JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Saint Louis receiver Billy Stutzmann eluded Kamehameha's Walter Calistro to score the winning touchdown n the Crusaders' 28-20 win over the Warriors last night at Aloha Stadium.

Crusaders pass on Warriors

Held to just a pittance of catches for more than a half, Billy Stutzmann came up with a 39-yard touchdown reception and a fourth-down scoring play to spark No. 1 Saint Louis over third-ranked Kamehameha 28-20 last night at Aloha Stadium.

The win kept Saint Louis unbeaten at 2-0 in the tough Interscholastic League of Honolulu (4-0 overall) despite Kamehameha's innovative wrinkles on the offensive side of the ball.

The Warriors scored early enough, but after halftime, struggled to move the ball against the Crusaders. Kamehameha (3-2, 0-1) ran for only 14 yards and passed for 57 after the break.

"Saint Louis is known for making those second-half adjustments," Warriors receiver Pii Minns said.

After Stutzmann's touchdown snags gave Saint Louis a 28-20 lead, the Crusaders ran out the final 6:58. Austin Wakinekona rushed for 95 of his game-high 99 yards in the second half behind a tireless offensive line.

"They're real vocal during the play, before the snap," Saint Louis quarterback Jeremy Higgins said. "We tried to mix it up and show them what they haven't seen."

The line, fronted by Katson Gleason, Haaheo Kaohi, Mana Greig, Nick Andres and Tytan Timoteo was the anchor of Saint Louis' 398 yards in total offense.

Higgins completed 22 of 33 pass attempts for 330 yards, four touchdowns and no picks.

"He makes some good reads now," Greig said.

Saint Louis' defense contained Kamehameha scrambler Edmund Kamano Jr., who passed for 96 yards, but was sacked three times. Crusader defensive back Casey Kamakana thwarted a number of deep balls by Kamano to Maika Mataele before leaving the game with a leg injury in the fourth quarter.

"We tried to gamble more on long passes, but (20) is a good corner," Kamano said.

A humid night at Aloha Stadium was an additional test for both defenses. The Crusaders drove 71 yards in just five plays to open the game. Higgins found Trevor Mau in the middle of the secondary, and Mau sliced through two defenders en route to a 42-yard touchdown.

Kamehameha answered quickly. The Warriors unveiled a new look - a double-tight-end set that resembled an unbalanced line - and ran five plays in a row from this formation. Ryan Ho gained 51 of his team's 54 yards, including a 13-yard jaunt around the right side for a score. The point-after kick hit the right upright, and Kamehameha trailed 7-6 with 7:06 left in the opening quarter.

Higgins marched his offense right down the field on the ensuing series. He completed five passes to four different receivers out of the shotgun and found Lucas Gonsalves open in the left corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass that gave the Crusaders a 14-6 lead with 3:53 remaining in the first.

The Warriors ran into penalty issues in their next possession, but after a three and out by Saint Louis, found success again. A 13-play, 80-yard drive culminated with a 6-yard scoring burst up the middle by Ho, who broke through a pile at the 2-yard line.

Full of new wrinkles, Kamehameha lined up in a one-back formation with a wing, and Kamano used a play-action pass to tight end Kepoo Noa for a 2-point play on the conversion to tie the game at 14 with 5:18 remaining in the second quarter.

A quiet third quarter turned into an eruption. Kamehameha overcame a holding call and drove 72 yards in 16 plays, converting five third downs. A third-and-18 pass from Kamano to Ho on a screen netted a first down to the Saint Louis 15-yard line.

Ho ran around the right side for a 25-yard gain on third and 11 to set up Kamano's 1-yard sneak for the go-ahead score. A bad snap on the ensuing PAT foiled the try, but Kamehameha led 20-14 with 2:23 to go in the third quarter.

The Crusaders responded with a five-play, 69-yard scoring march. Higgins found Stutzmann on a slant route, and the speedster raced to paydirt for a 39-yard touchdown. Warren Spencer's PAT kick was true and Saint Louis led 21-20 with 48 seconds left in the third.

An interception by Crusader safety Marcus Umu at midfield - which led to an ejection of one player from each team - set up another Saint Louis score. Higgins found Gonsalves open for a 27-yard gain, and Austin Wakinekona ran four times in a row for 33 yards.

On fourth and 2 from the 3-yard line, Higgins fired a bullet to Stutzmann on a slant for another touchdown. The Crusaders led 28-20 with 8:44 to play.