NHFS Network

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NHFS Network

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Saint Louis took an early lead against the No. 12 team in the country, but ultimately fell to host Bishop Gorman, 42-21, in a non-league football game in Las Vegas Friday.

The Crusaders (0-1), who have won the last four Open Division state championships and are ranked atop the ScoringLive Power Rankings, were making their 2021 season debut. It was the first prep football game played involving a team from Hawaii since Dec. 21, 2019, when Saint Louis lost to Florida 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas — which also took place at Bishop Gorman's Fertitta Field.

Saint Louis opened the scoring with quarterback A.J. Bianco's 25-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Bishop Gorman pulled even on Camron Barfield's 1-yard TD run later in the stanza. Barfield, a Boston College-commit, ran for five total scores on the night. He broke free for a 57-yard scamper to the house early in the second quarter to give the Gaels their first lead.

Freshman running back Ola Apduhan found the end zone on a short run to answer for the Crusaders, who tied it at 14 on Lason Napuunoa's extra point.

Barfield put Gorman ahead for good with a 3-yard TD run and scored once more just before the half, on a 1-yard run. He added a 20-yard TD run in the third quarter before Palaie Faoa recovered a Saint Louis fumble in the end zone — on a snap over the head of the punter — for another Gorman touchdown.

Saint Louis got a touchdown in the closing minutes to close out the scoring.

It was the second meeting between the teams in three years.

The Gaels (1-0) avenged their 31-19 loss to the Crusaders, which took place on Aug. 30, 2019 at Aloha Stadium.

Saint Louis has a bye next week before opening the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season against No. 4 Punahou on Sept. 3.