[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
Delbert Tengan ushered in his reign as St. Louis football coach with a 28-6 preseason win at Nanakuli last night. That the Crusaders won is no surprise; it's the way he did it that was most surprising. St. Louis wins
Tengan’s debut15,000 tickets solf for doubleheader
Governors roll over Pac-Five
By Jerry Campany
jcampany@starbulletin.comTengan's Crusaders used a stiff defense and dominating running game to turn back the Golden Hawks, winning despite 11 dropped passes and only 154 yards in the air.
"There's no reason to worry. We're coming around," Tengan said. "We just had a lot of drive stoppers and kept hurting ourselves. We just need to finish."
St. Louis' passing problems were evident early, but the Crusaders still scored on their first possession after the Golden Hawks forced them into a fourth down and 3 from the 27-yard line. St. Louis went for the end zone and got it, with sophomore Stanley Nihipali hooking up with Makaala Kuewa.
St. Louis struggled with the passing game, but B.J. Batts bailed them out on the ground time after time. He gained 178 yards on 18 carries before sitting down in the fourth quarter. Batts got the Crusaders' second score on a 16-yard sprint that took St. Louis out of a third and goal situation and capped a third-quarter drive with a score.
"Once we got him running straight he did a good job," Tengan said. "We needed him and the running game to take pressure off our young quarterback."
Nihipali played the entire game except the final drive, completing 14 of 37 attempts. He had a defense to give him time to learn though. The defense only allowed the Golden Hawks three first downs -- two by penalty -- and just 6 yards until the Crusaders committed two penalties to allow Nanakuli to drive 38 yards to the 1-yard line. Even then, Nanakuli had four chances to punch the ball in but couldn't do it.
Nanakuli did score on its next drive though, mixing St. Louis mistakes with scrambles by Albert Distajo, capped off with a juggled 22-yard reception by Less Schnabel.
At Nanakuli H.S.
St. Louis 13 9 6 0 -- 28 Nanakuli 0 0 0 6 -- 6 StL--Makaala Kuewa 27 pass from Stanley Nihipali (Michael Houar kick)
StL--B.J. Batts 16 run (kick failed)
StL--Wilson Afoa safety
StL--Kuewa 26 pass from Nihipali (Houar kick)
StL--Batts 5 run (kick failed)
Nan--Less Schnabel 22 pass from Albert Distajo (kick failed)RUSHING -- St. Louis: Batts 18-178, Marcus Higa 5-28, Justin Kruse 7-49, Derrick Hohu 1-5, Nihipali 2-12. Nanakuli: Schnabel 8-(-5), Ikaika Asinsin 6-17, Distajo 9-22, Kyle Beck 2-1.
PASSING -- St. Louis: Nihipali 14-37-1-154 . Nanakuli: Distajo 5-15-0-84.
RECEIVING -- St. Louis: Shawn Kauleinamoku 3-19, Kuewa 3-84, Shane Butcher 4-36, Jon Amano 3-43. Nanakuli: Schnabel 1-22, Asinsin 1-19, Jimmy Afamasaga 1-4, Asher Valanzuela 2-19.
BACK TO TOP |
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association has sold more than 15,000 tickets for its Sept. 21 HHSAA Football Classic. 15,000 tickets sold for doubleheader
HHSAA Executive Director Keith Amemiya said 15,671 tickets had been sold as of Friday for the doubleheader that features Kahuku taking on Long Beach Poly and St. Louis facing defending national champion De La Salle. The figure includes presale tickets sold through the participating schools and early sales to the general public.
"Considering the games are still about a month away, this is a great start," Amemiya said. "However, good seats are still available and we're hoping many more fans purchase tickets to cheer on St. Louis and Kahuku on Sept. 21."
Amemiya said St. Louis, Kahuku and De La Salle sold their entire initial allotment of presale tickets, and Long Beach Poly officials anticipate that they will also sell nearly all of their tickets.
Tickets can be purchased in person or by phone through the Aloha Stadium box office and TicketPlus outlets.
Jason Kaneshiro,
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com