Saints take it out
on Buffs
With the Saint Louis football team still fuming over an upset loss last week, Punahou had the misfortune of being next on the schedule for the Crusaders.
A week after falling to Iolani, the Crusaders took their frustrations out on the Buffanblu, rolling to a 42-0 win in the second game of last night's Interscholastic League of Honolulu doubleheader at Aloha Stadium.
"Our players felt embarrassed by our performance last week and they were determined to make up for how we played," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said.
"Any time your pride is hurt a little bit, you're going to come out stronger and you want to show what you really can do, and that was the focal point of this week."
Junior quarterback Cameron Higgins, making his first career start in place of injured Stanley Nihipali, led a balanced Saint Louis offense by completing 10 of 17 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Crusaders (6-2, 4-1) to the win on homecoming night.
"He did everything we expected him to do," Tengan said. "I just told him before the game, 'Don't do anything above and beyond what you're supposed to do, stay within yourself' and he did a nice job of doing that. The offense and defense did a good job of supporting him."
Shane Perry was on the receiving end of all three touchdown passes and finished with 72 yards. Running back Kevin Sullivan ran for 96 yards and a score.
"This was extremely big because this was a must-win game," Perry said. "(Higgins) did a great job this week, every ball was perfect, right where it needed to be."
Punahou struggled to sustain drives against the Crusaders defense and dropped to 3-5 overall, 1-4 in the league.
The Buffanblu managed 141 yards in total offense to Saint Louis' 414.
"We're young, but that's no excuse for the way we played, we need to play a little bit better," Punahou coach Kale Ane said.
"It's hard for us to move the ball without making mistakes. We can't seem to get back from third-and-12, third-and-15."
Nihipali suffered a separated right (throwing) shoulder in the second quarter of Saint Louis' loss to Iolani last week, forcing Higgins into the lineup.
Higgins responded by leading the Crusaders on a 10-play, 90-yard scoring drive on Saint Louis' first possession. He capped the drive by hitting Perry on a post pattern for a 27-yard touchdown pass.
Higgins' 15-yard scramble on fourth-and-6 at the Punahou 31 extended the Crusaders' first drive of the second quarter. Sullivan then ripped through the Punahou defense for a 16-yard TD run.
Shaun Kauleinamoku scored on a 9-yard run around the left side and Higgins ended the half by completing a 35-yard toss to Perry. The pass was tipped in the end zone by a Punahou defender and fell into Perry's hands, giving Saint Louis a 27-0 halftime lead.
