Prep Game Of The Week – 9/17/14

FOOTBALL
SAINT LOUIS vs. KAMEHAMEHA
SEPT 20, 2014, 7:30 P.M.
@ ALOHA STADIUM

Chris Hart

Two of the best quarterbacks in the state play for Saint Louis. The Saints have many great athletes on that team, and you know I have nothing but mad respect for Coach Lee. But the old saying is true: Defense wins championships, and defense wins big games. For that reason, I’m going with Kamehameha this week. Of course, it won’t be easy. Although the Warriors beat a pretty good Del Oro team in California, they’ve only played Division 2 teams since their return. So, honestly, this is a tough matchup to gauge. BUT! Kamehameha head coach Doug Cosbie had a mind-blowing defense last year, and this year he says his D is even better. That’s scary. A young Tua Tagovailoa against a defensive backfield that includes Dylan Kane? Sorry, Gary, but you’re wrong again. I gotta go with the Warriors in this one.

Gary Dickman

The schedule wasn’t very kind to Saint Louis at the beginning of the season: The Crusaders played two of the best teams in the state in Punahou and Mililani, and they went up against perhaps the best team in the country in St. John Bosco. Head coach Cal Lee said it would take time for his defense to be where he wants it to be, and after those three early losses, the D has gotten better. This week they play Kamehameha, which has a high-powered running attack and a pretty good passing game. This will be a slugfest, and both teams should be able to score a lot. Sophomore sensation QB Tua Tagovailoa gets better with each passing week. He’s got the Crusaders scoring more than 32 points a game, and he’s got weapons in receivers Drew Kobayashi, Allan Cui and Jimmy Nunuha. This game could come down to who has the ball last. I like Saint Louis to keep improving and winning this game, 35-31.

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