WAHIAWA — Jeremy Higgins completed 19 of 32 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns last night, helping Saint Louis hold off Leilehua, 28-21, in nonleague action at Hugh Yoshida Stadium.

The Crusaders improved to 3-0; the defending state runner-up Mules fell to 1-2.

The game featured two of the state's top quarterbacks, Higgins and Leilehua's Andrew Manley — The Advertiser's State Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2008. Manley finished 17 of 28 for 187 yards and two TDs, and his 20-yard scamper for a score helped the Mules close to 28-21 with 8:17 remaining.

But Leilehua lost the ball on downs on their next two possessions, and Saint Louis was able to run out the clock.

The Crusaders led 14-0, 21-7 and 28-14, but each time the Mules came back to close the margin to seven points.

Saint Louis took a 7-0 lead with 3:52 left in the first quarter after Higgins' 51-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Tupua, then went up 14-0 with 48 seconds remaining in the quarter as Higgins connected with Shaun Ahlo on a 31-yard scoring strike, followed by Jesse Correa's extra point.

Leilehua cut it to 14-7 three minutes into the second quarter after Manley's 35-yard TD pass play to Blaine Furtado, but the Crusaders extended the lead to 21-7 after Starr Sua Passi's 45-yard interception return to the house.

The Mules closed to 21-14 two minutes into the second half after a 15-yard touchdown pass from Manley to Kamana Akagi, but Saint Louis again stretched the lead to 14 points after Higgins' 1-yard TD strike to Jordan Fukumoto two plays into the fourth quarter.

SAINT LOUIS (3-0) 14 7 0 7—28

LEILEHUA (1-2, 0-1) 0 7 7 7—21

SL — Joshua Tupua 51 pass from Jeremy Higgins (Jesse Correa kick).

SL — Shaun Ahlo 31 pass from Higgins (Correa kick).

Lei — Blaine Furtado 35 pass from Andrew Manley (Tyler Boone kick).

SL — Starr Sua Passi 45 interception return (Correa kick).

Lei — Kamana Akagi 15 pass from Manley (Boone kick).

SL — Jordan Fukumoto 1 pass from Higgins (Correa kick).

Lei — Manley 20 run (Sly Izumigawa kick).

RUSHING — Saint Louis: Vonn Feao 9-78, Sean Valente 6-11, Fukumoto 1-3, Higgins 1-(minus-11). Leilehua: Manley 9-16, Austin Schmidt 2-3, Furtado 3-9, CJ Bailey 3-17, Jordan Kala'au 1-(minus-1).

PASSING — Saint Louis: Higgins 19-32-1—283. Leilehua: Manley 17-28-1—187, Kala'au 1-2-0—10, Bailey 0-1-1—0.

RECEIVING — Saint Louis: Duke Bukoski 2-8, Ahlo 4-40, Fukumoto 6-104, Feao 2-12, Tupua 3-83, Kaeo Aliviado 2-36. Leilehua: Carlos Marshall 1-(minus-7), Boone 3-37, Furtado 3-54, Schmidt 5-17, Izumigawa 1-4, Darrien Shealy 1-13, Kyle Cruse Gombio 2-41, Akagi 2-38.

JV score: Saint Louis 28, Leilehua 20