Top-ranked Saint Louis escaped with a 10-7 win against No. 5 Wai'anae last night, setting up a familiar state championship.

For the fifth time in the nine tournaments, it will be the Crusaders (11-0) and the No. 2 Kahuku Red Raiders (10-2) for the First Hawaiian Bank Division I State Football Championship Friday at Aloha Stadium. Kahuku has won three of the four meetings.

An 18-yard field goal by Kenton Chun broke a 7-7 tie with 5:59 left before 10,691 at the stadium.

Wai'anae then drove to the Saint Louis 36, before losing the ball on downs on fourth-and-20 at the Crusaders' 46.

"It was very intense," Saint Louis defensive end Solomona Aigamaua said. "We stayed together as a team, told them to keep their heads up. We did what we did. We just came out and played football."

And the Crusaders had to do it without starting quarterback Micah Mamiya, who broke his collarbone early in the second quarter and is out for the season. He was replaced by Tamatoa DeMello, who threw only six passes all season.

It wasn't a smooth transition when DeMello came in for Mamiya. On DeMello's fourth play, his pass was intercepted by Matthew Ibanez, who returned the ball 49 yards to the Saints' 16. On fourth-and-2, quarterback Ben McQuown, pressured by Aigamaua, rolled left and hit Miller Ualesi for an 8-yard TD pass with 8:00 left in the half. William Duseigneur's PAT gave Wai'anae a 7-0 lead at the half.

Saint Louis' defense took over in the second half.

On second-and-4 from Wai'anae's 18, Aigamaua got a hold of McQuown on a rollout, forcing an interception by linebacker Jacob Barit, who returned it 9 yards for a touchdown with 5:30 left in the third quarter. Chun's PAT tied it at 7.

"It (the touchdown) felt good," said Barit, who had to leave the field after the game on a cart because of leg cramps. "It was the first one of my career. Felt wonderful."

The Seariders, though, pounded their way back, reaching the Saints' 22 on fourth-and-2. They called time and elected to try a 39-yard field goal by Duseigneur, but his kick was wide left, keeping the score knotted at 7 with 11:17 left in the game.

"At practice, that's his range, so I felt comfortable making that call," Wai'anae coach Danny Matsumoto said.

The Crusaders then marched 79 yards on 11 plays before facing fourth-and-goal at the 1. On the 12th play, Chun knocked in the chip shot, his ninth field goal of the season.

"After the first interception, he gave us a chance to win the ball game," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said of DeMello. "He executed a nice drive at the end of the game."

"It shows that we aren't a one-man team," Aigamaua said. "We have people who can step up. We can rely on our backups."

DeMello said he appreciated the team's support.

"I was feeling down," DeMello said of the interception. "But I knew the team had my back. I just kind of shook it off because that's what we have to do, come out the next series and try my hardest."

For the Seariders, it was a devastating loss, considering their defense held Saint Louis to 190 yards and nine first downs.

"Frustrated," Wai'anae linebacker George Kauwalu said. "Defensively, we played good. I think we covered the option. It's just mental mistakes we had."

After Wai'anae lost the ball on downs with under two minutes left, the Crusaders worked the clock down to 10 seconds before punting. Barit's punt took the entire 10 seconds to end the game.

WAI'ANAE (8-5) 0 7 0 0— 7

SAINT LOUIS (11-0) 0 0 7 3—10

Wai — Miller Ualesi 8 pass from Ben McQuown (Willie Duseigneur kick).

SL — Jacob Barit 9 interception return (Kenton Chun kick).


SL — FG Chun 18.

RUSHING — Wai'anae: Danny Kekoanui 14-64, Justin Kauwalu 12-48, McQuown 9-44, David Ferreira 4-11, Preston Cummings 1-2, team 1-0. Saint Louis: Shane Ahlo 3-40, Lene Auelua 10-44, Micah Mamiya 4-23, Keani Nishigaya 6-13, Austin Wakinekona 6-11, Devan Essner 1-0, Tamatoa DeMello 4-7.

PASSING — Wai'anae: McQuown 4-10-2—31, Christopher Santiago-Yoshioka 1-1-0—35. Saint Louis: DeMello 3-9-1—53, Mamiya 1-4-0—25.

RECEIVING — Wai'anae: Ualesi 3-26, Richard Tacgere-Bailey 1-35, Joe Abell 1-5. Saint Louis: Kulia Aiona 2-41, Ricksson Pacarro 2-37.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.