It was the best defensive game of the year and possibly the most controversial.

Micah Mamiya's 42-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Gonsalves just before the half was all the scoring this game would see as top-ranked Saint Louis squeezed by No. 3 Punahou, 7-0, last night in Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I football at Aloha Stadium.

The Crusaders (7-0 overall, 4-0 ILH) were limited to 254 yards, while the Buffanblu (4-2, 2-2) had 205. Both had only 10 first downs apiece.

But in question was did he or didn't he? Did Mamiya cross the line of scrimmage when completing his TD pass to Gonsalves?

"I can't comment on that," said Punahou coach Kale Ane, who added he did question the officials at the time about the play.

Even if it was a penalty and the play was nullified, there's a chance this game would still be going on. There is overtime, similar to college, in the ILH this year. It was that kind of defensive struggle. One that wasn't lost upon one of the game's best performers.

"It was a hard-fought game," Punahou linebacker Manti Te'o said. "Our boys came out to play, Saint Louis came out to play. It was a great game for the fans. It was probably one of the best ILH games ever."

The Buffanblu blitzed Mamiya hard all night, limiting him to 15 yards rushing and 148 passing. But Saint Louis' defense snuffed three Punahou drives with interceptions, two by Brandon McKee and one by Marcus Umu. Punahou never got closer than Saint Louis' 36. Pleased with their defense's effort, the Crusaders played it conservative on offense in the second half.

"Once we had the lead, we thought our defense did a nice job, so we just tried to grind some clock," Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan said. "We were hoping to get a few first downs, but we didn't convert. We didn't execute real well."

Despite the two interceptions by Saint Louis in the second half, its offense could not capitalize. Saint Louis' deepest movement into Punahou territory was to the Buffanblu 25 in the second half.

Punahou had one last shot, taking over at its 16 with 21 seconds left. But the Buffanblu drive died after two official plays (one was nulled by a penalty) at their own 36 as time expired.

It was scoreless when Saint Louis took over at its own 20 following a Punahou punt. The Crusaders deftly moved down field with short passes and big runs of 12 and 15 yards by Austin Wakinekona. But on first-and-20, Mamiya dropped back, was forced to his left from the pocket toward the Punahou bench and fired to Gonsalves at the 1 near the left corner. Gonsalves leaped between two defenders, came down at the 1 and dodged a defender into the end zone for the only score of the game with 11 seconds left in the first half.

"I just threw it up and Lucas caught the ball," Mamiya said.

Ane praised both ends of the play.

"The kid made a great catch," Ane said of Gonsalves. "(Mamiya made) a nice touch throw when needed it."

In previous games, the Buffanblu rotated different quarterbacks. But last night, Kimo Makaula started and played most of the game. Ane felt his mobility was better suited against the Crusaders; Makaula was not sacked.

Mamiya was pleased with the all-around play of his team.

"We just stayed together as a team, supported each other," Mamiya said.

SAINT LOUIS (7-0, 4-0) 0 7 0 0—7

PUNAHOU (4-2, 2-2) 0 0 0 0—0

StL—Lucas Gonsalves 42 pass from Micah Mamiya (Warren Spencer kick)

RUSHING—Saint Louis: Mamiya 8-15, Vonn Feao 2-3, Keani Nishigaya 13-38, Austin Wakinekona 10-50. Punahou: Kimo Makaula 5-9, Manti Te'o 5-16, Dalton Hilliard 10-48, Team 1-(minus 2).

PASSING—Saint Louis: Mamiya 14-24-0—148.

Punahou: Makaula 11-22-3—88, Cayman Shutter 5-8-0—46.

RECEIVING—Saint Louis: Tamatoa DeMello 3-27, Gonsalves 5-67, Ryan Iaea 2-23, Billy Stutzmann 3-23, Feao 1-8 Punahou: Hilliard 5-36, Te'o 3-25, Robbie Toma 1-18, Mark Silverstein 3-29, Keola Kane 4-26.

LAHAINALUNA 27, MAUI 0

Lake Casco, Bryson Williams and Kailas McGhee each had long touchdown runs, and the Lunas also scored on a safety to beat the Sabers in a Maui Interscholastic League game at War Memorial Stadium. Casco scored on a 71-yarder, while Williams and McGhee had scores of 52 and 62 yards, respectively.

LAHAINALUNA (6-0, 4-0) 15 12 0 0—27

MAUI (0-6, 0-4) 0 0 0 0— 0

Lahainaluna — Lake Casco 71 run (kick failed)

Lahainaluna — Safety, team punt block out of endzone

Lahainaluna — Bryson Williams 52 run (Tulia Tei kick)

Lahainaluna — Kailas McGhee 62 run (kick failed)

Lahainaluna — Simione Vehikidte 2 run (kick failed)

Reported by Rodney Higa

WAIMEA 21, KAPA'A 14

Jayrald Watanabe's 4-yard touchdown run tied the game in the third quarter, and his 3-yard touchdown pass to Alika Pereza in the fourth lifted the Menehunes over the Warriors in a Kaua'i Interscholastic League game at Hanapepe Ball Park.

KAPA'A (2-4, 0-4) 7 7 0 0—14

WAIMEA (5-1, 3-1) 0 7 7 7—21

Kap — Daniel Lizama 2 run (Ian Lactaotao kick)

Waim — Oni Schmidt 6 run (Kelly Batis kick)

Kap — Brandon Chong 1 run (Lactaotao kick)

Waim — Jayrald Watanabe 4 run (Batis kick)

Waim — Alika Pereza 3 pass from Watanabe (Batis kick) RUSHING — Kapa'a: Lizama 19-81, Chong 12-41, Caleb Sarsona 6-15, Chavis Kupihea 5-5, Preston Keough 1-0. Waimea: Ikaika Rapacon 10-66, Watanabe 10-46, Schmidt 9-32, Kylen Chinen 6-30, Cody Owens 1-(minus 1).

PASSING — Kapa'a: Kupihea 5-7-0-77, Keough 0-1-0-0. Waimea: Watanabe 3-8-0-21.

RECEIVING — Kapa'a: Alan Kahaunaele 1-34, Ihe Naihe 1-15, Lizama 1-14, Chong 1-9, Lactaotao 1-5. Waimea: Isaa Horner 1-14, Chinen 1-4, Pereza 1-3.

JV SCORE — WAIMEA 6, KAPA'A 0

Reported by Jason Ahuna

OTHER SCORES

Kealakehe 44, Konawaena 7

Honoka'a 14, Hilo 10

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.