Intentional losses are apparently not in Saint Louis’ proud football DNA.
The Crusaders made a statement in the opening game of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s convoluted Open Division tiebreaker system by routing Punahou, 35-3, at Radford High on Friday night.
It sets up a winner-take-all game against Kamehameha at Kunuiakea Stadium at 7 p.m. for the overall ILH title and the league’s lone berth to the HHSAA Open tournament. The game site and time was moved from Radford High at 6 p.m. due to rainy conditions throughout the week.
Saint Louis had the best record (3-1) during the ILH first and second rounds, but Kamehameha (2-2) was the beneficiary of a random card draw that gave it a bye and also created a confusing subplot.
The ILH’s tiebreaker system included a loophole that Saint Louis could’ve opted to forfeit Friday’s game to rest up and force Punahou and Kamehameha to play each other next week, with the winner facing Saint Louis for all the marbles on Nov. 15.
But Tupu Alualu’s Crusaders, after spotting Punahou a 3-0 second-quarter lead, came to play. They ran off 35 straight points, with quarterback Nainoa Lopes tossing three touchdown passes.
Titan Lacaden caught a touchdown and ran for one for the Crusaders (6-3 overall), who racked up 411 yards of total offense to Punahou’s 145.
Punahou, which went 1-3 against Saint Louis and Kamehameha during the ILH first and second rounds, needed to win three tiebreaker games starting with Friday’s contest. Things started promising for coach Nate Kia’s team with a 30-yard field goal by Dash Watanabe for a 3-0 lead in the second.
The Buffanblu, the ILH’s Open champions the last two years and the state runners-up in 2022, head into the offseason with a 3-6 record.
Note: This story has been updated with a site and time change for Friday night's playoff game between Kamehameha and Saint Louis.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.