It was far from pretty, but in the end, the St. Francis Saints are quite perfect.
The Saints improved to 5-0, 4-0 in ILH Division II, with a hard-earned 26-6 win over Pac-Five on a hot Saturday afternoon at Aloha Stadium. They played again without standout running back Jonan Aina-Chaves (ankle) and clearly missed the explosive playmaker.
“Without (Aina-Chaves), the run game was weird because our running backs couldn’t hold the ball even though we made big holes for them,” senior left guard Siotame Haunga said. “It’s a learning experience. But we’re 5-0.”
The game was scoreless at the half, and it took a 98-yard pick-6 by junior Shepherd Kekahuna to break the ice. St. Francis led 8-0 with 5:56 left in the third quarter. They intercepted two more passes from Wolfpack quarterback Rocket Uechi — one by JP Tilly and one by Kordel Ng, who tipped the pass to set up Tilly’s pick-six.
All in all, it was a steady performance by the defense and special teams for the Saints. Next up is another unbeaten powerhouse in D-II: Kaimuki.
“We’re expecting a win. It’s probably going to be the same as the last time we scrimmaged them (in 2017). Not too many new players came to (both teams),” Haunga said softly, offering a prediction about his pal on the left side, 6-7, 350-pound left tackle Faaope Laloulu.
“Ope is going to wreak havoc,” Haunga said.
New defensive coordinator! maybe that’s what st.francis needed all these other years. Because they couldnt hold the lead every year they lost to damien. This year looks like they only allow 7pts a game.
We see how they do against kaimuki this weekend.
Go bull dogs!