St. Louis powerful
By Pat Bigold
despite distractions
Star-BulletinThe St. Louis football team, bolstered by its elevation to No. 6 in the National Prep Poll, and hindered by the distractions of the Las Vegas hotel incident probe, takes on Kamehameha tomorrow night at Aloha Stadium.
The 12-time defending Oahu Prep Bowl champions this morning awaited the possible announcement of player suspensions at a news conference.
But even if the St. Louis team is only reasonably intact, Kamehameha could still find difficulty keeping the game in hand.
The Crusaders, whose offensive arsenal seems unlimited, have scored 184 points to Kamehameha's 67.
The Warriors have allowed 34 points to 39 by St. Louis. But most of the points against St. Louis were allowed by second-half reserve defenders.
Last week against Iolani and the state's top running back, Joe Igber, St. Louis turned in a completely dominant first half and went into the locker room with a 41-0 lead.
Kamehameha poses more of a physical challenge for the Crusaders on defense, but St. Louis' passing attack has too many weapons.
Foremost on the receiving end is all-state junior slotback Gerald Welch, who scored on three receptions last weekend.
St. Louis also has been getting the kind of ground production it hoped to gain from senior running back Noah Campbell, who had 147 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown last weekend.
Campbell has given the Crusaders the strongest rushing game they've had in a few years. And it doesn't help opposing defenses that they have to give junior quarterback Timmy Chang a much higher degree of respect this season.
Chang, who was the quarterback of record in St. Louis' loss to Kamehameha last season, bounced back to conservatively lead the Crusaders over the Warriors in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu playoff championship game.
This year, Chang is no longer conservative. He can throw long and with accuracy. He completed 17 of 23 passes last week for 294 yards and four touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Igber is within 307 yards of the state career rushing record (3,404 yards) owned by former Kahuku High star Mark Atuaia.
First round ILH
W L T PF PA St. Louis 3 0 0 184 39 Iolani 2 1 0 93 107 Kamehameha 2 1 0 122 54 Pac-Five 1 2 0 70 109 Punahou 1 2 0 54 94 Damien 0 3 0 11 131Tomorrow's games
Punahou at Iolani, 3:15 p.m.
Damien vs. Pac-Five at Aloha Stadium, 5 p.m.
St. Louis vs. Kamehameha at Aloha Stadium, 7:45 p.m.
OIA Red
W L T PF PA Kahuku 4 0 0 198 32 Waianae 3 1 0 116 95 Farrington 2 1 1 31 43 Waipahu 1 2 0 46 57 McKinley 1 2 0 62 80 Campbell 0 2 1 7 71 Leilehua 0 3 0 2 84
OIA White
W L T PF PA Kailua 4 0 0 128 20 Mililani 3 1 0 91 50 Roosevelt 2 2 0 68 64 Castle 2 1 0 78 77 Moanalua 1 2 0 42 68 Nanakuli 0 3 0 43 87 Kaiser 0 3 0 12 96
OIA Blue
W L T PF PA Kaimuki 4 0 0 115 38 Radford 3 1 0 90 39 Kalaheo 2 1 0 82 35 Aiea 2 1 0 72 26 Kalani 1 3 0 20 89 Waialua 0 3 0 0 121 Pearl City 0 3 0 20 51
Campbell at Leilehua, 7:30 p.m.
McKinley at Waipahu, 7:30 p.m.
Farrington vs. Kahuku at Roosevelt, 7:30 p.m.
Castle at Kaiser, 7:30 p.m.
Nanakuli at Moanalua, 7:30 p.m.
Mililani at Kailua, 7:30 p.m.
Kalaheo vs. Aiea at Kailua, 7:30 p.m.
Waialua at Pearl City, 7:30 p.m.
Kalani vs. Kaimuki at Kaiser, 7:30 p.m.