JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Saint Louis' Kamalu Umu recovered a Kamehameha fumble in the fourth quarter, setting up a field goal by the Crusaders' Matthew Terry that gave Saint Louis a 17-7 lead and put the game out of reach for the Warriors.

Crusaders create 3-way tie

Saint Louis closed the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's regular-season schedule with a 17-7 victory over Kamehameha last night at Aloha Stadium, creating a three-way logjam for first place and a lot of uncertainty.

The Crusaders' win, coupled with Punahou's rout of Pac-Five in yesterday's early game, forged the tie atop the ILH Division I standings. The tiebreaker scenarios will be determined today after a meeting of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association football committee, followed by a meeting of ILH officials.

The ILH's situation could be affected by whether the league receives a bye in the state tournament, which starts in two weeks.

"We're just going to go back to the school and hopefully we can celebrate for a little bit," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said. "We did what we had to do; now the league has to decide what they want to do."

Kamehameha (8-3, 5-2), the defending league and state champion, could have ended the questions with a win in their regular-season finale. But the Warriors' second loss to the Crusaders (7-3, 5-2) this season kept Saint Louis' and Punahou's title hopes -- and the confusion -- alive.

"We just have to wait and see what happens and what the ADs can come up with," Kamehameha coach Doss Tannehill said.

Saint Louis scored on its first and last possessions of the first half to take a 14-7 lead into halftime, then relied on a dominant defensive performance to extend its season.

The Crusaders limited Kamehameha to 104 total yards and just six first downs in the game and forced two fumbles in the fourth quarter to protect their lead.

"Give all the credit to our defense," Tengan said. "The defensive staff did an excellent job preparing our guys and that was the key to the game tonight.

"The saying is defense wins championships and that held true tonight."

The Saint Louis defense stuffed the Kamehameha running game, holding the Warriors to 15 yards on the ground.

"The whole key to defense is slowing them down on first down and I think our defense did that," Tengan said. "When you don't allow them to run the ball, then their play-action is ineffective. If they're running the ball, then play-action is much more dangerous."

Saint Louis quarterback Cameron Higgins passed for 170 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score to give the Crusaders the lead. A late field goal by Matthew Terry put the game out of reach.

Receiver Cameron Bayne had four catches for 87 yards and a TD and running back Cody Wells ran for 92 yards, 54 coming in the second half as the Crusaders kept the ball away from Kamehameha.

Higgins completed all five of his passes on the Crusaders' opening drive, as Saint Louis drove 76 yards in eight plays and scored on Bayne's 17-yard touchdown reception.

Saint Louis caught a break when a Kamehameha penalty wiped out an interception in their scoring drive, but wasn't as fortunate later in the quarter.

An interception by Kamehameha's Kamuela Brito and a penalty on Saint Louis gave the Warriors the ball at the Saint Louis 9. Warriors quarterback George Kaai then found Aaron Nichols in the right corner of the end zone for the tying score.

Saint Louis regained the lead late in the second quarter with a little help from the Warriors. A late hit on third down extended the Crusaders' drive, and Higgins took advantage with a 27-yard completion to Shane Ahlo and a 19-yard pass to Jordan Paty-Miner. He then scored on a 2-yard run with 18 seconds left in the half.

The defenses dominated the second half, with neither offense generating a scoring threat until late in the fourth quarter.

Kamehameha managed to move the ball into Saint Louis territory twice in the final period only to fumble the ball away.

The Crusaders pounced on a wayward shotgun snap to end a Kamehameha possession. They forced another turnover on Kamehameha's next drive when Scott Smith knocked the ball out of Kaai's hands and Kamalu Umu recovered with 6:27 left.

Saint Louis kept the ball on the ground and Terry's 25-yard field goal put the game away with 2:33 left.