Saint Louis senior Lucas Gonsalves did not waste time redeeming himself for an early fumble last night, as he returned a kickoff less than two minutes later 91 yards for a touchdown to help the Crusaders defeat Farrington, 24-10, in interleague action at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

Saint Louis, the two-time defending Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion and state runner-up, improved to 2-0. Farrington fell to 2-1.

After the Crusaders took a quick 7-0 lead following Jeremy Higgins' 20-yard TD pass to Billy Stutzmann barely two minutes into the game, the Saint Louis defense forced the Governors into a three-and-out on the ensuing possession. But Gonsalves fumbled the punt return after a short gain, and Farrington's Justin Vele recovered on the Crusaders' 21-yard line.

That set up Apelu So'oalu's 40-yard field goal to cut it to 7-3 with 6:03 remaining in the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Gonsalves fielded the ball on his own 9 near the right sideline, headed left and then shot upfield. He juked one defender at midfield and then made a late cut at about the 20 before outracing everyone to the end zone.

"I had to redeem myself," said Gonsalves, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound slotback. "I had a fat wall and I just hit the hole, and then I shook one guy (at midfield)."

Saint Louis coach John Hao said he had no hesitation in sending Gonsalves back out to return the kickoff after his fumble.

"It's always good when a guy can make the most of his second chance right away," Hao said. "It's a good confidence builder."

Joey Wilson extended the lead to 17-3 with a 28-yard field goal four minutes later, and the Crusaders went up 24-3 midway through the second quarter after Austin Wakinekona's 1-yard TD run.

Hao said Gonsalves' touchdown was important in shifting the momentum back to the Saints.

"It makes it easier on offense and defense when you have that cushion" Hao said.

Farrington finally reached the end zone with 4:10 left in the game, on Harry Tuimaseve's 2-yard run that capped an eight-play, 63-yard drive.

The Governors forced Saint Louis into a three-and-out on the next possession, but eventually lost the ball on downs on the Crusaders' 32-yard line.

Hao said Farrington proved to be a formidable test for his team as the ILH season opener approaches in two weeks.

"They're big, strong and quick," Hao said. "It was a good challenge."

FARRINGTON (2-1) 3 0 0 7 — 10

SAINT LOUIS (2-0) 17 7 0 0 — 24

StL — Billy Stutzmann 20 pass from Jeremy Higgins (Joey Wilson kick)

Farr — FG Apelu So'oalu 40

StL — Lucas Gonsalves 91 kickoff return (Wilson kick)

StL — FG Wilson 28

StL — Austin Wakinekona 1 run (Wilson)

Farr — Harry Tuimaseve 2 run (Robert Molina kick)

RUSHING — Farrington: Anthony Noga 6-30, Tuimaseve 6-16, Dayton Kealoha 6-11, Tyrell Shipley 1-6, So'oalu 9-20. Saint Louis: Wakinekona 6-36, Higgins 6-(minus-3), Emmett McShane 2-1, Josh Tupua 4-14, Marcus Mariota 2-(minus-9).

PASSING — Farrington: Kealoha 14-25-0—156. Saint Louis: Higgins 15-20-0—130, Mariota 1-3-0—8.

RECEIVING — Farrington: Drake Miller 10-115, Tuimaseve 3-28, Sammy Park 1-13. Saint Louis: Stutzmann 4-56, Gonsalves 5-15, Trevor Mau 2-42, Wakinekona 2-3, Michael Tuiloma 1-6, Micah McClinton 1-8, Calvin Lum 1-8.

JV score — Saint Louis 12, Farrington 0.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.

OTHER INTERLEAGUE RESULTS

Konawaena 35, Waiakea 30.

Lahainaluna 28, Kea'au 0.

Kohala 33, St. Anthony 10.

Word of Life 19, Kamehameha-Maui 10.