Saint Louis pulls away from Kahuku to win first Open Division title
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Saint Louis wide receiver Jonah Panoke hauled in a pass ahead of Kahuku defensive back Stokes Nihipali-Botelho for a touchdown in the first half tonight at Aloha Stadium.
Saint Louis senior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa accounted for two touchdowns and delivered the Crusaders their fourth state football championship in a 30-14 win over Kahuku on Saturday night in the inaugural Open Division final of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Football Championships at Aloha Stadium.
Tagovailoa threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Jonah Panoke to break the state’s all-time career passing mark held by Timmy Chang, and added a 30-yard touchdown run with 4:44 remaining to make it a two-possession game.
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Saint Louis senior Darcy Freitas sacked Kahuku freshman quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava on fourth down on the next drive and the Crusaders (10-1) snapped the Red Raiders’ 24-game winning streak against Hawaii teams.
Dylan Silva added a 43-yard touchdown run for Saint Louis, which outscored Kahuku 17-0 in the fourth quarter.
The game was a rematch of last year’s state final won by the Red Raiders, 39-14.
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Jacob Tobias made three field goals, including a 40-yarder with 11:50 remaining in the game that gave Saint Louis the lead for good.
The lead changed hands four times.
Kahuku (11-2) had won seven of the previous nine meetings against the Crusaders.
