Saint Louis powers past Kamehameha to earn first state berth since 2021

Saint Louis wide receiver Titan Lacaden (22) scores on a one yard run in the second quarter with 45 seconds left against Kamehameha in the ILH Open Division Football Championship Game at Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama Kūnuiākea Stadium. CJ Caraang | SL

For the first time since 2021, the Crusaders are heading back to states.

Saint Louis got four scores from Titan Lacaden and racked up 511 yards of total offense in a 33-9 win over Kamehameha, avenging its only league loss on Oct.5 and winning the ILH Open Division title.

"I won my freshman year with Coach Cal (Lee) and just to be back in the same spot my last year is such a good feeling and I'm so happy for the guys, the coaches, the fans and just the whole Saint Louis community," said Lacaden. "It wasn't easy getting here, but we got the job done."

The Crusaders cashed in immediately on its first possesion as long drive was capped by a one yard pass from Nainoa Lopes to Lacaden, but a two-point try on the conversion failed to make it 6-0.

Kamehameha had an answer on the ensuing drive, as a 50 yard TD keeper by Pono Kahaulelio was the highlight of a three play 75 yard drive to equalize the score at 6-all. The point after attempt by Madden Aquino glanced off the right goal post to keep the score tied.

Lopes got his second passing score of the evening to put the Crusaders back into the lead for good, connecting with Jordan Nunuha from six yards out for a 13-6 lead after a Stytyn Lasconia kicked through the PAT.

Kamehameha got into the red zone midway through the second but settled for a 24 yard field goal by Aquino that made it 13-9, before Saint Louis closed the half with a scoring drive that was kept alive with a 33 yard gain by Mana Antoque on a perfectly executed fake punt.

"We actually practice it a lot," said Lopes, who also serves as the team's punter. "We try to look a where the line is and try to wedge it right through. It was going to be a fake the whole way."

Thanks to that conversion on fourth down, the Crusaders were able to punch in another score to close out the half, a one yard plunge by Lacaden, making it 19-9.

Saint Louis' defense kept the slate clean in the second half, picking off two passes and keeping the Kamehameha offense from finding success on chunk plays as they did in the first.

"It really starts for us in the trenches, our D-line getting that pressure up and trusting our DB behind us to make a good play," said Vincent Tautua.

That stifiling defense, coupled with a steady dose of the run game via Lacaden, Lopes, Tenari Maafala and Taylen Kekawa, sustained drives for the Crusaders and kept the clock running and the Warriors' defense on the field.

Lacaden scored twice more in the second half, one in each quarter, from five yards out in the third, then from six in the fourth. He finished the evening with 25 carries for 146 yards. Maafala bulldozed his way to 21 yards as a change of pace back to the shifty Lacaden and Lopes chipped in 59 rushing yards of his own.

Lasconia led the Crusaders' receiving corps with four catches for 71 yards. Nunuha had 53 yards and Hashley Kingston Siliado four grabs for 42.

Up next for Saint Louis is a date with Campbell in the semifinals of the HHSAA Open Division Championships, set for Nov.15. The Sabers were upended by Kahuku, 33-15, in the OIA title game, the first setback for Campbell this season.