Jason Gesser was no exception last night as he led the 10-time defending Interscholastic League of Honolulu and Prep Bowl champion Crusaders to a 34-7 romp over Waianae High before 5,553 fans at Aloha Stadium.
Gesser, who was third string in 1995 behind two-time all-state quarterback Darnell Arceneaux and his backup, Palani Nunes, completed 10 of 18 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns.
"I had butterflies," he said. "Everybody talks about Darnell and that's always in your mind. I'm just doing my best right now to fill his shoes."
Gesser looked unsure of himself at the outset, failing to gain any aerial yardage over the first two series and getting sacked once.
"It was typical first-game excitement, anxiety, jitters," said St. Louis coach Cal Lee. "He needed this under his belt and he'll get better as the weeks go by."
Midway through the second quarter, Gesser began to dismiss the second-guessers.
After Randyn Akiona had an 81-yard punt return called back to the 50, Gesser hooked up with him on a 32-yard pass play to the Waianae 18. He followed to a 16-yard connection to Craig Stutzman at the 2.
All-State linebacker Jacob Yoro polished off the drive in a rare offensive appearance, bursting up the middle to give St. Louis a lead that would only expand.
Eight seconds into the second quarter, Gesser tossed a 24-yard TD pass to Gordon Schilling.
"After the first two series, I got into the flow of things," Gesser said. "I have confidence in my receivers and O-line and after a while, it all flowed."
Gesser threw a 49-yard scoring pass to Stutzman to send the Crusaders into the locker room with a 20-7 halftime lead.
His last touchdown pass was a 79-yard connection with Akiona. It came on a short inside screen pass that allowed Akiona to display his sizzling breakaway speed.
Akiona caught four passes for 130 yards.
Waianae's touchdown came on Josh Meyer's one-yard plunge up the middle with 6:29 left in the first half.
It was set up by Travis Kaopuiki's recovery of a St. Louis fumble on the Crusader 31.
St.Louis 7 13 7 7 - 34 Waianae 0 7 0 0 - 7
St.L-Yoro 2 run (Koyama kick)
St.L-Schilling 24 pass from Gesser (Koyama kick)
Wain-Meyer 1 run (Pave kick)
St.L-Stutzman 49 pass from Gesser (kick failed)
St.L-Akiona 79 pass from Gesser (Lau kick)
St.L-Campbell 10 run (Lau kick)