Batts runs wild to lift Saint Louis over Iolani, 33-20
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
B.J. Batts rushed 17 times for 146 yards and three touchdowns and Saint Louis scored 20 consecutive points in the final 2:40 of the third quarter to beat Iolani, 33-20, in the first game of an Interscholastic League of Honolulu doubleheader yesterday at Aloha Stadium.
Batts, last year's Advertiser State Player of the Year, got his first touch on the opening play of the second quarter.
"It was a coaching step we wanted to do, it was something we went with," Saint Louis coach Darnell Arceneaux said when asked why Batts didn't play in the first quarter. "It worked out; he had fresh legs."
Batts scored on a 49-yard run in the second quarter, then added runs of 3 and 29 yards in the third.
"B.J. is a big-time player," Arceneaux said. "Tonight he showed a lot better vision getting up the field, reading the hole and not trying to dance."
Saint Louis (5-1) led 13-7, when Raiders kicker Nicholas Wong lined up for a 42-yard field-goal attempt. But the snap was mishandled and Wong was forced to fall on the ball at the 46.
Three plays later, Batts scored on a 3-yard run for a 20-7 lead with 2:40 left in the third.
Iolani's Kyle Muraoka was stripped by Christian Guzman on the ensuing kickoff and the Crusaders' Kelii Zablan recovered at the 29. Batts scored on the next play to make it 27-7.
"That's when you always have to execute, during sudden change, and the guys did it," Arceneaux said.
Iolani (2-3-1) punted on its next possession and Pono Vierra's return put the ball at the Iolani 27. Two plays later Kealii Perbera hit Desmond Hanohano on a 28-yard touchdown pass to put Saint Louis up 33-7 with 10 seconds left in the third.
Iolani scored 13 consecutive points in the fourth quarter, and the Raiders recovered an on-side kick at the Saint Louis 45 with four minutes remaining.
But Saint Louis' Benjamin Soliven intercepted Kiran Kepoo's pass at the 27 and returned it to the Raiders' 43.
Saint Louis, ranked No. 3 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll of coaches and media, scored first on an 18-yard pass from Perbera to Makaala Kuewa early in the second quarter.
Iolani tied the game on its next possession when Raynold Stowers took a handoff on a draw play and outraced the Crusaders defense for a 90-yard touchdown.
Saint Louis retook the lead on its next possession when Batts took a toss to the right and ran 49 yards to give the Crusaders a 13-7 midway through the second quarter.
Stowers accounted for all of Iolani's positive yards in the first half. He rushed nine times for 128 yards and caught two passes from Kepoo for 37 yards.
Stowers finished with 19 rushes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, and caught five passes for 71 yards and another score.
Iolani (2-3-1) 0 7 0 13—20
Saint Louis (5-1) 0 13 20 0—33
- StL—Makaala Kuewa 18 pass from Kealii Perbera (C.J. Santiago kick)
- Iol—Raynold Stowers 90 run (Nick Wong kick)
- StL—B.J. Batts 49 run (kick failed)
- StL—Batts 3 run (Santiago kick)
- StL—Batts 29 run (Santiago kick)
- StL—Desmond Hanohano 26 pass from Perbera (run failed)
- Iol—Stowers 10 run (pass failed)
- Iol—Stowers 3 pass from Kiran Kepoo (Wong kick)
RUSHING—Iolani: Stowers 19-197, Kepoo 12-16, Kekai Kealoha 1-13, Team 1-(minus 21). Saint Louis: Wyatt Williams 6-23, Cody Wells 4-7, Batts 17-146, Stanley Nihipali 1-(minus 1), Perbera 3-1, Shaun Kauleinamoku 3-11, Lechman Fiaseu 2-5.
PASSING—Iolani: Kepoo 10-27-1—114. Saint Louis: Perbera 14-21-0—200, Nihipali 0-1-0—0.
RECEIVING—Iolani: Stowers 5-71, Paul Bennett 1-10, Kealoha 1-5, Karl Motoyama 2-17, Lee Korenaga 1-11. Saint Louis: Kuewa 3-49, Kauleinamoku 4-52, Hanohano 3-46, Batts 2-15, Johnny Gentry 1-18, Donald Fialkowski 1-20.
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041
