After running its winning streak to 26 games with a 38-17 win over Mililani on Saturday at Aloha Stadium, the now three-time defending state champion Saint Louis Crusaders jumped a spot in both the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 and the USA Today Super 25 national rankings.
Saint Louis (11-0) is now ranked seventh by MaxPreps and No. 15 by USA Today.
The Crusaders moved past Miami Central (Fla.) in the MaxPreps rankings and Centennial-Corona (Calif.) in the USA Today rankings.
Mater Dei (Calif.) handed St. John Bosco (Calif.) its first loss of the season, 17-13, on Friday, knocking the Braves from the top spot in the country in both polls. They are the only two teams ranked ahead of Saint Louis in the West Region in both polls. USA Today has De La Salle (Calif.) ranked No. 6 in the country while MaxPreps has De La Salle at No. 8, one spot behind the Crusaders.
USA Today lists Saint Louis as eligible for the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series on Dec. 22. The bowl website lists the HHSAA as a participating governing body in the yearly doubleheader that brings together four of the top teams in the nation.
The four selections are announced after all state champions are crowned in the United States. Hawaii’s football season wraps up before most other states.
Would love to see the Crusaders participate in the Bowl of Champions. Especially this team.
Get St Louis Crusaders in it!
I think they’ll do well against ANOTHER ranked team. People selectively forgot what StL did this preseason when they smacked another ranked team. Hopefully, when they’re up there, ALL of Hawai‘i is supporting these boys. Hopefully, the grown men that been hating on kids all season can put their egos aside and root for some local boys repping Hawai‘i football on the national scene. If they do well, even your kid’s school will get respect. Good luck, Hawai‘i Crusaders!!
Awesome job…Hopefully we get to play Mater Dei or IMG….
Talk smack while playing each other on island, but support any and all Hawaii teams vs the mainland and all of our local kids playing at the next level.
#hawaiinokaoi
please Lord Make.a Way Bring my grandson and his team of brothers to. The U.S. Bowl of Champions they are more than qualified to compete l would love to be there to witness such a momentous occasion this l pray ln your precious name Amen
PLEASE 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Word is Saint Louis won’t travel to the mainland for games any more because of what a prior saint louis team did in vegas 20 years ago.
And they cant pay those refs
Roll! Saints! Roll! Hawaii’s best and finest!
@ Facts, pay the refs? Where are they getting this money from? And the refs must not be getting much money to be paid off. Do you see what kind of cars they leave in and where they eat after the game?
I saw two officials at the McCully Zippys after the title game.
@ Facts, maybe you should represent the officials getting paid off. They clearly are throwing the games for way too little.
People Let’s not forget St. Louis can’t travel to the mainland. Because of what happen in Vegas under Cal Lee supervison. But it wouldn’t shock me all of a sudden the travel ban get lifted just for this. If it does, it should remain off so st.louis can travel and play teams like St John Bosco, IMG, Mater Dei on a regular basis. But knowing Cal Lee style if he travels it wont be against St. John bosco or IMG because they got too much talent lol. Bosco,IMG or MD would beat St. Louis by at least 2 tds.
U know me.. just another salty kahuku alum… just love to complain and cry
ToppDoggs is a St Francis fan🤙🏽🤙🏽
Facts…
Nope, i never attended Kahuku in my life. But i did coach high school football both in California and Hawai’i. St. Louis is the closest team talent and training wise to the elite mainland teams. But, here’s one area where St. Louis will struggle and thats skill positions. St. Louis only has one fast WR that wilson kid and bosco,img and MD got speed in the secondary that will challenge wilson all game. St.louis Defense front seven has been dominating this year. But will it be the same versus Bosco, IMG and MD where there offense is more explosive than any offense St. Louis seen all year? It has to tackles athlete with speed in open field. Bosco, IMG and MD in my eyes are the the 3 best teams in the nation. St. Louis havent been challenge like bosco, IMG and MD schedule. Only team they faced was a narbonne team who isnt in the California Elite division.
The talent gap between saint louis and the elite mainland teams is virtually the same as saint louis vs. the mid-level OIA teams. Let’s not forget Saint Louis hosted St. John Bosco here 4 years ago. Final score: St. john Bosco 63; Saint Louis 14. The difference in speed and depth of talent between the schools was obvious to anyone there that night. Everyone wants to point to Narbonne. This year, Narbonne was missing a bunch of kids (including their current starting QB) who had to sit out the first 4 games due to transfer rules. Last year, Saint Louis played narbonne later in the season and the final score was STL 56; Narbonne 50. Either team could’ve won that game and on a neutral field, I think Narbonne would’ve won. But, to put things in perspective, last year’s Narbonne team (arguably even with Saint Louis) lost by 46 points to Centennial. Centennial lost to St. John Bosco by 4 TD’s. St. John Bosco lost twice to Mater Dei by an average of 18 points. Saint Louis may dominate Hawaii, but they are nowhere near the top of the elite mainland teams.
I went to the Mililani vs SJB game as a interested observer. Mililani played without the two senior receivers (Chang and Vegas), Dillion was still able to move the ball against them. SJB was good on defense, but not better than what Punahou and St Louis did to them. I was agreement with to others sitting with me that St Louis would be able to hang with SJB or could beat them. SJB offense would have a hard time scoring on St Louis. They matched up well with SJB’s O line. Holani would have a hard time running on them, and the QB was average passing. That’s why Mater Dei beat them.
It would be a game and I would like to see happen. I’ll be the first to take 14.5 from Izzz Statue!!! LOL
Hey I was one of those two refs and I thought the free meal from the alumi was very generous. Season is over. Just trying to lighten things up until next year. to good time out!
I don’t see any of the top 5 teams accepting the invite. They have too much to lose relating to injury and they don’t need the extra exposure like our boys do. “IF” Saint Louis goes to the GBCS they’ll get matched up with a top 20 team at best which is still good competition but I doubt they’d be playing the SJB, IMG or Mater Dei’s. I believe STL would be successful against any of the other top 15 teams but any of the top 5 teams are a cut above the rest of the Nation. Regardless I hope they receive and accept the invite and represent Hawaii with pride!
808 fan
Is any of St. Louis skill positions in the top 100 in their position? Going be a long night for DeLaura he going throw at least 2 INTS against SJB, MD or IMG. Those 3 Defensive back unit are more athletic than anything DeLaura faced all year. I would like to see St. Louis get invited and travel to the mainland and face these elite schools. The main reason why ill give the 14, simply because St. Louis will have to travel to the mainland to play. And weather will be a factor. Do you know how its in the low 60’s right now. They wont be playing in the tropical weather, unless they fly to Florida.
Gorman rematch or a Top UT/AZ team would be the best match up.
The main issue is FUNDING the full team and staff (125+ head count) to travel. St Louis does not have the bank roll to cover the additional cost not funded by the Bowl organizers.
Put away all these myths regarding “Banned Travel”…..WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!
Charles Amai
Be like the college teams and cut down to 70. 120 is ridiculous, only 11 can play on the field on a play. Funding isnt a problem. Got plenty alumni who would donate for da boyz. Marcus Mariota would help out.