St. Louis rallies past Farrington
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
For St. Louis, it was all about re-establishing itself as the state's best football team.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
After losing in the two previous finals of the Chevron State Football Championships, the Crusaders took their first step toward reclaiming bragging rights with a 41-23 victory over Farrington in a quarterfinal game last night at Aloha Stadium.
St. Louis' Chris Perreira chases down Farrington quarterback Royce Machado in the first period.
"That's our goal, but we're going to have to play a lot better next week," St. Louis coach Delbert Tengan said.
St. Louis (9-2), 17-time defending Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, will play Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion Waimea in the semifinals next Friday.
The Crusaders took the lead for good on a 49-yard run by B.J. Batts to make it 21-17 with 8:19 left in the third quarter. They tacked on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Bobby George to Jason Rivers with 16 seconds left in the third, and rushing touchdowns by Justin Cabansag and Batts in the fourth.
Lineman Wilson Afoa finished with six tackles — three for a loss — and two sacks.
"Offensively we didn't turn the ball over and defensively we made some adjustments at halftime," Tengan said. "Our kids played their assignments a lot better."
St. Louis, which won 13 consecutive O'ahu Prep Bowls and the inaugural state championship in 1999, turned the ball over on its first two offensive plays, but recovered to win its seventh straight.
George completed 20 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Batts rushed 11 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns and Rivers had 10 receptions for 137 yards.
"Rivers is their go-to guy," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said. "He's a great player and he made great plays tonight. He's a hell of an athlete and he's probably going to go to some Division I college."
On the Crusaders' first play, George completed an 11-yard pass to Rivers, but Jay Ocol stripped the ball and Farrington recovered at the St. Louis 42.
Farrington failed to pick up a first down and Matt Bell's punt was blocked by Tualau Fale and recovered by Afoa at the Governors' 28.
On first down, George's pass and was intercepted by Jerome Crisostomo at the St. Louis 20.
Farrington then went on a seven-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 5:07 and culminated with a 31-yard pass from Royce Machado to Matt Bell on a fourth-and-6.
Machado ducked under two St. Louis lineman and got rid of the ball just before getting hit by Tavita Thompson, and Bell outjumped defensive back Jonah Lakatani at the goal line. Smith Lafaele's extra point made it 7-0 with 4:32 left in the first quarter.
St. Louis responded on its next possession, going 64 yards on 12 plays. Rivers scored on a 2-yard run on a wide receiver handoff.
Farrington went up 10-7 on a 31-yard field goal by Lafaele with 7:55 left in the half.
The Crusaders took advantage of a 22-yard punt by Bell and scored one play later on a 27-yard pass from George to Shane Butcher as St. Louis went up 14-10 with 3:40 left before halftime.
Farrington retook the lead on its next possession on a 16-yard pass from Machado to Bell to make it 17-14 with 2:04 left in the half. Machado set up the score on the previous play with a 43-yard scramble.
ST. LOUIS 7 7 14 13—41
FARRINGTON 7 10 0 6 —23
Farr—Matt Bell 31 pass from Royce Machado (Smith Lafaele kick)
StL—Jason Rivers 2 run (Kaeo Adams kick)
Farr—FG Lafaele 31
StL—Shane Butcher 27 pass from Bobby George (Adams kick)
Farr—Bell 15 pass from Machado (Lafaele kick)
StL—B.J. Batts 49 run (Adams kick)
StL—Rivers 28 pass from George (Adams kick)
StL—Justin Cabansag 1 run (Adams kick)
StL—Batts 3 run (kick blocked)
Farr—Bell 31 pass from Machado (run failed)
RUSHING—St. Louis: Cabansag 10-61, Batts 11-102, Rivers 2-17, Wyatt Williams 3-14, Derrick Hohu 1-(minus 2), Kealii Perbera 1-9, Justin Kruse 1-(minus 3), Stanley Nihipali 1-20. Farrington: Bell 14-50, Jostin Waialae 2-3, Machado 12-51.
PASSING—St. Louis: George 20-28-3-225. Farrington: Machado 17-25-0-196, Bell 2-3-0--59.
RECEIVING—St. Louis: Butcher 5-54, Rivers 10-137, Batts 1-(minus 1), Johnny Gentry 3-24, Cabansag 1-11. Farrington: Dionte Nomaaea 8-125, Alvin Faumui 1-17, Bell 10-113.
