A depleted Wai'anae High School football team was no match for well-rested Saint Louis last night, as the Crusaders rolled to a 44-6 victory at Aloha Stadium in the First Hawaiian Bank State Championship semifinals.

Saint Louis (11-0) will play Leilehua (9-4) for the title at 8 p.m. Friday at the Stadium. Wai'anae ends its season at 9-4.

The Seariders were heavy underdogs going into last night's game, and unexpected developments in the past week only stacked the odds higher. Head coach Danny Matsumoto has been resting at home since undergoing emergency eye surgery on Nov. 16 for a detached retina.

Starting quarterback Ben McQuown was out all week after coming down with a virus shortly upon returning from Wai'anae's first-round victory at Kailua, Kona. He did not play last night.

"Actually, more than a handful of guys came back sick," said Seariders offensive coordinator Bryant Ginoza, who shared acting head coach duties with defensive coordinator Jason Hussey.

Meanwhile, backup quarterback BJ Jelf just returned from a suspension earlier this week and played only in the fourth quarter last night, when the score was 38-6.

"He had to work his way back (into the lineup)," athletic director Glenn Tokunaga said.

As a result, Wai'anae went with converted receiver RJ Tacgere-Bailey and seldom-used Toagamalu Brown at quarterback. With limited reps between them during the week, the Seariders were forced to drastically shrink their playbook.

"We had to take out our whole fly package, and without RJ at receiver we couldn't run some other stuff," Ginoza said. "But take nothing away from Saint Louis. Their front seven is tough, their whole defense is good."

Wai'anae rolled up 450 rushing yards in last week's 21-17 victory at Kealakehe, but finished with only 86 on 33 carries last night, including just 28 on 18 rushes in the first half.

"We just wanted to play hard-nosed football," said Crusaders defensive lineman Geordan Hanohano.

The Seariders managed only one first down on their first four series, and fumbled the ball away two plays after moving the chains.

Saint Louis' offense, meanwhile, showed little effects from a three-week layoff. The Crusaders capitalized on the turnover by driving 35 yards in just four plays, capped by Micah Mamiya's 16-yard touchdown pass to Billy Stutzmann. Warren Spencer's extra point made it 7-0 with 5:20 left in the first quarter.

After the Seariders were forced to punt from their 1 on their next possession, Tamatoa DeMello returned it 17 yards to the Wai'anae 21. Three plays later, Austin Wakinekona ran it in from the 10, and Spencer's PAT made it 14-0 with 2:46 left in the quarter.

Another short punt early in the second quarter gave Saint Louis the ball at midfield, and the Crusaders converted eight plays later on a 1-yard sneak by Mamiya.

Spencer's 32-yard field goal 53 seconds before halftime made it 24-0.

"With them being short-handed, we wanted to get on top of them early," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said. "Without (McQuown), that's like cutting your right arm off."

Things did not change much in the second half, as the Seariders went three-and-out on the opening series. The Crusaders then struck quickly, marching 65 yards in just six plays, culminating in Mamiya's 29-yard TD pass to DeMello on third-and-7.

After yet another Wai'anae three-and-out, Mamiya connected with Stutzmann on a 47-yard touchdown strike to help Saint Louis take a 38-0 lead with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter.

Tengan said his team stayed active during the layoff.

"Like I told the kids, you only get rusty if you sit around, and we didn't just sit around," Tengan said. "We were working the whole time, doing things at game speed. We played well tonight, but we're going to have to play a lot better next week."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on prep sports at blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

WAI'ANAE (9-4) 0 0 0 6— 6

SAINT LOUIS (11-0) 14 10 14 6—44

SL — Billy Stutzmann 15 pass from Micah Mamiya (Warren Spencer kick)

SL — Austin Wakinekoa 10 run (Spencer kick)

SL — Mamiya 1 run (Spencer kick)

SL — FG Spencer 23

SL — Tamatoa DeMello 29 pass from Mamiya (Spencer kick)

SL — Stutzmann 47 pass from Mamiya (Spencer kick)

Wain — Jahsiah Bales 15 pass from RJ Tacgere-Bailey (rush failed)

SL — Jeremy Higgins 1 run (kick blocked) RUSHING — Wai'anae: Johnathan Abell 9-49, Tacgere-Bailey 5-19, Justin Kauwalu 2-12, Danny Kekoanui 6-5, Glenn Wain 1-1, BJ Jelf 1-0, Toagamalu Brown 9-0. Saint Louis: Keani Nigigaya 6-18, Wakinekoa 2-12, Isaac Savella 2-10, Zachary Markwith 1-9, Lucas Gonsalves 2-8, Von Feao 2-3, Mamiya 3-3, Nainoa Tampos 1-0, Hoku Isaia 1-0, Higgins 3-5, Sean Valente 3-6.

PASSING — Wai'anae: Tacgere-Bailey 5-9-0-62, Jelf 2-5-2-11, Brown 1-3-0-10. Saint Louis: Mamiya 14-20-0-248, Higgins 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING — Wai'anae: Justin Chongtim 3-40, Kauwalu 2-8, Bales 1-15, Wain 1-10, Ryan Manuel 1-10. Saint Louis: Gonsalves 6-71, DeMello 3-67, Stutzmann 2-62, Ryan Iaea 1-20, Wakinekona 1-14, Michael Tuiloma 1-14.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.