Saint Louis defensive lineman Faatui Tuitele enjoyed a personal homecoming in the Crusaders’ visit to Farrington on Friday.
The highly recruited senior grew up in Kalihi, about five minutes from where Skippa Diaz Stadium stands, and contributed to a dominant performance as the top-ranked Crusaders rolled to a 72-6 rout of the Governors in an OIA-ILH Open Division matchup.
“It meant a lot to me. This was one of the most anticipated games that I was waiting for his whole season,” Tuitele said. “To play in front of my family and friends here in Kalihi meant a lot to me and I couldn’t be any prouder of my boys.”
Saint Louis linebacker Nicholas Herbig ignited the Crusaders (7-0, 6-0 ILH Open) — who had already wrapped up the top seed in the upcoming ILH Open playoffs — with an interception return for a touchdown 75 seconds into the game and quarterback Jayden de Laura completed 13 of 17 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns in less than a half of action.
“They played hard — unfortunately (Farrington) had some injuries,” Saint Louis coach Cal Lee said.
Tuitele was part of a ferocious Saint Louis defensive front that pushed Farrington back for minus-10 yards in total offense in the first half and held the Governors to 4 yards for the game.
“That’s what we look for, to set the tone on defense,” Tuitele said. “That’s our goal, and I think Nick having that pick-6 really lit the fire.”
De Laura began his night with a 37-yard completion to Makoa Close, but the drive ended with a fumble. The Crusaders reached the end zone on their next six possessions, with de Laura throwing touchdown passes to Close (15 yards) and Roman Wilson (25 yards).
Farrington (2-7, 1-3 OIA Open) was without quarterback Chris Afe-Alaivanu due to an injury suffered earlier in the day and trailed 28-0 in the second quarter when Raymond Millare delivered the Governors’ highlight with a 95-yard kickoff return.
“From the previous kick returns I saw them coming through the middle and I would have bounced out, but this one I followed my blockers and finally broke through,” Millare said.
Keanu Wallace nearly answered for Saint Louis with a 73-yard return and de Laura scored on a 3-yard run. Sam and Robbie Paikai and Dayton Sam rushed for two touchdowns each and backup quarterbacks Connor Apo and Alexander Bianco also scored on runs.
“I think what we get out of this is our underclassmen get to see what the No. 1 team in the state is like … and that’s a program I think that you would want to model,” Farrington coach Daniel Sanchez said.
GAME SUMMARY
No. 1 Saint Louis 72, Farrington 6
At Farrington
>> St. Louis (7-0, 6-0) 21 30 14 7 — 72
>> Farrington (2-7, 1-3) 0 6 0 0 — 6
St. Louis — Nicholas Herbig 18 interception return (Garyn Napuunoa kick)
St. Louis — Makoa Close 15 pass from Jayden de Laura (Napuunoa kick)
St. Louis — Roman Wilson 25 pass from de Laura (Napuunoa kick)
St. Louis — Robbie Paikai 9 run (Napuunoa kick)
Farrington — Raymond Millare 95 kickoff return (kick blocked)
St. Louis — de Laura 3 run (Napuunoa kick)
St. Louis — Dayton Sam 5 run (Napuunoa kick)
St. Louis — Safety, snap out of end zone
St. Louis — Paikai 18 run (Napuunoa kick)
St. Louis — Sam 53 run (Napuunoa kick)
St. Louis — Connor Apo 1 run (Soma Kasahara kick)
St. Louis — Alexander Bianco 23 run (Napuunoa kick)
RUSHING — Saint Louis: Sam 6-69, Logan Kalawaia 1-57, Paikai 5-38, Bianco 1-23, de Laura 3-7, Chandan Sappal 1-5, Connor Apo 2-4, Team 3-(minus-6). Farrington: Samsen Tanuvasa 15-54, Millare 3-12, Zion Lista 2-5, Team 1-(minus-10), Richard Tagataese 10-(minus-60).
PASSING — Saint Louis: de Laura 13-17-0-254, Apo 0-2-0-0, Sappal 2-2-0-20. Farrington: Tagataese 3-8-1-3.
RECEIVING — Saint Louis: Close 4-101, Wilson 3-66, Chance Beyer 3-46, Koali Nishigaya 2-36, Po’okela Louis 1-14, Lexzen-Rhain Agbayani Shibao 1-6. Tama Albert Sula 1-5. Farrington: Tugase Williams 1-2, AJ Fernandez 1-1.
* JV — Saint Louis 41, Farrington 20
