Business was taken care of the past two days.
On deck? A rematch between No. 1 and No. 2 of a game that went to double overtime.
Second-ranked Saint Louis followed No. 1 Punahou’s win Thursday night with a 31-7 victory over ‘Iolani on Friday night at Aloha Stadium, setting the stage for the biggest rematch of the year.
The Crusaders (6-1, 4-1 ILH) will meet the Buffanblu (8-0, 5-0) on Oct. 17 at Aloha Stadium with the ILH Division I title on the line. A Punahou victory would mean a fifth consecutive ILH crown for the Buffanblu. A win by Saint Louis would mean a playoff to determine the champion and the league’s only berth to the state tournament.
"I’m hoping they come out fired up and realize what’s at stake," Saint Louis coach Cal Lee said. "The season could be one and done. It could be our last game."
While Punahou starting quarterback Ephraim Tuliloa looks healthy following a school-record 442-yard performance on 41-for-52 passing Thursday against Kamehameha, Saint Louis continues to have injury concerns at quarterback.
Junior Tua Tagovailoa threw for 250 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 80 yards and two more scores, but again had to be escorted off the field by trainers following his 23-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
He did not return to the game and walked with a heavy limp up the ramp in the north end zone toward the bus.
His defense stepped up against the Raiders after ‘Iolani senior Christian Naeole returned a fumble 79 yards for the game’s first touchdown.
Saint Louis didn’t allow a point the rest of the way and sacked ‘Iolani quarterback Tai-John Mizutani six times.
"I think we’re more confident," linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia said. "We cannot have any stupid penalties like we had last time (against Punahou) and have to play as one."
Jordan Iosefa and Tanielu Evaimalo had two sacks apiece to help hold the Raiders to 125 total yards.
‘Iolani (2-6, 0-5) played without its top two running backs, KJ Pascua and Gafoaleata Fetui-Salavea, and leading receiver Keoni-Kordell Makekau, who were hurt last week against Punahou.
"We had pretty good drives, but we just can’t finish drives," ‘Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "We need guys to be able to win and we don’t have those guys right now."
Look said Fetui-Salavea is done for the season but Pascua, the team’s leading rusher, and Makekau, who has 2,288 career receiving yards, could return for the season finale against Kamehameha.
Tagovailoa played all but one snap in the first half and was 14-for-24 for 178 yards at the break as the Crusaders led 17-7.
Naeole, who also had two sacks, scored on the return after Saint Louis fumbled the pitch on an option play.
Tagovailoa hit Lanakila Wilson on a 13-yard touchdown pass and added scoring runs of 5 and 23 yards.
Justin Tobias drilled a 25-yard field goal and Ronson Young caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who was 6-for-8 for 76 yards.
Young had a big game with 10 catches for 147 yards.
"(Young) made some big plays," Lee said. "It’s (a situation) where we look for our guys but somebody (else) steps up and we’re so happy for him the way he’s performed."
St. Francis 21, Damien 6
The Saints earned their first ILH victory ever last week.
This week, St. Francis handed the Monarchs their first loss of the season.
Tyson Shimabukuro rushed for 109 of the Saints’ 241 yards on the ground as St. Francis (4-4, 2-2) outplayed the Monarchs to finish its regular season 4-4 overall and 2-2 in ILH Division II play.
Damien (5-1, 2-1), which had never started a season 5-0, needs to beat Pac-Five next week to win the ILH Division II title and earn a state berth. Otherwise, all three teams will finish 2-2 in league play, causing a wild tiebreaker scenario.
The Monarchs were held to 52 rushing yards on 26 attempts. Quarterback Bransen Apao was 8-for-19 for 125 but was intercepted twice.
Micah Kalei returned one of those picks 46 yards for a touchdown to give St. Francis a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
Damien scored its only points on a fake punt. Cody Labanon lined up as the punter and floated a pass to Shawn Borges, who broke five tackles down the sideline to score on a 35-yard reception.
Damien was forced to punt the ball away with 4:57 remaining in the game and three timeouts, but the snap was low and St. Francis recovered on the Monarchs’ 8-yard line.
Quarterback Wembley Mailei scored on an 8-yard keeper on the next play to make it 21-6.
St. Francis kicker Chenoa Johnston was a perfect 3-for-3 on extra-point tries.
The Saints’ 241 rushing yards came on 55 attempts. St. Francis tried only three passes.