WAI'ANAE — In a season-opening clash of traditional prep football powerhouses, Saint Louis beat Wai'anae 48-35 in a non-league game at Raymond Torii Field last night.

A crowd of about 1,500 saw the Crusaders (1-0) take a 35-0 lead before the Seariders (0-1) rallied with to within a touchdown late in the game.

"There were a lot of lessons learned," Saint Louis coach John Hao said. "We're going to come back tomorrow, watch some film and make sure we correct our mistakes."

Crusaders' quarterback Jeremy Higgins led his team with 397 yards on 26-of-30 passing and six touchdowns.

"It's high expectations with that guy," Hao said. "I think he's been the best in the state for the past few years." Higgins was a second team Advertiser All-State selection last year.

The Crusaders scored on their opening possession, driving 70 yards on nine plays, capped by Higgins' 12-yard touchdown pass to Duke Bukoski.

Higgins was 5-of-5 on the drive for 50 yards and completed his first 12 pass attempts of the game. Aaron Goo's extra point gave the Crusaders a 7-0 lead.

Following a Wai'anae three-and-out, the Saint Louis offense added to its lead on a 4-yard TD pass from Higgins to Joshua Tupua late in the first quarter. Tupua, a junior receiver, ran a quick-out on the play as Higgins found him in the front right corner of the end zone.

Saint Louis displayed some quick-strike ability on its next possession.

Starting on its own 23-yard line, Higgins tossed a quick screen pass left to slotback Jordan Fukumoto, who utilized a few blocks en route to a 77-yard score. Jesse Correa made it 21-0 with the PAT.

After another Wai'anae punt, the Crusaders put together an eight-play drive, covering 95 yards, highlighted by a 42-yard touchdown pass from Higgins to Shaun Ahlo.

Saint Louis extended its lead on a 49-yard scoring pass from Higgins to Tupua to make it 35-0 with 1:30 left in the second quarter.

Wai'anae got on the board on its next drive as Keoni Napierala-Rose caught a screen pass from Puletua Wilson and rumbled for a 21-yard score.

Saint Louis muffed the ensuing kickoff return and Wai'anae's Kaeo Alana recovered to give his team possession on the Saint Louis 42-yard line. Puletua Wilson found James Wilson on a 24-yard touchdown pass five plays later to make it 35-13 at the half.

The Seariders cut the lead to 14 points on their second drive of the third quarter.

Eldridge Kulee's 35-yard punt return set up a 17-yard TD pass from Puletua Wilson to James Wilson. Napierala-Rose ran in the two-point conversion to make it 35-21.

Saint Louis answered as Fukumoto hauled in his second TD pass from Higgins to extend it back to a 20-point lead.

Wai'anae scored back-to-back touchdowns on a 6-yard bootleg by Puletua Wilson and a 2-yard plunge by Eleu Wilson to make it 41-35 with 3:24 left, but Saint Louis' Sean Valente scored on a 21-yard run with 1:48 left to put it out of reach.

SAINT LOUIS (1-0) 14 21 6 7 — 48

WAI'ANAE (0-1) 0 13 8 14 — 35

SL — Duke Bukoski 12 pass from Jeremy Higgins (Aaron Goo kick).

SL — Joshua Tupua 4 pass from Higgins (Goo kick).

SL — Jordan Fukumoto 77 pass from Higgins (Jesse Correa kick).

SL — Shaun Ahlo 42 pass from Higgins (Correa kick).

SL — Tupua 49 pass from Higgins (Goo kick).

Wai — Keoni Napierala-Rose 21 pass from Puletua Wilson (Terrence Akao kick).

Wai — James Wilson 24 pass from P. Wilson (kick blocked).

Wai — J. Wilson 17 pass from P. Wilson (Napierala-Rose run).

SL — Fukumoto 2 pass from Higgins (kick failed).

Wai — P. Wilson 6 run (Akao kick).

Wai — Eleu Wilson 2 run (Akao kick).

SL — Sean Valente 21 run (Correa kick).

RUSHING — Saint Louis: Emmett McShane 6-38, Valente 7-98, Derek Nakasato 4-45, Marcus Mariota 2-(minus 8), Higgins 1-0, team 1-(minus 1). Wai'anae: J. Wilson 1-(minus 3), Napierala-Rose 11-87, P. Wilson 9-56, Henry Medeiros 1-(minus 2), Bronson Barbosa 1-4, E. Wilson 1-2, team 1-(minus 14).

PASSING — Saint Louis: Higgins 26-30-0—397, Mariota 1-1-0—9. Wai'anae: P. Wilson 17-32-1—235.

RECEIVING — Saint Louis: Ahlo 7-122, Bukoski 6-50, Tupua 6-88, Fukumoto 5-129, Kaeo Aliviado 3-17. Wai'anae: Akao 2-18, J. Wilson 6-75, Napierala-Rose 4-100, Kalin Sandobal 4-35, Zach Guajardo 1-7.

JV SCORE: WAI'ANAE 34, SAINT LOUIS 14