[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
St. Louis' Shane Butcher tried to get past Farrington's Taeao Fagalele last night. The Crusaders pulled out the win, 41-23.
No matter what Linda Lingle or Ben Cayetano can muster for the rest of this year, after last night's state quarterfinal game at Aloha Stadium, there is no doubt -- Farrington's Matt Bell is Hawaii's most exciting Governor. Crusaders get past Govs
By Marc Dixon
mdixon@starbulletin.comIn the first half alone, Bell managed to recover a fumble, return a kick, catch two touchdown passes, throw a pass for 30 yards, punt twice and rush for 41 yards as Farrington surprised ILH Champion St. Louis and took a 17-14 lead into halftime.
However, the second-half told a different story as St. Louis' talented foursome of Bobby George, Jason Rivers, Justin Cabansag and B.J. Batts helped St. Louis score on its first four possessions of the second half and defeat Farrington 41-23.
St. Louis advanced to the semifinals Friday and will play Waimea at 5 p.m. Castle and McKinley will meet at 8 p.m. in the other semifinal. Both games will be at Aloha Stadium.
After the Crusaders defense forced Farrington into a three-and-out to start the second half, St. Louis seized the momentum and the game in the third quarter when the Crusaders outgained Farrington 136 yards to 31 and outscored the OIA's fourth seed 14-0.
"That's the most intense I've ever seen our coaches," said George. "But I guess it worked, all the yelling paid off."
With Kahuku and Kamehameha eliminated from this year's tournament, many had projected the event to be a formality for the Crusaders. However, the first play of the game demonstrated that Farrington was not among those believing that particular theory. After St. Louis' George hit receiver Rivers on a comeback route for 11 yards, Rivers was stripped by Jay Ocol and Bell recovered for the Governors on the St. Louis 42. The fumble was the first of four first-half turnovers for the Crusaders.
Following a blocked Bell punt by the Crusaders' Tualau Fale, George tossed his first interception in 70 attempts as Jerome Crisostomo made the first of his two interceptions. Farrington marched 80 yards on 10 plays to grab the game's first lead. Facing a fourth-and-six, Governor quarterback Royce Machado scrambled out of the grasp of Chris Perreira and hung a 31-yard pass up for grabs in the direction of Bell and St. Louis cornerback Jonah Lakatani. The 5-foot-11 Bell outjumped the 5-7 Lakatani and Farrington led 7-0.
Following the kickoff, the ILH representatives answered with a 64-yard drive, capped by an end-around to Rivers from 2 yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
On the ensuing possessions, two plays after he returned the kickoff to his own 20, Bell hit Dionte Nomaaea on a 30-yard halfback option pass. Nine plays later, Farrington reassumed the lead on a Smith Lafaele 31-yard field goal. The teams then traded touchdowns passes as George found Shane Butcher for a 27-yard touchdown and Bell and Machado hooked up again on another jump-ball for a 16-yard score and the halftime advantage.
"Our guys played their hearts out and that's all I can ask from them," said Farrington coach Randall Okimoto. "This team came a long way from going 1-6-1 to experiencing a berth in the state tournament and playing well against St. Louis."
At Aloha Stadium
St. Louis (8-2) 7 7 14 13 -- 41 Farrington (6-6) 7 10 0 6 -- 23 Farr-- Matt Bell 31 pass from Royce Machado (Smith Lafaele kick)
StL-- Jason Rivers 2 run (Kaeo Adams kick)
Farr-- Lafaele 31 FG
StL-- Shane Butcher 27 pass from Bobby George (Adams kick)
Farr-- Bell 16 pass from Machado (Lafaele kick)
StL-- B.J. Batts 49 run (Adams kick)
StL-- Rivers 28 pass from George (Adams kick)
StL-- Justin Cabansag 1 run (Adams kick)
StL-- Batts 3 run (kick failed)
Farr-- Bell 31 pass from Machado (run failed)RUSHING -- St. Louis: Cabansag 10-61, Batts 11-102, Rivers 2-17, Wyatt Williams 3-14, Derrick Hohu 1-(-2), Kealii Perbera 1-9, Justin Kruse 1-(-3), Stanley Nihipali 1-20. Farrington: Bell 14-50, Jostin Waialae 2-3, Machado 12-51, Team 1-(-18).
PASSING -- St. Louis: George 20-28-3-225. Farrington: Machado 17-25-0-196, Bell 2-3-0-59.
RECEIVING -- St. Louis: Butcher 5-54, Rivers 10-137, Batts 1-(-1), Johhny Gentry 3-24, Cabansag 1-11. Farrington: Dionte Nomaaea 8-125, Alvin Faumui 1-17, Bell 10-113.
Att: 5,599
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