GAME NIGHT 12/21: Saint Louis/St. Thomas Aquinas

———-

FiNAL. Saint Louis (12-1) sees its 38-game winning streak come to an end.

BOX SCORE
At Fertitta Field
Saint Louis (12-1) 13 6 0 0 — 19
St. Thomas Aquinas (15-0) 7 14 14 0 — 35
StA—Antonio Johnson 32 pass from Zion Turner (Noah Botsford kick)
StL—Roman Wilson 17 pass from Jayden de Laura (kick blocked)
StL—Koali Nishigaya 8 pass from de Laura (Lason Napuunoa kick)
StA—Marcus Rosemy 19 pass from Turner (Botsford kick)
StA—Travis Dixon 12 run (Botsford kick)
StL—de Laura 22 run (run failed)
StA—Anthony Hankerson 3 run (Botsford kick)
StA—Jaedon Henry 11 run (Botsford kick)

RUSHING—Saint Louis: de Laura 7-31, Kainalu Tumpap 5-21, Mason Taliulu 3-15, Ka’ohu Kamakawiwo’ole 1-2. St. Thomas Aquinas: Hankerson 24-110, Dixon 9-40, Henry 7-35, team 2-(minus 4), Turner 7-(minus 14).
PASSING—Saint Louis: de Laura 27-47-3-273. St. Thomas Aquinas: Turner 8-14–0-120, Derek Wingo 1-1-0-23, Rosemy 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—Saint Louis: Nishigaya 11-84, Isaac Silva 10-85, Wilson 4-53, Matt Sykes 1-30, Makena Ramos-Kamaka 1-21. St. Thomas Aquinas: Rosemy 3-44, Johnson 1-32, The’andris Freeman 1-23, Ethan Corbin 1-19, Jahvante Royal 1-12, Henry 1-9, Hankerson 1-4.

(5:41) Saint Louis ball on its 16. Silva hauls in a 23-yard catch on fourth-and-5 and Saint Louis inside the Aquinas 30. Aquinas holds on fourth down.

(7:33) Aquinas ball on the Saint Louis 40. Third-and-14. Herbig gets his third sack of the game to force the three-and-out.

(8:55) Saint Louis ball on its 19. Taliulu picks up 12 yards on the run. Landon Grier picks off de Laura on third down and the Raiders have completely shut down Saint Louis in the second half. Seems like they have figured out everything the run-and-shoot has to offer tonight.

(11:05) Aquinas ball on its 37. Saint Louis stops Dixon on third-and-1 for a loss of 1. Louis in on the stop. Aquinas lining up to go for it fourth-and-2 on its 35. Raiders punt.

Saint Louis second-and-10 at the Aquinas 29 to start the fourth quarter. Screen pass is nearly picked off. Third down but a player down for Aquinas first. Short pass to Silva for 2 yards. Fourth-and-8. Pass to Nishigaya for 1 yard. Not sure why that was even thrown. Turnover on downs.

———

Third Quarter Box
At Fertitta Field
Saint Louis (12-0) 13 6 0
St. Thomas Aquinas (14-0) 7 14 14
StA—Antonio Johnson 32 pass from Zion Turner (Noah Botsford kick)
StL—Roman Wilson 17 pass from Jayden de Laura (kick blocked)
StL—Koali Nishigaya 8 pass from de Laura (Lason Napuunoa kick)
StA—Marcus Rosemy 19 pass from Turner (Botsford kick)
StA—Travis Dixon 12 run (Botsford kick)
StL—de Laura 22 run (run failed)
StA—Anthony Hankerson 3 run (Botsford kick)
StA—Jaedon Henry 11 run (Botsford kick)

RUSHING—Saint Louis: de Laura 6-37, Kainalu Tumpap 3-12, Mason Taliulu 1-4, Ka’ohu Kamakawiwo’ole 1-2. St. Thomas Aquinas: Hankerson 23-105, Dixon 6-36, Henry 6-30, team 1-(minus 3), Turner 6-(minus 9).
PASSING—Saint Louis: de Laura 19-35-2-205. St. Thomas Aquinas: Turner 7-12–0-115, Derek Wingo 1-1-0-23, Rosemy 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—Saint Louis: Nishigaya 8-71, Isaac Silva 7-56, Wilson 2-27, Matt Sykes 1-30, Makena Ramos-Kamaka 1-21. St. Thomas Aquinas: Rosemy 2-39, Johnson 1-32, The’andris Freeman 1-23, Ethan Corbin 1-19, Jahvante Royal 1-12, Henry 1-9, Hankerson 1-4.

———–

(3:26) Saint Louis ball on its 16. de Laura scrambles for 9. Ka’ohu Kamakawiwo’ole with a 2-yard run to move the chains and then Tumpap for 7 and add 15 for the face-mask penalty. Silva with his seventh reception for 7 yards. Mason Taliulu with a 4-yard run to move the chains. Crusaders running it for the first time consistently on the drive and having success. End 3.

(5:47) Aquinas ball on the 31. Three runs and a first down to the 43. Raiders call a pass and Louis jumps it and has the pick but it’s dropped. Louis had a shot at a pick-6. Great break on the ball. Turner misses an open player on third down and Aquinas punts. NO. It’s a fake and executed perfectly for 23 yards. The upback took the snap and threw it for 23 yards. Jaedon Henry 11-yard TD run. 35-19, 3:32, Q3.

(6:03) Saint Louis ball on its 27 and de Laura is back on the field. de Laura flushed out and tries to throw a deep ball and it’s picked.

(8:36) Aquinas ball. Raiders with three runs into Crusaders territory and now another injured Saint Louis player is down. De Laura meanwhile throwing on the Saint Louis sideline. Injury I think was to his left shoulder, not his throwing shoulder. Timeout. Tadio the injured player. Raiders really controlling this drive with the running game. Hankerson breaks off a 26-yard run to the 13. Aquinas wearing down the Crusaders. Dixon carrying Crusaders to the 3. Hankerson 3-yard TD run. Touchdown Aquinas. 28-19, 6:11, Q3.

(9:25) Saint Louis starts on its 40 after a bad punt. Two incomplete passes and then a short completion on third down and de Laura is down. He took a shot and is down. Holding his shoulder. Crusaders punt. Bigger concern is on the health of de Laura however.

Saint Louis ball on its 39. Looks like a late flag is down. Unsportsmanlike conduct on Aquinas. Crusaders will start in Raiders territory at the 46. Check that. Call goes against Saint Louis. They punt again.

(11:53) Raiders ball on their 33. Hankerson with nothing on his first carry as Herbig holds the outside position and brings him down. Dude is balling out. Sophomore Dennis Tadio comes flying in for a TFL. Loss of 3. Third-and-13. Anthony Sagapolutele with a great spin move to flush Turner out and Tadio with the tackle on the run for a loss of 6. Three-and-out. Impressive by the Crusaders defense.

Aquinas will get the ball first.

———-

HALFTIME BOX
At Ferrtita Field
Saint Louis (12-0) 13 6
St. Thomas Aquinas (14-0) 7 14
StA—Antonio Johnson 32 pass from Zion Turner (Noah Botsford kick)
StL—Roman Wilson 17 pass from Jayden de Laura (kick blocked)
StL—Koali Nishigaya 8 pass from de Laura (Lason Napuunoa kick)
StA—Marcus Rosemy 19 pass from Turner (Botsford kick)
StA—Travis Dixon 12 run (Botsford kick)
StL—de Laura 22 run (run failed)

RUSHING—Saint Louis: de Laura 5-28, Kainalu Tumpap 1-0. St. Thomas Aquinas: Anthony Hankerson 13-51, Jedon Henry 5-19, Dixon 2-15, team 1-(minus 3), Turner 5-(minus 3).
PASSING—Saint Louis: de Laura 16-26-1-186. St. Thomas Aquinas: Turner 7-9–0-115, Rosemy 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—Saint Louis: Nishigaya 7-64, Isaac Silva 5-44, Wilson 2-27, Matt Sykes 1-30, Makena Ramos-Kamaka 1-21. St. Thomas Aquinas: Rosemy 2-39, Johnson 1-32, Ethan Corbin 1-19, Jahvante Royal 1-12, Henry 1-9, Hankerson 1-4.

——-

(1:34) Aquinas ball on the Saint Louis 49 after a good kick return. A first-down completion is called back by a hold. Aquinas going to let the clock tick as it’s third-and-12. Herbig forces an incomplete pass and is called for roughing the passer. Another bad Saint Louis penalty results in an Aquinas first down. Ball down to the 25 but a hold wipes out a 10-yard pass to the 15. Timeout Aquinas with nine seconds to go and the ball at the Crusaders 42. Aquinas tries a double pass but it’s incomplete. Saint Louis was ready for the trick play. Last play. Timeout first. Hail Mary is CAUGHT by Rosemy but he comes down out of bounds. Wow. Halftime.

(2:41) Saint Louis ball on the 35. Crusaders go quick and de Laura hits Makena Ramos-Kamaka for 21 yards after an Aquinas face-mask penalty and then de Laura with the 22-yard TD run. Saint Louis answers quick. Timeout as it considers going for 2. Saint Louis goes for it but the reverse to Wilson does nowhere. 21-19, 1:43, Q2.

(6:16) Aquinas ball on its 43. Third-and-1 at the Crusaders 48. Jaedon Henry picks up 9 and a first down. Aquinas trying to pound away with the run game. After a Henry run of 13 for a first down, Louis, playing for Jordan Botelho, gets a TFL. Aquinas drops a pitch backward for a loss of 5. Third-and-16 as Iona Purcell is down on the play for Saint Louis. Purcell has to be carried off by two teammates. Does not look good. Saint Louis drawn offsides for 5 yards. Third-and-11 at the 24. Pass to the end zone and DB Brian Cox makes a great play but a flag comes out. Looks like maybe Latu hit a defenseless player. Not sure. Ball moves to the 12. Travis Dixon into the end zone for a 12-yard TD. 21-13, 2:41, Q2.

(8:34) Crusaders ball on their 20. De Laura starts 3-for-3 on the drive with a beautiful touch ball to Nishigaya for 17 yards to cross midfield. Saint Louis tries its first run to a RB, Kainalu Tumpap, for no gain. Third-and-10. de Laura somehow hits Silva for 12 yards. Threads the needed between three defenders. First down at the 37. Personal foul on Saint Louis. Big penalties killing the Crusaders. But the pass to Wilson did count for 10 yards. Jaden McBurrows ends the Saint Louis drive with an INT. Don’t think de Laura ever saw him.

(9:52) Short punt and Aquinas has it at the Saint Louis 41. Raiders run it twice for 6 yards and it’s third-and-4. Aquinas bailed out by a pass interference by Harvey Welch. Didn’t look like it would have been complete. Ball moves to the 20 instead. Rosemy with the 19-yard TD pass from Turner on the slant. 14-13, 8:35, Q2.

(11:48) Crusaders pinned back on their 4. Miscommunication between de Laura and Wilson or else that might have gone for huge yards. de Laura sacked and it’s third down from the 2. de Laura has all day and hits Nishigaya who breaks the one tackle he needed and gets the first down at the 15. Needed 12 yards, got 13. Flag waived off on defensive PI. Ball looked like it was uncatchable. Third-and-10. Saint Louis timeout. Three straight incomplete passes and Saint Louis will punt.

Second quarter starts with Aquinas fourth-and-16 at the 37 of Saint Louis. Punt.
———-

First Quarter Stats
At Ferrtita Field
Saint Louis (12-0) 13
St. Thomas Aquinas (14-0) 7
StA—Antonio Johnson 32 pass from Zion Turner (kick made)
StL—Roman Wilson 17 pass from Jayden de Laura (kick blocked)
StL—Koali Nishigaya 8 pass from de Laura (Lason Napuunoa kick)

RUSHING—Saint Louis: de Laura 3-8. St. Thomas Aquinas: Anthony Hankerson 7-26, Jedon Henry 1-3, team 1-(minus 3), Turner 4-(minus 9).
PASSING—Saint Louis: de Laura 8-10-0-92. St. Thomas Aquinas: Turner 4-5–0-80.
RECEIVING—Saint Louis: Isaac Silva 3-24, Nishigaya 3-21, Matt Sykes 1-30, Wilson 1-17. St. Thomas Aquinas: Johnson 1-32, Marcus Rosemy 1-20, Ethan Corbin 1-19, Henry 1-9.

———-

(3:07) Aquinas ball on its 45 after a personal foul on the kickoff by Laakea Louis. Marcus Rosemy with a 20-yard reception on third down to move the chains. A hold pushes Aquinas back. first-and-24 at the 45. Botched snap and it’s a loss of 3. Third-and-21. Raiders run a draw and Saint Louis makes the stop. Quarter will end.

(5:07) Saint Louis ball on the Aquinas 25. Two short passes and it’s third-and-4 at the 19. Silva with a 7-yard reception to the 12. de Laura on the keeper to the 8. Koali Nishigaya with the 8-yard TD pass from de Laura. TD Saint Louis. 13-7, 3:15, Q1. de Laura 8-10, 92 yards, 2 TD.

HERBIG BLOCKS THE PUNT.

(7:11) Aquinas starts on its 22. Herbig with a huge sack on second down. Short pass on third down and the Raiders go three-and-out.

(8:10) Saint Louis ball on its 44. de Laura hits all three throws. A 30-yard pass to Matt Sykes sets up a 17-yard TD to Roman Wilson. XP is blocked. 7-6, Raiders, 7:17, Q1.

(10:31) Raiders ball on their 25. A 5-yard run is negated by a 15-yard penalty on Aquinas. Third-and-14 and Ethan Corbin hauls in a 19-yard pass. First down and Turner scrambles and takes just a brutal late hit by Mason Tufaga. Way late. Easy 15-yard penalty. That was really bad by Tufaga. Third-and-10 now after Turner’s first incomplete pass. Turner falls to the ground after a 4-yard scramble. Fourth-and-6. Turner goes down for a loss of 8. Nick Herbig forces Turner to scramble and go down. Turnover on downs.

(11:36) Crusaders ball on their 33. De Laura’s first pass is complete to Isaac Silva for 15 yards. Drop by Koali Nishigaya who was open over the middle. de Laura mishandles the snap and then is sacked by Riyad Wilmot. Punt.

(11:52) Aquinas ball on the Saint Louis 32. Sophomore Zion Turner finds Antonio Johnson for a 32-yard TD on the first play from scrimmage for the Raiders. 7-0 STA, 11:43, Q1.

(12:00) Crusaders will start on their 20 with senior Jayden de Laura at QB. de Laura scrambles for 9 yards but the ball is knocked out from behind by Griffin Lampton and Aquinas recovers.

Saint Louis will receive.
———-
Saint Louis roster
St. Thomas Aquinas roster
Note: Saint Louis is 6-3 against mainland opponents since 2000.

Saint Louis (12-0), ranked No. 6 in the USA Today Super 25, puts its 38-game winning streak on the line against St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), which is 14-0 this season and ranked No. 3 in the country in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series.

We have a reporter and a photographer at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas for the game and will provide a live blog. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m.

No. 13 Marietta (Ga.) defeated Eastside Catholic (Wash.) 53-14 in the first game of the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series on Friday.

>> Saint Louis/St. Thomas Aquinas game preview

Game Time!!! St. Louis vs. St. Thomas Aquinas…Let’s get it! @levelupelitesFB @247Sports @HawaiiRecruits @808FBRecruits @richmiano38 @BrandonHuffman @GHoward_Scout @JReyes_NP pic.twitter.com/88Y3Xinc35

---

— Kekahi Graham, QB c/o 2023 (@KekahiG) December 22, 2019