Saint Louis overcame early deficits of 10-0 and 17-7 and exploded for 49 unanswered points yesterday en route to a 62-24 victory over Pac-Five in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu opener at Aloha Stadium.

The Crusaders, ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide poll, improved to 4-0 overall. The Wolfpack, who were off to their best start since 2004, fell to 3-1.

Pac-Five entered yesterday averaging a staggering 51.7 points per game, and quarterback PJ Minaya had thrown 15 touchdown passes in the first two games alone. He got off to another strong start, directing a 13-play, 73-yard scoring drive after the opening kickoff culminating in a 6-yard TD pass to Everett Kim.

Brendan Sagucio's extra point made it 7-0, and Kaimi Kanehailua recovered a Saint Louis fumble on the ensuing series to help set up Sagucio's 33-yard field goal that made it 10-0 with 5:52 remaining in the first quarter.

The Crusaders struck back with Jeremy Higgins' 5-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Fukumoto with 2:35 left in the quarter, but the Wolfpack quickly responded with Minaya connecting with London Amorin on a 64-yard TD pass play.

Sagucio's PAT made it 17-7 with 1:51 remaining in the quarter.

Saint Louis cut it to 17-14 with 10 seconds left in the quarter after Higgins' 32-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Tupua, then took the lead for good on Vonn Feao's 9-yard TD run up the middle with 7:24 remaining in the half.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Crusaders defensive back Marcus Umu intercepted a Minaya pass, setting up a nine-play, 67-yard scoring drive capped by a 30-yard pass from Higgins to Keao Aliviado on a post pattern with 2:48 left.

Minaya was then intercepted again on the next possession, this time by Chris Santiago, and Saint Louis cashed in five plays later with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Higgins to Sean Ahlo, who reversed field at about the 15-yard line and outraced a bunch of defenders to the end zone.

"I think (the interceptions) pumped up the offense just a little bit," said Umu, a 6-foot, 185-pound senior. "We knew (Minaya) was a good passer and he already had like 20 TDs, but we just had to go back to the fundamentals, the basics. We worked on passing (defense) a lot this week."

Jesse Correa's extra point made it 35-17 with 1:25 remaining, and Minaya was intercepted a third time — this one by Caleb Yuen — after the ensuing kickoff. Higgins then connected with Aliviado on a 39-yard TD pass play four seconds before halftime as the Crusaders took a 42-17 lead into the locker room.

"They did a good job of making adjustments, they got more physical and starting pressing us," Pac-Five coach Kip Botelho said. "They took away our strength."

Saint Louis opened the second half with a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive culminating in Shawn Valente's 6-yard run, and Marcus Mariota's 18-yard touchdown pass to Duke Bokowski with 4:55 left in the third quarter made it 55-17 and started a running clock.

Higgins completed 22 of 36 pass attempts for 304 yards and five touchdowns. Minaya finished 14 of 34 for 191 yards and two touchdowns, with three interceptions. He also ran for a 3-yard TD.

The Wolfpack played without two key offensive starters, slotback Darin Kamealoha and right tackle Jacob Mayer, whom Botelho said is "our best lineman."

PAC-FIVE (3-1, 0-1) 17 0 0 7—24.

SAINT LOUIS (4-0, 1-0) 14 28 14 6—62.

Pac — Everett Kim 6 pass from PJ Minaya (Brendan Sagucio kick)

PAC — FG SAGUCIO 33

SL — Jordan Fukumoto 5 pass from Jeremy Higgins (Jesse Correa kick)

Pac — London Amorin 64 pass from Pinaya (Sagucio kick)

SL — JOSHUA TUPUA 30 PASS FROM HIGGINS (CORREA KICK)

SL — VONN FEAO 9 RUN (CORREA KICK)

SL — Kaeo Aliviado 30 pass from Higgins (Correa kick)

SL — SEAN AHLO 17 PASS FROM HIGGINS (CORREA KICK)

SL — ALIVIADO 39 PASS FROM HIGGINS (CORREA KICK)

SL — SHAWN VALENTE 6 RUN (CORREA KICK)

SL — Duke Bukowski 32 pass from Marcus Mariota (Correa kick)

PAC — MINAYA 3 RUN (SAGUCIO KICK)

SL — MARIOTA 27 RUN (KICK FAILED)

RUSHING — Pac-Five: Minaya 5-(minus-17), Darius Anderson 5-25, Kim 1-1. Saint Louis: Feao 8-40, Valente 6-25, Mariota 5-73, Hoku Isaia 1-9, Derek Nakasato 2-11, Alika Fonseca 1-(minus-3).

PASSING — Pac-Five: Minaya 14-34-3—191. Saint Louis: Higgins 22-26-0—304; Mariota 4-7-0—82.

RECEIVING — Pac-Five: Amorin 8-132, Chalson Baition 2-14, Kim 2-18, Jordan Doi 2-27. Saint Louis: Ahlo 6-95, Tupua 6-71, Aliviado 4-102, Fukumoto 6-42, Duke Bukowski 3-64, Jaris Falefa 1-12.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on high school sports at preptalk.honadvblogs.com

PUNAHOU 51, DAMIEN 6

The Buffanblu blocked four punts — two of which directly led to scores — and David Eldredge completed 9 of 13 passes for 204 yards and five touchdowns in the ILH season opener for both teams.

Punahou improved to 1-2 overall. Damien fell to 0-3.

Brian Suite blocked three punts, including one that resulted in a safety and another that was recovered by teammate Kyle Tu'umalo in the end zone for a touchdown.

The Buffanblu led 30-0 at halftime.

DAMIEN (0-3, 0-1) 0 0 0 6 — 6.

PUNAHOU (1-2, 1-0) 7 23 7 14 —51.

Pun — Forrest Kim 34 pass from David Eldredge (J. Fairbaim kick)

Pun — Stabren Caires 19 pass from Eldredge (Fairbaim kick)

Pun — Jeffrey Pedrina 60 pass from Eldredge (Fairbaim kick)

Pun — Safety, Brian Suite blocked punt out of end zone

Pun — Matthew Parrish 10 pass from Eldredge (Fairbaim kick)

Pun — Kyle Tu'umalo recovered blocked punt in end zone

DAM — BREYSEN LEE 1 RUN (KICK FAILED)

Pun — Malik Johnson 30 pass from Eldredge (Fairbaim kick)

PUN — IKAIA NAWAHINE 8 RUN (STEVEN LAKALAKA KICK)

RUSHING — Damien: Ikaika Mokiau 17-114, Lee 17-27, Derick Shoda 2-6, Darius DeMello 1-2, Maui Bayne-Bryant 1-(minus-3). Punahou: Caires 15-110, Nawahine 3-45.

PASSING — Damien: Lee 2-13-0—11. Punahou: Eldredge 9-13-0—204.

RECEIVING — Damien: Mokiau 1-2, Shayvis Wilson 1-9. Punahou: Pedrina 2-65, Kim 2-48, Caires 1-22, Dean Matsuo 1-21, Parrish 1-10, Cole Dudoit 1-8, Johnson 1-30.