong in the top 25…STA 11 time State Champs but never plays IMG 2+1=4 doesn’t add up…
Dennis Tadio
Lol. That’s exactly why STL Loss, they like scrap on every play. SMH.
Their chance to show themselves on National TV and they play their most Undisciplined game ever. Your super coach(Lol) Cal Lee needs to hire an anger management coach. (something about Vegas)
Hats off to #19 Herbig, not only killed it but did it with discipline & class.
@Togoodtimes, dr Phil
Have some HUMBLE PIE while you enjoy your new streak. You guys come on here bragging about STL and how good they are and one loss & you guys get upset & quiet.
You guys Big Time recruit therefore you should dominate HAWAII high school. “Duh” but when you play another dominant Recruiting school ”St Thomas”and lose you quickly revert to
“At least we still state champs.
“YOU SHOULD BE”
@Recruited not Rooted
Still waiting for you and your “STL will win and finish #1 in the Nation?
Every game here for St Louis is a scrimmage practice squad ( except Punahou] . Until you legally let OIA do the same by letting kids go to whatever school they like to play for, forget about a balance league. Keep the focus on academics and put some real winners in this world.
Big fish leaves little pond! …gets eaten by other big fish!
The St. Lous QB and #19 were impressive. Like I said without a run game it’s tough. On any given night about 15 Florida teams can beat STA because they have stud RB’s that run 4.2-4.3 40
Florida has the best teams and players and they go to the SEC. California kids go to the PAC-12. Florida 211 NFL players followed by California with 185. STA about 15 current NFL players? Crusaders went and played the best and now you know you can play with the best. No excuses you earned my respect!!!
@ ??? Excuses come after a game not before it I called it like I see it you make the call there was no bias.:) Sometimes you gotto go down to get right back up happens all the time St. Louis will learn from this and will know what to expect next time. We dont play in Geico’s every year LoL!!! St Louis should be proud this was a good game it went back and forth and wasnt a one sided affair only in the end keep in mind there playing the top number 3 team in the country when there playing at number 6 they gave St Thomas a run for there money scored on them and were ahead in the begining that say’s alot from where this team was a few years ago they should be still in the top ten or 12 at least and be given a chance to make a come back for it next year or maybe the year after just schedule some quality opponent’s to play in the following upcoming years St Louis will be back!!!:)
@???
Good comebacks!!! Lol. Btw, what was up with the lack of urgency in the second half?? Still had chance in 4th qtr but calling some suspect draw plays and no hurry up offense?? Not a way to rep the 808. Staring down receivers and shying away from your big play wideouts?? Definitely got beat at what they do best…2nd half adjustments.
Herbig is a badass tho! And props to the underclass role players that came in to fill in for the knucklehead that didn’t play.
Respect to St Louis for taking the game in the first place. As a Kahuku alum, i was definitely rooting for the Lou. In my mind it’s 808 vs Everyone.
WTG Crusaders!! You did what you did and it’s been an awesome season. No excuses, you were beat plain and simple. The personal fouls hurt you all and that’s all coaching (IMHO). Hold your head up and stand proud. You are young men from an Island and made us proud. The Hater’s are going to hate and cannot change that. Let them say what they will, you went where THEIR team did not go. We all are aware that the Hater’s were going to come out if you won or lost. It’s a sad thing that you cannot just appreciate that a small school from Hawaii made it to the National Stage. Crusaders need to embrace the hate because no matter what, you can’t change it. Out of all the High School football teams in or from Hawaii, the most hated is the Crusaders and it boils down to jealousy, plain and simple. Because you have won the Open Division Title 4’xs in a row, the Hatred is because of the dominance these past 4 years. The Recruited story line has been played out soooo many times and it’s actually funny. Any parent who’s son is given a chance to play at St. Louis vs their Public School SHOULD take that opportunity all day, any day. If they don’t then that’s their choice….either way. Exactly how much recruiting do you think Saint Louis can do? How many young men after watching St. Louis tells their parents that they WANT TO GO to St. Louis? How many parents will sacrifice to send their son to St. Louis. I made the sacrifice and it was worth it Cannot wait for next year!!
I agree.. Tooo much high pride with Saint Louis. Since they beat one of the top ranking team in Vegas “Bishop Gorman” they thought they were unstoppable and can keep up with any of the HS football in the mainland. Well Gorman (rank #12) came to challenged a better a team Saint Louis (rank #7) and didn’t succeed. There was no excuses for Gorman. That the same concept Saint louis (rank #6/7) came to challenge St. Aquinas (rank #3). Sorry but no sorries, stop thinking of excuses and just feel the hurt for a week or 2… This is how other schools feel when they lose to a recruited school. At the end Saint Louis just got outclassed by a better team. Hats off to both teams.
Proud of the Crusaders for their hard work and representing the 808. You only get better by playing competition worthy of your talent and the 808 didn’t have any competition for you (besides Punahou). Too bad Botelho couldn’t play because he would have made a difference on the other side that St Thomas Acquinas favored. Hats off to Nick Herbig who showed he should be a 5 star recruit. Congrats to the men of Kalaepohaku on competing with a star studded and storied program like Acquinas. PS – Don’t listen to other 808 peeps who cannot support the 808 teams when they leave the rock and rep us all. It is 808 vs the world.
GO BIG RED!
@#15
I think Cal Lee took the points! They were in Vegas!
Saints got beat, no other way to say it. Glad they played the game. they did their best and came up short. Hope they get more chances at games like this in the future. All the butthurt “adults” on here just waiting for their chance to trash the team lol. Losers.
Lol. When you become Champs 4× of course a target gets painted on your back. Part of the game. Another thing, stop with this representing the “808”. Graphics on ESPN puts STL recruits all over the country except for the “808”. I’m sure Rolo tried. Smh.
MaxPreps:
1. (Last week 1) St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Record: 13-1
2. (2) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 12-1
3. (5) St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 15-0
Last week: Beat St. Louis (Honolulu) 35-19
4. (6) North Shore (Houston)
Record: 15-1
Last week: Beat Duncanville (Texas) 31-17
5. (4) St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
Record: 11-1
6. (3) Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 15-1
Last week: Lost to North Shore (Houston) 31-17
7. (11) Marietta (Ga.)
Record: 14-2
Last week: Beat Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.) 53-14
8. (8) IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 9-1
9. (9) Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)
Record: 14-0-1
10. (10) Chandler (Ariz.)
Record: 13-0
11. (12) Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio)
Record: 14-1
12. (13) De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Record: 12-2
13. (14) Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.)
Record: 14-1
14. (7) St. Louis (Honolulu)
Record: 12-1
94 team would have won Imo
You don’t play top teams consistently, MaxPreps & USAToday Top 25 won’t give you respect.
I hope they schedule more Top teams next year!
Wow its about time Saint Louis winning streaks come to an end! Majah shut down on the 2nd half!!! Like what ??? said, they need to compete more in the mainland to be the best. Love it that they got spanking.. Fo the parents like send there kids to Saint Louis cause they guaranteed win the state champs but your kid only 2nd and 3rd string shame on you for your own status. Let them play at school which they going really play instead of standing on the side line. Brah watching the game at Bishop last night and seeing over 50+ kids standing to watch the first string play.. SMH… Hopefully that stuff going around with DOE and OIA they lift the bacd for grade hold back students. Cause that would majah disruption to the eco HS system.. YESSS I HATING AND LOVING THAT SAINT LOUIS WAS DEFEATED!
It’s about time Saint Louis HS football got beat. Its ok to feel the defeat. Yes it depressing feeling to feel defeated. But this is the only way to be better. To level up and consider as top 25 HS football teams, play with the bigger recruited HS football teams. Schedule more out of state games to play the best to be the best so you guys get the recognition you guy deserve. Good luck to 2020!
I think people hate on St. Louis becasue they never recruited them or teams in the ILH in general. If anyone should be mad it should be the island of Kauai.
St. Louis showed its weakness in the defensive secondary, as oppose to an Aquinas’ secondary, whose closing speed was relentless. The STL offense relies on a short to medium passing attack that will produce yards after catch, same thing UH plays. Those yards after catch never materialized, and that was a significant scenario in determining the game. CLOSING SPEED, it’s a killer. Secondly, STL has no run game to speak of. They got a few good rushing yards late into the 4th qtr, but the games outlook was already predictable. It could have been a closer game between these two teams. I would put them both in the second tier of top HS teams because, truth be told, against Mater Dei or St John Bosco, either of these teams loses by 4-5 touchdowns.
Its never been a question of whether STL was talented enough to hang with the top teams on a one time end of the season game. The question has always been could they participate on a week to week basis against teams they would see in the Trinity League in the CIF Southern Section. Since that scenario is not feasible STL needs to schedule high caliber out of state opponents, both home and away. An out of state road trip once every 20 years won’t improve the program.
This was Cal and Ron Lees chance to show the genius that yall St. Louis people claimed they were. They got out coached against equal competition.
Easy to win in Hawaii when you are the only one recruiting and playing 5th year seniors.
Both STL and STA are good teams. STAs O- line was too big and athletic, and wore down STL in the second half by running the ball directly at STL. Both teams have talented players, but the difference was STSs line and the team speed of STA was noticable. Hats off to both teams for great seasons. And to all the jealous comments against both teams, please remember that these are young men who have worked hard for many weeks during the summer and played games for many months.
Good job St.Louis. Happy that you guys took advantage of the opportunity given. Hawaii football as a whole needs to bring their level up. We got to see what our best looks like against one of the Mainlands best. Hope the coaches and kids who watched this game learned something from it. As for my RedRaiders you guys need to hit the weight room & treadmill hard this off season.
Btw proud of those boys, proved they can play with anybody in the country.
The Crusaders tried to win but failed, but to a very very solid team from Florida, the Crusaders 38 game win streak came to an end from a mainland team, not a local team, so for the local teams Saint Louis still has that 38 game win streak on you, heheheheheheh, Saint Louis going for 5 peat next year, lost a lot of good players but still loaded with returnees, When Cal Lee and Ron Lee steps down from Saint Louis, it will be tough, but then everyone will be picking on Punahou for Recruiting, Is any of your NFL teams are unbeaten, hahahahahaha, streaks to come to an end and i’m glad it was not from the teams here, GO SAINTS, Congratulations Saint Thomas Aquinas, another good solid Catholic Private School.
Will you guys let ??? & the rest of the STL haters have their moment! They are far and few between so let them enjoy it. Great job hating. Congrats on all your success. Your hard work bashing kids has finally paid off.
Good Luck to all the boys headed to the next level. I wish I could say all Hawaii is behind you, but we all know that’s not true if you went to the Lou!!
I can tell many of us on this thread are in between the ages of 12 and 20. It’s difficult to tell the difference these days.
Stop hating on STL already. Let’s stop being ignorant to the fact that ALL schools can recruit. Kahuku plucks players from Samoa and Utah. Mililani from Wahiawa, Waipahu, and Ewa. Campbell from Makakilo and Kapolei. ILH is a free for all. Etc, etc, etc.
Once the talent gets to that level, it’s anyone’s game. This year alone Boscoe lost to Mater Dei by 14 one game, then won by five the next time they played. That’s a 19 point swing. That’s what makes the sport so beautiful. Every dog has it’s day.
Good job STL, but maybe next time be a little more classy. Controlled anger please.
@96730289..First, please give me the names of the players that were recruited by Kahuku from Samoa and Utah.
Second, The Crusaders had their chances especially in the first half, Should have taken a big lead before STA figured them out. “The Half Time Adjustments ” were crucial. But all in all Jayden and Nick really showcased their talents..Can’t wait to see them play on the next level..
Recruited not Rooted December 5, 2019 8:15 pm
Coach Cal and Coach Ron are by far and away the best coaches in Hawaii. Fortunately it will be put on full display for the nation to see on ESPN U Dec 21st when Saint Louis whoops Saint Thomas Aquinas or Saint Francis Academy. Let’s go Crusaders, rep the 808, you all make us proud.
@Rooted, you were half right Cal was on full display but he was far from the best coach as you say he is. Than you said STL going WHOOP STA or St Frances! I think you meant WHOOPS we should have stayed in Hawaii.
Just in from Vegas about an hour ago and noticed there are a lot of New posters who recently posted a bunch of “Stop Hating on STL already” after their recent loss to a pretty good big time recruiting STA.
@ Itiswhatitis, I no hate on the kids, I hate on the cocky adult bloggers on here that always Brag about how good STL is but quick to deny that they Recruit. Lol..
@#34 New guy who says everybody can Recruit? Till it is LEGAL like the ILH than you can talk.
FACTS are FACTS. The season ended on a good note, until next year.
@Recruited not Rooted
Read and listen to
#29seniorcitizen2020
Bumbye you learn…
St.Louis recruits all the elite OIA kids and then targets the disadvantaged OIA teams to pick on and force them to join the ILH in an OPEN conference where only they use the rules such as recruiting and 19yr old seniors to their advantage.
Specifically, if an OIA kid is showing signs of greatness in popwarner they are taught to hold the kid back in 8th grade and then transfer them to St.Louis in 9th grade.
The players are from all over the state so technically they do represent the entire 808 which is great but the St.Louis program and alumni only care about their inflated egos! STA shut them up real quick! HAHA!
Maybe if STL won Coaches Cal and Ron would have retired after next season because they achieved a goal. But now you may have to put up with them longer than that.
Congrats to St. Louis on a great season. Wish you could have won. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. Humble pie never tasted good. But regroup and if you guys get another chance, hang the L on them.
Crusaders represented the state pretty good. They had stupid mental breakdowns and couldn’t overcome injuries. Which is no excuse. They still showed they could compete. I thought Kahuku had all the haters. Looks like they jumped on the band wagon of hate over to the Lou. Sad.
Very proud of the boys. They competed all night. I was at the game and yes, obviously the turnovers killed us. The defense was on the field the whole second half and finally wore down to a huge offensive line with stud RBs. I was on the team that won 55 In a row and lost # 56 to canyon 0-40 if my memory serves me right. Still beat a talented Farrington team by 30 in the prep bowl. My point is no streaks last forever….learn from it and come back stronger…Kaleapohaku4Life.
To @ Recruited not rooted…I am not born and raised here in the Islands. I am a “transplant” but been living here for a number of years. First off, whether they go to STL or an OIA school, they are till rooted in Hawaii so stop hatin’ on them. Second, their parents choose to send them to STL because they see something there that will better their son. STL doesn’t go knocking on doors asking for their son to play football for their school. Just be proud of boys from Hawaii no matter where they decided to get their education.
@ 2ndstring
Reading your story I was ready to say finally, a humble STL alumni talking about his streak & how it ended.
But to NO one’s surprise you bring up STL
(Big Dog Recruiters) smashing an OIA Farrington team with only Kalihi kids.
When will you guys ADMIT there is a HUGE advantage between STL/PUN Recruiting stud kids compared to OIA district kids? Of course you SHOULD win every year, it’s NO surprise!
This is the MAIN reason why 90% of the State cheered when St Thomas Beat you guys in Vegas. We DON’T cheer against the Keiki; we cheer against Your COCKINESS. “JUST FACTS”
???-
Are you a proponent for the old format?
ILH and OIA only meet in pre-season and State Tournament?
Or none at all?
@ILoveHawaii
Prep Bowl is fine.
STL is on a another level and 99.9% of Hawaii coaches agree. They should compete on a National level..
IMHO: Break down OIA like they did when it was Red, White, Blue. Let coaches/AD decide if they want to go up or down. OIA coaches never know what type or how many kids they are getting year to year? One year they might have 50 & next year 25 like Kaimuki, whereas STL will never have less than 80 players. The main reason Damien, Iolani & Pac-5 Wanted to forfeit games Knowing they had ZERO chance against STL.
The same reason Kalani should NEVER be in the same division as Kahuku, Waianae, Mililani etc.